These States

[YankeyMCC]

Seems like it's a small thing but I heard this one part of Mitt's speach last night where he said "If I become president of These United States..."

It immediately struck me as code, that is how THE United States was typically referred to prior to the Civil War.

A little subtle message that he will stand for good ol' Antebellum ideals.

[MadHound]

1. I think that you're reading too much into too little,

I've heard that phrasing several times throughout my life, including in Reader's Digest which used to have a humor column entitled "Life in These United States".

It is an old fashioned saying though.

[cali]

2. it's really not

sometimes we get ridiculous around here. it's just an old idiom.

The phrase "United States" was originally treated as plural—e.g., "the United States are"—including in the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1865. It became common to treat it as singular—e.g., "the United States is"—after the end of the Civil War. The singular form is now standard; the plural form is retained in the idiom "these United States".[21]

[dawg]

3. I agree. I think it was another dog whistle.

I should know. I hear them, you know.