San Francisco values

San Francisco values is a pejorative term used to refer to the attributes (cultural, social, moral) commonly associated with the city of San Francisco, California in the United States, particularly in reference to the city's left-wing politics and pervasive secularism.

Meaning

While no single definition exists of "San Francisco values," it is often used to describe elements of a secular progressive culture commonly associated with San Francisco. Among other things, the term has been associated with same-sex marriage, anti-war activism, pro-choice philosophy, marijuana decriminalization, secularism, open-door immigration policies, and a more socialist government. "San Francisco values" is primarily used in a pejorative sense, employed by conservative members of the media.

Media usage

The term "San Francisco values" was used by right-wing pundits during the conservative movement of the mid-1990s, and has since been popularized by Bill O'Reilly and Newt Gingrich. It is possibly a successor to then Democrat Jean Kirkpatrick's condemnation of "San Francisco Democrats" for a "blame America first" mentality at the 1984 Republican National Convention. Bill O'Reilly claims to have coined the term 'San Francisco Values', but the term dates back at least to 1996, when Rep. Frank Riggs attacked his Democratic challenger Michela Alioto over her "San Francisco values."

With the ascendancy of San Francisco representative Nancy Pelosi to Speaker of the House, the term experienced a surge in popularity following the 2006 midterm elections. Newt Gingrich, for example, sent a fundraising letter to supporters, saying, "Will everything you've worked so hard to accomplish be lost to the San Francisco values of would-be Speaker Nancy Pelosi?" Meanwhile, the Augusta Chronicle, a Georgia newspaper, warned readers that "Pelosi will be speaker and her far-left San Francisco values -- gay marriage, cutting and running from Iraq, coddling terrorists, raising taxes, amnesty for illegals -- will become the House agenda."

In addition to being used by some right-wing pundits, the term has appeared in and around San Francisco itself. The San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco's largest daily newspaper, discussed the term in its 2006 article, "Three Dirty Words: San Francisco Values." The next week, the San Francisco Bay Guardian responded with a similarly titled article, "San Francisco Values," calling the Chronicle's editorial positions into question.

In the episode Smug Alert, South Park's creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone make fun of the smug disdain that many of San Francisco's residents have towards people they perceive to be less liberal than themselves. During the episode, Gerald Broflovski buys a hybrid car and moves to San Francisco to be with other progressive people. When there, Gerald comes across people who have condescending attitudes about various subjects, talk with their eyes closed when trying to express their condescension and break wind before bending over to breathe in the fumes. According to the episode's commentary, the idea for this episode came from a smug comment that Parker's mother received when she drove the hybrid he had bought her as a gift into San Francisco.

Push-back

The Peter B. Collins Show, a syndicated liberal talk show bills itself as a talk show "infused with dangerous "San Francisco values" like compassion, justice, and a living wage".

See also

• Massachusetts liberal
• Liberal elite
• Limousine liberal
• Propaganda
• Stereotype