The American Civil War is more correctly called the War Between the States. It was after-all, not a civil war. Civil wars are when competing factions battle for control of a nation. During the War Between the States (usually called the War of Northern Aggression by Southerners) the South was battling for Independence, not for control over the Union. They had already lost that battle in Congress.

But in today's lexicon the terms are all pretty much interchangeable, with 'Civil War' being the most accepted, 'War Between the States' being the most correct, and 'War of Northern Aggression' being the most apropos.

But with yellow journalism becoming all too normal at the Washington Post - especially when it comes to Supreme Court nominee John Roberts - the choice of words can be minced to the point of absurdity.

A fastidious editor of other people's copy as well as his own, Roberts began with the words "Until about the time of the Civil War." Then, the Indiana native scratched out the words "Civil War" and replaced them with "War Between the States." [...]

While it is true that the Civil War is also known as the War Between the States, the Encyclopedia Americana notes that the term is used mainly by southerners. Sam McSeveney, a history professor emeritus at Vanderbilt University who specialized in the Civil War, said that Roberts's choice of words was significant.

"Many people who are sympathetic to the Confederate position are more comfortable with the idea of a 'War Between the States,' " McSeveney explained. "People opposed to the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s would undoubtedly be more comfortable with the words he chose."

That would be Democrats. It was Democrats who openly and continually opposed the civil rights movement, and it was Democrats who stood in the school house door. So by that logic it should stand to reason that it's Democrats who would be comfortable with Robert's choice of words. Perhaps Roberts was prescient and knew that one day he would need the support of Democrats to reach the Supreme Court, and chose his words accordingly.