Translating Politicians
What do politicians really mean? Here’s a handy translation guide! I’ll add more as election season ramps up and I’m forced to watch more political ads, so make sure to check back! To use this guide, you can either scroll down or search the page with your browser for a specific phrase.
Sources are at the bottom of the post.
On Context
Remember to consider these questions when you’re trying to figure out what a politician means:
• What does this politician gain by saying this?
• Who is this politician trying to please by saying this?
• Who is this politician including in saying this?
• Who is this politician excluding in saying this?
• Would this politician say this on another news channel or in another news article?
If asking all of these questions seems like too much effort, just remember to take everything a politician says with a grain of salt. In addition, please do some extra research to find out what their political stances are before voting!
Translation Guide
• “A true conservative” — This politician wants to establish themselves as your only hope by implying other conservatives are not trustworthy.
• “A true Republican” — See “A true conservative.”
• “Christian Conservative Veteran” — This politician is implying you’re part of their community (of Christians, conservatives, or veterans) and they intend to protect you (from non-Christians, liberals, or outside forces). This also implies that they are a hero, you are someone who needs saving, and anyone outside of the community they are sharing with you is a threat.
• “I am honored to have the opportunity to represent your interests” — “Best wishes.”
• “I’ll cut income taxes” — This politician is pretending they have your best interests at heart. They do not, unless you are a wealthy business owner who can donate to their campaign.
• “I’ll slash regulations” — Regulations are in place to keep businesses in check and protect consumers. Slashing regulations means it will be harder for small businesses to compete with corporations, easier for businesses to commit fraud by lying on product packaging, easier for businesses to mistreat workers, etc. This statement is meant for business owners, who can donate to politicians, and for conservatives, who have been convinced the government is the enemy.
• “I’m a business owner, not a politician” — Either this politician does not want to be seen as a politician or this politician is unqualified. Both options are undesirable. You do not want someone to walk into a courtroom, announce “I am not a lawyer,” and then try to defend you with knowledge they either do not have or are pretending they do not have.
• “I mourn the loss of our brave US service members killed in action” — “Thoughts and prayers.”
• “I’m pro-life” — This politician is not a pacifist and does not care about the homeless, anyone in prison, children in schools, the elderly, etc. They could be religious and they are conservative. As “pro-life,” at its core, means “anti-choice,” they essentially believe that someone with a uterus only matters because they might one day give birth to a man.
• “I will always give your concerns the consideration they deserve” — “I did not read your Email.”
• “I will protect life at all stages” — See “I’m pro-life.”
• “Like Trump, this politician won’t bow to big donors or special interests. This politician doesn’t need their money and can’t be bought” — This politician has already been bought by Trump.
• “These measures are designed to respect life and protect the unborn” — These measures are designed to restrict abortion- and pregnancy-related healthcare. This includes restricting access to medication someone might need if they do want to get pregnant and increasing punishment for doctors who want to treat their patients. See also “I’m pro-life.”
Sources
• For regulation: x and x
• For income taxes: x
• For the phrases: advertisements for Rom Reddy, Cody Simpson, Pamela Evette, Nancy Mace, Ralph Norman, and Alan Wilson; and Emails from Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott. Yes, I live in South Carolina.
• For the translations: me! I have a master’s degree in Political Communication and I graduated with a 4.0. My undergraduate degree is in English and I have an associate’s degree in Paralegal Studies. In addition, I was raised Protestant, I attended a Catholic school, and I was a Republican until I turned 22. I have been up close and personal with language, meanings, and manipulations for as long as I can remember.
