How do you like weasel words like prochoice, probusiness and affirmative action?

Question

Why are lowrent flacks able to persuade news editors to adopt and use proactive and more pleasant weasel words?

Answer 1

Like changing "illegal immigrates" into "undocumented workers?" Or changing the "War Department" into the "Department of Defense"? Or making "terrorists" into "insurgents?" Or, as you point out, making "ProAbortion" somehow the same as "ProChoice?"

We must learn to read into the words, and not just let the media spoon feed us what their agenda dujour happens to be.