DON’T CALL DEMS “COMMUNIST”; CALL THEM “DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS.”
Vocabulary matters!
From Newt Gingrich comes key advice for Republicans in the Midterms: Don’t call the Democrats “communist” or even “socialist.” Call them “democratic socialists.”
Newt’s survey, taken among 2,000 registered voters by McLaughlin and Associates on August 31-September 2, 2026, showed that while only 36% of all voters believe “communist” accurately describes the Democrats and only 51% agree that they are “socialist,” 58% think that the phrase “Democratic Socialist” is an accurate description of the current ideology of the Democratic Party.
Newt notes that while Democrats enjoy a four point edge in the generic ballot (D-46 R-42) the advantage shifts to a seven point Republican lead when the question poses a choice of a “big government socialist” Democrat or a Republican (D-38 R-45). Even when we lose the pejorative label “big government” and just call the Democrat a socialist, the GOP retains a five point lead (D-40 R-45).
(The generic ballot question asks if a voter faced a choice between a Democrat and a Republican in “your district,” for whom would you vote. Because so many Democrats live in cities with lopsided blue majorities, the Democrats need at least a two to four point lead to have a real chance at a House majority in the midterm elections, so the race is now really close.)
Among Independents, the difference is especially profound. In the plain vanilla generic ballot, Independents break pro-Democrat by 11 points (D- 39 R-28). But when you pit a “big government socialist Democrat” against a Republican, it flips to 16 point Republican edge (D-26 R-40). And, by 45-34, Independents believed that the phrase “big government socialist” fairly describes current Democratic ideology.
The key element in voter perceptions, according to Newt’s poll, is the locus of decision-making.
*61% said Democratic socialists wanted to have government-run health care.
*60% said Democratic socialists want “government control taking precedence over personal choice.”
- 60% felt Democratic socialists want to tax investments, retirement savings, and homes.
*58% said the Democratic socialists want government control of private property.
*56% said they associated Democratic socialists with “the idea that government knows better than the individual.”
Socialism retains certain positive associations such as “equity and fairness,” “helping people,” and “sharing and community.”
The key point is that Democratic candidates will have to be proud of their association with Democratic socialism.
According to the latest Quinnipiac Poll, Democrats support the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) by 59-30 but Americans as a whole do not giving the DSA a negative rating of 26-66. Independents give DSA a negative 22-70 rating.
So Democratic candidates cannot deny that they are Democratic socialists or they will have hell to pay with their base.
I recall a series of conversations I had with former Republican National Chairman Lee Atwater during the 1988 Bush v Dukakis election. Atwater was running the Bush campaign and was attacking Mike Dukakis as too liberal, a big spender, and weak on the military. I had run the winning campaign against Dukakis for Ed King for governor of Massachusetts and advised Atwater to change course. “Don’t attack him on the charges he will deny,” I said, “hit him on the accusations he will happily embrace as true like his opposition to capital punishment.”
Atwater followed the advice and, when we heard Dukakis say he would not support the death penalty even if his wife Kitty was murdered, Lee jabbed me in the ribs and said “that’s just what you said he’d say.”
True here too. Don’t call them “communist.” Call them Democratic socialists. They’ll admit it and be proud to do so.
To their base, the term “Democratic socialist” is a compliment, not an epithet.
Purchase CORRUPT: The Inside Story of Biden’s Dark Money — CLICK HERE NOW!
Get Your FREE, Gold And Silver Precious Metals Investment Material. No Fee For Life IRA Program Now Available — CLICK HERE NOW!
SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE DICK’S VIDEOS & COLUMNS FOR FREE — CLICK HERE!
View Dick’s most recent videos in case you missed them!
Republicans Could Pick Up 4 Senate Seats – Lunch Alert!
Democrats Gain But Republicans Should Keep Senate Majority – Lunch Alert!
Clinton Failed To Kill Bin Laden When He Could Have – Lunch Alert!
AI Has Created 1 Million New Jobs In The US – Lunch Alert!
 |
