Massachusetts liberal

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Massachusetts liberal is a phrase that in American politics is generally used as a political epithet by Republicans against Democrats who are from the state of Massachusetts. It was most significantly used in the 1988 presidential race by Vice-president George H.W. Bush against Governor Michael Dukakis, and again in the 2004 race by President George W. Bush against Senator John Kerry. The Democratic candidate (Dukakis, Kerry) lost both races.

[edit] Meanings of the Phrase

The idea behind the usage of the phrase is that the state of Massachusetts is "out of the mainstream" in comparison to other states. Jane Elmes-Crahall, a professor who studies political rhetoric, has said that, in swing and red states, "It (the phrase) still signals the antithesis of their (swing and red state) social and economic values." Hence, it is believed, people in these states will not vote for someone they believe to be a "Massachusetts liberal."^[1]

There are several specific ideologies that are implied in the phrase:

Being soft on crime. The Willie Horton ads used against Michael Dukakis by Albert Gore and George Bush and the National Security Political Action Committee in the general election were used to supplement this idea. ^[2]
Support for higher taxes. The state has a reputation for high taxes, hence one of the state's nicknames, "Taxachusetts."
Support for anti-war ideas. This particular inference comes from the 1972 Presidential race, when Massachusetts was the only state where antiwar Senator George McGovern defeated President Richard Nixon. After Nixon became implicated in the Watergate scandal, many people from the state put up bumper stickers on their cars reading "Don't blame me, I'm from Massachusetts."
In more recent times, such as the 2004 presidential race, the term also is meant to point to the state's legalization of same-sex marriage. It was the first state where same-sex marriage became legal.^[3]