In the US and UK, the left re-jigs the scaffolding of words

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Attempts by two newly elected Democrat governors to reclaim the words patriotism and freedom from the Republicans are significant when it comes to retooling the American political frame.

The governors-elect of Maryland and Pennsylvania — Wes Moore and Josh Shapiro — tried this tack during the recent election campaign.

They succeeded.

And they continue to pursue that line.

Axios reports that Mr Shapiro said “freedom” 14 times in his five-minute opening remarks at the Democratic Governors Association press conference in New Orleans in early December. And Mr Moore, a Black veteran who saw service in Afghanistan, used the words “patriot” or “patriotism” seven times in his address to the media.

This is all about taking control of the rhetorical frame with the left-wing think tank Third Way warning that far too many American voters question “whether the party shares essential values like patriotism”.

In Britain too, earlier this year, Labour leader Keir Starmer pu…