Dr. Word notices: Gingrich loves the adverb

by David Safier

Dr. Word is unquestionably aware Gingrich is the original Dr. Political Word. Back in his House days, Gingrich sent countless memos to fellow Republicans telling them exactly the words and phrases to use when attacking Democrats.

It seems, Dr. W. noticed, the adverb is one of Gringrich's favorite tools to punch up a sentence. Examples in quotes from a TPM post about Gingrich's latest attacks on Romney (Romney is a tool of George Soros!):

“I do not believe the Republican party wants to nominate a George Soros-approved candidate,” he said, saying they need someone who “believes in the Declaration of Independence” rather than “somebody who is clearly against the American ideal.”

[snip]

“We think it’s the left that has betrayed the poor because their safety net is actually a spider web and it traps people in dependency.”

Clearly. Take that adverb away, and Romney is only "against the American ideal." That's Gingrich's opinion. But if Romney is "clearly against the American ideal," there's really no question. It's clear as day, right there for everyone to see.

Actually. Without the adverb, the safety net is, in Gingrich's opinion, "a spider web.” But if it's "actually a spider web,” that's far more than an opinion. Gingrich is revealing a hidden truth the rest of us might have missed. Maybe you thought these programs are woven together to create a helpful safety net, but actually, Gingrich knows better. It's a spider web. [Extra credit to Gingrich for his metaphor tweaking, turning a safety net, which is there to help you, into another kind of "net": a sticky web created to trap you until a hungry spider sucks out your innards.]

Gringrich knows all the little ways to add power to a statement. Dr. Word doffs his cap to a master.