--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ever since Richard Nixon walloped George…" description: "\"Ever since Richard Nixon walloped George McGovern in the presidential election of 1972, political pundits have treated as a truism the proposition that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/eric-alterman-10672_college_ever-since-richard-nixon-walloped-george_234181.jpg" --- # Ever since Richard Nixon walloped George McGovern in the… ![“Ever since Richard Nixon walloped George McGovern in the presidential election of 1972, political pundits have treated as a truism the proposition that liberals are out of step with the rest of the nation, and therefore all but unelectable outside the precincts of the Northeast -- give or take a…” quote by Eric Alterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/eric-alterman-10672_college_ever-since-richard-nixon-walloped-george_234181.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/eric-alterman-10672_college_ever-since-richard-nixon-walloped-george_234181.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/eric-alterman-10672_college_ever-since-richard-nixon-walloped-george_234181.jpg) > “Ever since Richard Nixon walloped George McGovern in the presidential election of 1972, political pundits have treated as a truism the proposition that liberals are out of step with the rest of the nation, and therefore all but unelectable outside the precincts of the Northeast -- give or take a college town here or a ski resort there. During the course of every presidential election for the past forty years now, Republicans have sought to wield the word liberal as if it were a six-gauge shotgun.” [Eric Alterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-alterman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that Republicans label liberals as out‑of‑touch to marginalize them, especially outside the Northeast, turning “liberal” into a political weapon. **In simple terms:** Republicans use “liberal” as a negative label to alienate voters. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge political labeling. Themes politics media identity polarization campaigns Mood critical analytical skeptical Type political commentary When to use this quote - election campaigns - media analysis - voter outreach - public discourse Key Concepts political strategy branding regional bias Questions to Reflect On - How does labeling affect voter perception? - Can “liberal” be reframed positively? A Different Perspective The term “liberal” can also be reclaimed or redefined by progressives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) [Liberals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberals/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Presidential election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidential-election/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Resorts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resorts/) [Skis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skis/) [Truism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truism/) ## Related quotes > [The word liberal has been employed as the political equivalent of an untreatable but potentially containable social disease -- the kind that could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-alterman/the-word-liberal-has-been-employed-as-the-political-equivalent-of-an/) [Eric Alterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-alterman/) > [Whether hunting is right or wrong, a spiritual experience, or an outlet for the killer instinct, one thing it is not is a sport.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whether-hunting-is-right-or-wrong-a-spiritual-experience-or-an-outlet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Well, I am not afraid of the word 'liberal.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-mckinney/well-i-am-not-afraid-of-the-word-liberal/) [Cynthia McKinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-mckinney/) > ['Empathy' is the latest code word for liberal activism, for treating the Constitution as malleable clay to be kneaded and molded in whatever form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/empathy-is-the-latest-code-word-for-liberal-activism-for-treating-the/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [I don't like this word, 'Feminazis,' or 'libtard.' 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