Hillary Clinton vows to work for 'everyday Americans,' perhaps 'hardworking Americans,' too
Everyday Americans. The latest iteration of 鈥渢he American people,鈥� as deployed by Hillary Rodham Clinton in announcing her presidential candidacy. Some of her potential GOP rivals are using it, too.
Every politician, even the ones in complete disagreement, claims to speak for the nation鈥檚 citizenry. It鈥檚 done often enough to achieve the effect of a skipping record. Vanderbilt University communication studies professor Paul Stob says 鈥渢he American people鈥� has become 鈥渢he keyword for all populist discourse.鈥� As Mr. Stob notes, the subsets to describe political audiences include 鈥渉ardworking Americans,鈥� 鈥淕od-fearing Americans,鈥� 鈥渞eal Americans,鈥� and so on.
Enter Mrs. Clinton鈥檚 of 鈥渆veryday Americans,鈥� which is designed to head off criticism of her candidacy. The former first lady, senator from New York, and secretary of State lives the kind of rarified lifestyle few Americans can identify with. She鈥檚 had Secret Service protection since 1992 and admittedly hasn鈥檛 driven a car in nearly 20 years. She and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, have mansions in Chappaqua, N.Y., and one of Washington鈥檚 toniest neighborhoods. And she took grief last year for saying the couple was 鈥渇lat broke鈥� upon leaving the White House in 2001.
But Clinton knows she needs to be identified with 鈥渆veryday鈥� Americans to win the presidency. Using that particular word comes off as a bit less condescending than the more common 鈥渙rdinary Americans.鈥� As National Journal鈥檚 Ron Fournier in a tweet:
In issuing a news release about Clinton's forthcoming campaign trip to the home of the nation鈥檚 first caucuses, her campaign talked of holding 鈥渃onversations with everyday Iowans.鈥� (We earlier discussed the importance of any White House wannabe having 鈥渃onversations.鈥�)
Her choice of 鈥渆veryday鈥� drew immediate scorn from the right. Conservative Washington Post blogger tweeted:
And right-wing conservative radio talk show host echoed: 鈥淓veryday Americans need a champion who insists on Gulfstream G450 jets (or larger) for her private travel.鈥�
It鈥檚 worth emphasizing, however, that Clinton isn鈥檛 the only 2016 candidate to invoke the phrase. of Florida used it in a video touting his bid for the GOP nod. And Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul not-too-subtly titled his 2013 book ."
Meanwhile, the Sunlight Foundation鈥檚 invaluable CapitolWords.org聽website, which tracks Congressional Record uses of phrases on the floors of the House and Senate, has found that usage of the phrase has during the past decade, with Democrats employing it more often than Republicans. It鈥檚 also President Obama鈥檚 rhetoric arsenal.
Chuck McCutcheon and David Mark write their "Speaking Politics" blog exclusively for Politics Voices.
