Many consider the presidential campaign of 2016 to be one of the worst in history. A key element has been all the name-calling. Hillary Clinton expressed regret for saying “half” of Donald Trump’s supporters are “deplorables.” That was her not-so-nice way of saying they are racist, sexist, homophobic and xenophobic (fear of foreigners).
Hillary is actually a pretty weak name-caller. Donald Trump is the master. He coined “Crazy Bernie,” “Lyin’ Ted,” “Low-Energy Jeb” and “Crooked Hillary.” These are not one-off insults but his regular names for them.
His running mate, Mike Pence, criticized President Obama for suggesting that Trump is a demagogue. Pence said that name-calling has no place in public life in America. He may have been saying it ironically, but Pence did make a vow years ago that he would not fuel his campaigns by making personal attacks on his opponents.
Pence backed off a little when he was confronted with Trump’s harsh names for opponents. Pence said, “You know, in NASCAR, they saying rubbing is racing. In a competitive primary, things can get a little tough sometimes.” [1]
American campaigns have always been tough. Donald and Hillary did not invent name-calling and they have not even been the worst at it. America has a rich tradition of mud-slinging.
The campaign of 1800 was the first competitive race for President. The earlier elections had chosen George Washington with unanimous votes by the Electoral College, something that has never happened since. Political parties had not been organized by 1800 so everyone ran as individuals. Interestingly, the winner became president and the second place person became vice president. Can you imagine President Hillary Clinton and Vice President Trump? Or President Trump and Vice President Clinton? Let the fireworks begin!
In 1800, John Adams ran against Thomas Jefferson, the former President running against his former Vice President. They didn’t actively campaign back then because it was considered too unseemly. They stayed home and hired hatchet men to do the dirty work.
Adam’s men called Jefferson “a mean-spirited, low-lived fellow, the son of a half-breed Indian squaw, sired by a Virginia mulatto father.” Jefferson’s men called Adams a “hideous hermaphroditical character, which has neither the force and firmness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman.” To really get at someone, just call them “hermaphroditical.”
Even Martha Washington called Jefferson “one of the most detestable of mankind.” That is pretty close to “deplorables.” [2]
In the 1828 race, John Quincy Adams was called a pimp, and Andrew Jackson’s wife was called a slut.
Abraham Lincoln was called “Ignoramus Abe,” a buffoon, and a rail-splitter (an insult back then). [3]
Teddy Roosevelt came up with the terms “muckrakers” and “lunatic fringe.” [3]
Jesus warns of the danger of calling people names. In Matthew 5:22 he says that calling someone “raca” (Aramaic for empty-headed or stupid) could get you in trouble with the courts but calling them “fool” (an equally mild term) could get you thrown into hell. Yet Jesus himself called people names. In Matthew 23 he calls his opponents names 16 times. [4] But in each case he gave a reason why they deserved that name. He was never gratuitous. And of course as the Son of God he had perfect insight into the thoughts and intentions of his opponents. Since we do not, we would be wise to heed Matthew 5:22.
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1. “Mike Pence: Politics is No Place for ‘Name Calling’,” by Vaughn Hillyard, NBC News, 29 July 2016; < http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/mike-pence-politics-no-place-name-calling-n619826 >.
2. “Founding Fathers’ dirty campaign,” by Kerwin Swint, Mental Floss, CNN.com, 22 August 2008; < http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/08/22/mf.campaign.slurs.slogans/ >.
3. “12 Classic Political Insults,” by Rose Marie Ostler, The Blog, 3 September 2011, updated 3 November 2011; < http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rosemarie-ostler/political-insults-_b_947019.html >.
4. “The Virtue of Name-Calling,” by John W. Robbins, October 1979; < http://www.trinityfoundation.org/journal.php?id=8 >.