Late Pass: 'Pork'

“Pork” seems to be a favorite word among right and left politicians alike. I always assumed it was a reference to waste or spending that was ultimately unhealthful.

Not so, according to NPR Political Junkie:

Pork is short for pork barrel. Wordsmith William Safire said it began before the Civil War, likening lawmakers plundering budget funds with slaves rushing a barrel of salt pork put out by the master.

Damn. Can the people who get riled up about folks who use the phrase ‘tar baby‘ redirect their attention to ‘pork barrel’ now?

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  • ladyfresshh

    0_0

  • Oh my! I never knew the origins of that phrase before now. Thanks. (I think…)

  • Winslowalrob

    Oh, I thought ‘pork’ was a reference to the liberuhl muslim jihadists who control Washington, the Illuminati, and the Council on Foreign Relations and their disdain for the white meat :). I dunno, should I be pissed about how much it gets bandied about, or that no one knows its etymology? Has it migrated to “black thang” territory already?

  • Big Word

    Pickled meat started all this? I can believe it. That stuff works miracles in a pot of grandma’s red beans.

  • This is interesting. Thanks for sharing. I like learning something new. I’m going to have to check out that website.