17 Red, White, and Blue Political Terms July 2 2020

Red tape, white collars, blue laws, and more colorful words from government

Red   

Early political uses of red refer to revolutionary social movements before it became associated with adherents of Marxism-Leninism and Communism, as well as with the former Soviet Union. Besides the Soviet Red Army, formed in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution of 1917, there was the extreme left-wing terrorist organization the Italian Red Brigades, which was active during the 1970s and whose objective was to pave the way for a Marxist upheaval.

During the 1960s, the Red Guards were organized by Chinese leader Mao Tse-tung to revitalize the revolutionary spirit of the Communist Party.

Another use of red is in American politics, where it indicates that one supports Republican candidates or their policies. The term red state, for example, gained popularity during the 2000 U.S. presidential election between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore.

News coverage showed election results with a two-tone map. A red state meant it was won by the Republican candidate and a blue state meant it was won by the Democrat. That election gave momentum to the political use of both colors.

The pundits, the pundits like to slice and dice our country into red states and blue states. Red states for Republicans, blue states for Democrats.   — Barack Obama, speech, 27 July 2004

Red-baiting   black-and-white-photo-of-capitol-building

Baiting refers to a few practices that aren't nice, such as putting food on a hook or in a trap to catch a fish or animal or using dogs to anger, worry, or intimidate an animal (such as a bear or bull). Baiting can also refer to using criticism, derision, or insults to make a person angry.

In the early 20th century, the practice of harassing or persecuting a person who is known as or expected to be a Communist (or a Red) or to have Communist (Red) sympathies became known as Red-baiting.

Red baiting is primarily, it seems to me, making allegations of Communist Party membership or support that cannot be proven.  — Communist Domination of Unions and National Security, 1952

Red Book   

Red Book generally refers to an official British register—often of political, economic, or legal affairs—that is bound in red. It is also the title of a book containing information on members of the British court, nobility, or government and other people of social prominence. This Red Book was essentially a directory of "who's who" in Great Britain that faded out as the 20th century wound down.

Webster's Royal Red Book is the best Guide Book that we have met with for the Metropolis of Great Britain. An alphabetical arrangement of residences, followed by another of persons, renders it at once one of the easiest possible of reference for immediate information of that kind which is sought for, not only by strangers, but even by residents.

It is carefully done; the whole of the proper names appearing in capital letters, and those of the streets in red ink, accompanied by an almanack, evinces a degree of attention not always bestowed on these matters.    — The Nautical Magazine, May 1848

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/red-white-and-blue-political-words/red