THE PARTY OF THE MULE

 

                                BY WILLIAM JUNEAU                            

                             Some political observers may well wonder how the Democratic party, whose members seem so ready to take offense at the first hint that anything is not politically correct, seems to tolerate being known as the Party of the Mule.  Political legend tells us that in the 1800s,  when the party was first organized, it was known as the party of the "Jackass." In those days, references to a "jackass friend" was a demonstration of respect and affection for an associate. 

                    Legend also has it that the word "jackass" or "male ass" became a part of the new nation's lexicon way back in 1727 when the USA was not even up and running, but there were farmers with their braying animals pulling earth gauging equipment.  As the years hummed along, the use of the word "jackass" became popular in describing a stubborn, stupid and backward person.                             

                    But it in 1828, a hundred years  after the familiar use of the word had settled in,  politicos began referring to the quick-tempered lawyer and politician, Andrew Jackson as a "jackass," after Jackson announced his candidacy  for President of the United States. Often in political attack literature, Jackson's face would be pictured next to a photo of this ridiculed member of the horse family.  In some cases, the head of a jackass would be attached to the body of the war hero and former congressman and senator from Tennessee.   

                    In the war of 1812, Gen. Jackson won status for his heroic actions  and had a vast following. When attack literature described him as a blood brother to the "jackass,"  Jackson declined to reject the caricature as the insult for which it was intended.  Surprisingly, we are told, he found the caricature to be amusing and he had the face of the donkey included in his fiery campaign literature and posters. His campaign slogan was "Let The People Rule" reflecting his populist views and stubborn nature, akin to that  of a donkey.  In November of 1828, he was elected the nation's 7th president and its first Democrat; and he defeated the incumbent, John Quincy Adams, son of John Adams, the nation's second President.

                   Incumbent president, Quincy Adams, was himself an animal lover, but Jackson did not attempt to use it against him.  President Adams had at one time received an alligator as a gift, and he kept the animal in a bath tub in the East Room of the White House, and often surprised his guests with an introduction to his toothy pet. When Adams vacated the White House, so the story goes, he took the gator and the tub with him and his successor used the room for storage.        

                     The image of the recalcitrant donkey stayed with the Democrats and in the 1870s, influential cartoonist Thomas Nast helped popularize the donkey even more as a symbol for the entire Democratic party. In fact, Nast is considered the one who really labeled the Democrats as the party of the mule for all time, since he used it relentlessly in his immensely popular cartoons, often seen in the New Yorker Weekly.

                    In today's political circles, a donkey always refers to a Democrat, but now when a Democrat is called a big jackass, that appellation is never considered a friendly comment. Generally speaking, it is the other political party, the Republicans, who continue to look upon Democrats as jackasses. 

                       In 2008, the symbol was still prominent after more than a century. When Democrats gathered for their convention in Denver, they included in the festivities a live donkey, named "Mordecai."  Pundits said it was there to lick hands and lighten the atmosphere and promote conviviality. Apparently it did the trick, because the party's candidate, Barack Obama, went on to become the nation's 44th president. 

                       Republicans too ,have a symbol and a mascot--the ivory tusked elephant.  During the Civil War, the image of the pachyderm was featured as a party symbol and reportedly was intended to connote dignity, intelligence and power--with Republicans themselves making the favorable connection.       

                      Officially, the Democratic Party has never adopted the Mule as its mascot, but the Republicans have made the elephant its official logo.

                     The GOP still uses the elephant  and it shows up on its web sites and on Republican merchandise. The mule, never the official mascot of the Democrats, is mostly used by the media and reportedly is only found here and there on bits of Democratic Party merchandise.                            

                      In 1984, President Reagan was gifted a baby elephant  by the Sri Lankan President during a state visit.  Though much appreciated by Reagan, the animal ultimately found a good home, but it never became a pet in the White House or at the Reagan ranch in California. 

                      Again, it was Thomas Nast who gets much of the credit for linking the big elephant with the Republican party. In addition to being the nation's first great political cartoonist, he was one of its toughest and most prominent critics, with his work appearing in Harper's Weekly from 1862 to 1886. 

                          Some have suggested that the word "nasty" derives from the artist's surname.  That's doubtful, but a look back at his cartoons might suggest that there could be  something to the link.  Apparently, Nast was a Republican, but analysts tell us that he was never slow in ridiculing his own side sometimes painting the ivory tusked elephant as a lumbering fellow often heading in the wrong direction. 

                         After all this time, it seems unlikely that either party will ever be able to disassociate themselves from their  namesakes, whether used in a flattering way or not. 

                                          

                                         XXX