Massachusetts liberal

Massachusetts liberal is a phrase in American politics which is generally used as a political epithet by Republicans against Democrats who are from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It was most significantly used in the 1988 presidential race by Vice-president George H.W. Bush against Governor Michael Dukakis, and again in the 2004 race by then-President George W. Bush against Senator John Kerry. The Democratic candidates (Dukakis, Kerry) lost both races.

Yet, many of the citizens of Massachusetts hold the Commonwealth's liberal reputation as a badge of honor, and proudly describe themselves as "Massachusetts liberals", viewing Massachusetts' liberalism as the logical inheritor of the dual American traditions of resistance to arbitrary power and resistance to human oppression Massachusetts has historically led the United States in fighting for. They note, before "Massachusetts liberal" was used as a pejorative by Republicans, "Massachusetts Abolitionist" and "Massachusetts Patriot" were also used as pejoratives by infamous political elements in American history, specifically Southern Plantation Slavers, during the American Civil War, and the King's Redcoat Loyalists, during the American Revolutionary War.

Meanings of the Phrase

The idea behind the usage of the phrase is, the state of Massachusetts is "out of the mainstream" in comparison to other states. Jane Elmes-Crahall, a professor who studies political rhetoric, has said, in swing and red states, "It (the phrase) still signals the antithesis of their (swing and red state) social and economic values." Hence, it is believed, people in these states will not vote for someone they believe to be a "Massachusetts liberal."

There are several specific ideologies that are implied in the phrase:

• Allegedly being "soft on crime"; specifically, one attack along these lines was seen in the infamous Willie Horton ads, viewed by many as borderline racist incitement, which were envisioned by Lee Atwater and the National Security Political Action Committee, and used by George H. W. Bush's Presidential campaign against Governor of Massachusetts Michael Dukakis in the 1988 Presidential election.
• Alleged support for higher taxes. Among some, the state has a reputation for high taxes (5% sales tax, just hiked to 6.25%; 5.3% income tax), thus certain Republicans call it by the nickname of "Taxachusetts."
• Support for anti-war ideas. This particular inference comes from the 1972 Presidential race, when Massachusetts was the only state where antiwar Senator George McGovern defeated President Richard Nixon. After Nixon became implicated in the Watergate scandal, many people from the state put up bumper stickers on their cars reading "Don't blame me, I'm from Massachusetts."
• In more recent times, such as the 2004 presidential race, the term also is meant to point to the state's legalization of same-sex marriage. It was the first state where same-sex marriage became legal.

See also

• Liberal elite
• San Francisco values