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It’s deliberate incivility.

“Amid bipartisan calls to dial back extreme partisanship following the insurrection, the intentional misuse of ‘Democrat’ as an adjective remains in nearly universal use among Republicans,” Huffington Post says. (Read article here.)

But, “Is it a harmless political tactic intended to annoy Republicans’ opponents, or a maliciously subtle vilification of one of America’s two major political parties that further divides the nation?” Opinions vary. Harvard professor Thomas Patterson calls it “just another piece in a big bubbling kettle of animosities that are out there.”

But it’s more than that. It shuts down communication, and with it, the possibility of accommodation and compromise. Let’s say your name is John Smith, you go by “John,” but your neighbor insists on calling you “Jack.” Are you listening to him? No. Do you hear anything he says? No, all you hear is “Jack,” and go deaf after that.

Mispronouncing someone’s name is a surefire conversation-killer.

But hey, Democrats do it to them, too. We call them “Repukes,” “Repugnants,” and other descriptive insults. Why not? They’re not listening to us, even when we’re polite. What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander. They started it (by calling Democrats “commies”), so the ball is in their court, and if they want a return of civility, they should make the first move.

Biden, though, isn’t waiting on them. As The Hill reports (here), he’s actively trying to tamp down the partisan fires:

“President Biden has brought back bipartisan meetings at the White House …, trying to find common ground with Republicans even as they remain far apart on issues …. Biden’s first meeting with lawmakers in the Oval Office was with Republican senators on the coronavirus proposal and he has since met with bipartisan members of Congress on infrastructure and, later, supply chain issues. Biden’s outreach to Republicans has also extended beyond Capitol Hill to governors and local leaders as his administration grapples with the coronavirus and recent winter storms in southern states. The meetings are another example of a return to more traditional governing under Biden and he is expected to make them a regular occurrence.”

But as The Hill says, “While Biden is making an effort to reach across the aisle, the real test will be whether that engagement yields any results.” It’s uphill, and I’m skeptical. In the House, not a single Republican voted for his Covid relief bill (story here). That’s probably a harbinger of things to come. For now, at least, the GOP seems as determined as ever to wage scorched-earth politics.

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