Charles Blow is on target when he mentions the disappearance of the word “poor” from the lexicon of Democratic presidents. He might have added Democratic politicians. Many voters, even those verging on poverty themselves, don’t like the idea of their tax dollars being spent on the less fortunate. Ronald Reagan’s welfare queen has been with us figuratively for quite awhile. She helped Republicans take over Congress in 1994 and she popped up this week in Paul Ryan’s reference to Social Security recipients in their “hammocks.”
Democrats are doing what any politician would when confronted with a third rail word, use a euphemism. In this case “middle class” has served the purpose.
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