BallotVox

Presidential Campaign Slang, 2008 Edition

Dictionary [sAeroZar / Flickr]

[Ann Raber is a BallotVox co-curator.]

Urban Dictionary is a free-for-all dictionary of slang, where anyone can post words or definitions. With little regulation other than a thumbs-up/thumbs-down poll rating a definition’s veracity, the site has come to include proper nouns, colloquial expressions, and a plethora of portmanteaus.

Feelings about the presidential campaign run hot on Urban Dictionary, especially about Sen. Barack Obama. Obama’s etymologically-inclined critics and supporters have, as of this blogging, contributed over 120 entries that play off “Obama,” and another 15 based on “Barack.” There are seven based on “McCain.”

Some people contribute only once to the Urban Dictionary, as Rainman90210 did when he logged in to immortalize a phenomenon he saw brewing:

Obamapalooza

The Nation wide excitement for Senator Barack Obama to become president

Clinton: Man, I don’t think i can win this state over Obama
Advisor: I know! It’s Obamapalooza here!!

Others are regular contributors. User Patrick W. Crabtree has posted over a dozen entries to the Urban Dictionary. During primary season he contributed this:

Obalming

A process of mass hypnosis whereby the general public is mentally mesmerized through the soft repetition of the words “change” and “hope”. Victims of this manifestation become zombie-like non-thinking beings, all of whom gape and stare just as if they have been embalmed.

“You should have seen coming out of the voting booths, walking like Frankenstein and staring straight ahead — clearly, some heavy-duty obalming has transformed them all from their normal, thinking selves.”

One expression that’s caught on in the blogosphere at large is this handy portmanteau, defined by Yukon Fonz:

Obamatron

noun, 1. Overzealous supporter. 2. Surprise-attack accoster. 3. Anyone wearing more buttons than articles of clothing. 4. A bad person in support of a good person.

adv, obamatronic

Here are a few more UD entries that caught our eye:

Obamalamadingdong

A Barack Obama campaign assistant who goes door to door for the candidate.

Goodness, Harry, there’s an Obamalamadingdong at the door! [Zooticus Maximus]

Obamafinger

To flip someone off by scratching your cheek with your middle finger. You do this so that you can flip someone off and still pretend to be above that sort of thing. [plasmacobalt]

Obaminatrix

Rare feminine of the more usual obaminator. Fiercely tireless female worker on Barack Obama’s campaign, especially when present at democratic party caucus meetings. The plural is obaminatrices. [A. Gene Davis]

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