This thread is filled with people going "well what other words could we even use then???". I'm sure Democratic leaders aren't foot-stomping these terms, but they have long since leaked out into the public discussion, and voters do pick up on it. And to use one of those terms, they are "othering".
So, wait. Your argument is "some people use these words" and the way to help Dems win is to police everyone's speech because some randos use some words some of the time? Really? Fuck that.
I guess my argument is that you have to reach the mass of voters by including them and not othering them, and that includes code-switching and letting them use words that you and I both know damn well what they mean. I'm not asking you to police anyone's speech.
Aren't "othering" and "code-switching" also terms that would turn off this metaphorical voter?
Potentially, but I was having a discussion with a specific person who I know understands this. When I talk to other people, I speak to them in terms they understand as well. This used to be considered common courtesy.
Is that how MAGA wins? By policing its speech and not othering the people it disagrees with? People should speak how they speak. I don't much care, but you're buying into a made up controversy that is MAGA framing, pretending this is how Dems speak.
It may not be how Dems speak, but those who do speak like this vote for Dems and staff for Dems, and that reflects on votes later. Is this all the #1 problem right now? No, but stuff like this comes up when I talk to my family who voted R, even if they only knew of few times this language was used.
But we have laws on the books already to use "plain English" in dealing with citizens, for things precisely like this. I'm glad you seem to agree that those using academic speech as a cudgel are in the wrong though, but that memo hasn't fully gotten out to our allies.