Before there were Dunkin' Donuts Democrats there were "Doughnut Democrats," as identified in the headline of this 2005 Wall Street Journal article, cited in The Radical Centrist. The subhed: "Whatever happened to the party's middle?"
Thanks to brother David for forwarding the link.
Maybe I should blame your blog for my craving of donuts rolled in sugar this morning.
Posted by: Kim | February 08, 2008 at 11:00 AM
The other political use of "doughnut" is for the practice of surrounding a speaker with enthusiastic supporters.
It first arose when Britain's House of Commons started being televised. Most of the chamber is empty most of the time, so when a minister stood up to speak, the cameras would reveal bare green benches. By doughnutting, it looks as though there's a crowd of enthusiasts shouting, "Hear, hear!"
Part of the agreement on televising parliament barred cameras from showing anything other than the speaker. So other than reporters commenting on the practice of doughnutting, viewers would not be aware that anything is amiss.
Posted by: Lance Knobel | February 08, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Fascinating, Lance--thanks!
In the Israeli Knesset, would the practice be called bagelling?
Posted by: Nancy | February 08, 2008 at 11:32 AM