phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

Dog-whistle politics

Posted by ESC on March 27, 2005

In Reply to: Dog-whistle politics posted by Fred on March 27, 2005

: According to the Economist the phrase originated in Australia and means "putting out a [political] message that, like a high-pitched dog-whistle, is only fully audible to those at whom it is directly aimed."
: Anyone have a good example to share? (The Economist's example is about Michael Howard's attack on gypsies that only Conservatives are supposed to be able to hear.)

I am in the United States and it seems to me that the Bush Administration is good at that -- sending different signals to different groups. Poor and middle class Bush fans hear his "Man of God" signal and are deaf (and blind) to Bush policies, etc., that hurt them and favor the rich.

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