Grammstanding (grandstanding, after Senator Phil Gramm)
“Grammstanding” is a political term that’s derived from the name of former Texas Senator Phill Gramm (1985-2002). Although there is a citation of “grammstanding” from 1984, the term was essentially coined and popularized by Democratic State Senator (and former Fort Worth Mayor) Hugh Parmer, Gramm’s Senate opponent in 1989.
“Grandstanding” is playing to impress a crowd (as a baseball player to fans in sitting in a “grandstand”). Parmer stated that “grandstanding” is going out of one’s way to take great credit for something one did. “Grammstanding,” according to Parmer, is taking undeserved credit for matters you voted against (or had nothing to do with) and hoping no one will notice.
Phil Gramm is no longer a Texas senator and the term “grammstanding” has faded, but it still has some currency.
The Free Dictionary
grand·stand
n.
1. A roofed stand for spectators at a stadium or racetrack.
2. The spectators or audience at an event.
intr.v. grand·stand·ed, grand·stand·ing, grand·stands
To perform ostentatiously so as to impress an audience.
Wikipedia: Phil Gramm
William Philip “Phil” Gramm (born July 8, 1942, in Fort Benning, Georgia, USA) is an American politician who served as a Democratic Congressman (1978–1983), a Republican Congressman (1983–1985) and a Republican Senator from Texas (1985–2002).
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In 1990, Gramm won his second term with an easy victory over Democratic State Senator (and former Fort Worth Mayor) Hugh Parmer, even as fellow Republican Clayton Williams was narrowly losing the governorship to Ann Richards.
29 September 1984, Dallas (TX) Morning News:
“We call it “Grammstanding.” Gramm could not be reached for comment Friday.
Austin (TX) American-Statesman
Foe says `Grammstanding’ raises standard of hypocrisy
Author: Dave McNeely AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Date: April 6, 1989 Publication: Austin American-Statesman Page Number: A15
Grandstanding is going out of one’s way to get credit for something they did. “Grammstanding,” however, is taking “undeserved credit for matters you voted against and hope no one will notice.” That new word and definition was coined by state Sen. Hugh Parmer, the Fort Worth Democrat who hopes next year to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm.
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From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (PopeC)
Date: Mon, 07 Sep 92 22:49:44 CDT
Local: Mon, Sep 7 1992 11:49 pm
Subject: Re: Phil Gramm
He also has a habit of what is called here in Texas, “Grammstanding.” That is, taking credit for projects that other Texas politicians were responsible for, and in many cases even opposed. He likes to set up press conferences to crow about these things and it has left a lot of Texas congressman almost apoplectic with rage to see Gramm get lots of air time, and credit for things on which he did essentially nothing. Except have a better understanding of how to manipulate the press. And he was one of the masterminds of Reaganomics. He has a degree in economics, but then so did David Stockman. But a lot of the Reagan right, as opposed to the religous right likes him very well.
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From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (Matthew James Hunter)
Date: 25 Feb 1995 14:38:43 GMT
Local: Sat, Feb 25 1995 10:38 am
Subject: Re: The Strange Case of Phil Gramm, Pt. 1
: RIght; Philbert has been honored by a new word, “Grammstanding”. It
: means taking credit for something one has done his best to oppose. That
: he dodged the draft dosen’t bother me much;
Google Books
USA Phrasebook:
Understanding Americans & Their Culture
by Colleen Cotter and Sally Steward
Lonely Planet
2001
Pg. 163 (Texas Talk):
Texas Senator Phil Gramm flirted briefly with a Presidential bid in 1996. When his campaign failed to draw support from his senatorial colleagues, the explanation was Grammstanding, a term senators had coined for Gramm’s habit of taking credit for the work of others.
Slate
Phil Gramm
Good riddance to the naysayer
By David Plotz
Posted Friday, Sept. 7, 2001, at 8:30 PM ET
(...)
(One of his rivals coined a term for Gramm’s habit of going home to Texas to take credit for spending bills he has nothing to do with: “Grammstanding.”)
Austin (TX) Chronicle (September 21, 2001)
Capitol Chronicle
Pride and Prejudice: Farewell to Phil Gramm—the Journalist’s Friend
BY MICHAEL KING
With apologies to Jane Austen, it is a truth universally acknowledged (at least in the newspaper business) that what’s good for the country is bad for journalism. Those of us who make a living as carpal-tunneled wretches are wearing black armbands for the torch-passing of Sen. Phil Gramm, who supplied more ready-made material over the years than any number of good-government types. Gramm’s pending retirement from the Senate leaves the unhappy prospect that we’ll all have to go back to work
(...)
That particular hypocrisy is only a special case of Gramm’s broader legislative record, which happily contributed to the Texas political lexicon the word “grammstanding.” Grammstanding is taking public credit for some legislative action—particularly some home-state spending program—which you either directly opposed or else had nothing to do with. The speed with which Gramm’s self-congratulatory press releases hit the wires following the passage of some expenditure he had in fact obstructed or ignored achieved legendary status among reporters: hence the honorific which, like “gerrymander,” will survive him.