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Reader question: Please explain this sentence, particularly “card-carrying member”: “It seemed to me that Michael Dukakis blew any chance he had of defeating George Bush in 1988 when he ran away from the ‘L-word,’ even to the extent of letting Bush get away with accusing him of being a card-carrying member of the American Civil Liberties Union.” – Walter Cronkite in his 1997 book, A Reporter’s Life. My comments: Without delving deep into American politics, let me just say that George Bush, a Republican, while running for President against Michael Dukakis, accused the Democratic candidate of being liberal (the “L-word”). Dukakis gave the impression that he tried to defend himself as if it were wrong to be liberal. And that might have cost him the presidency. Now linguistics, a more appetizing subject, politics being politics. By accusing Dukakis of “being a card-carrying member of the American Civil Liberties Union”, Bush was simply accusing of him of representing liberal views. Saying someone is liberal, however, is different from saying someone is a card-carrying member of the liberal. More on that later. First, card-carrying. The card stands for the membership card they give you if you join a club, society or political party, or any organization. You join the group and they issue you a membership card for recognition or identification. You’re sometimes advised to carry the card with you because, if, say, your night club is exclusive, security may stop you at the door if you’re unable to present your card. | 
