In the conclusion to All the President’s Spin, we argue that it’s important to stigmatize the use of PR tactics by embarrassing politicians who robotically repeat talking points and buzzwords (like “The Daily Show” does). So it’s good to see a columnist for The Hill mocking Deborah Pryce and John Boehner for their hackery in promoting the new catchphrase “terrorist tribunals” (via Josh Marshall):

During a Tuesday meeting of the House Republican conference, Conference Chairwoman Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio) unveiled a handy new rhetorical device aimed at furthering House Republicans tough-on-terrorism national security agenda.

Instead of referring to military tribunals as, well, the military tribunals that they are and have been known as throughout their entire existence, House Republicans should start referring to them as “terrorist tribunals,” to emphasize the bad guys they will be trying. (Very clever. Never mind that good ol’ American adage “innocent until proven guilty.”)

But even after Pryce’s instructions, House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) needed a reminder. When he rose to speak about next week’s floor schedule, according to our fly on the wall, he mentioned “military tribunals for suspected terrorists.” He then caught himself, looked at Pryce, and asked, “What is it again?”

Pryce corrected Boehner, who then amended his speech with the by-the-playbook phrase “terrorist tribunals.”