[11] The term called zo gaau [zh] (Chinese: 左膠; Jyutping: zo2 gaau1) is widely used for similar effect in Hong Kong, which literally means "left dumbass" or "leftard".
[12][13] This term began appearing in Hong Kong political discourse in the 2010s, first in traditional media outlets and quickly spreading to online communication.
[18][22] The Tagalog term dilawan, which means 'yellow ones' in reference to the color of liberalism as an ideology and movement (cf., pulahan for 'Reds'),[23] is used to describe a "discredited brand of transactional reform politics" en vogue since the 1986 People Power Revolution (EDSA I).
[27] The term's usage originated in the 1980s as a pejorative for Liberal Party loyalists and politically aligned groups or individuals,[28] often associated with the genteel English-speaking elite.
[34][35][36] More than a decade prior to Duterte's election, in January 2001, the EDSA II protests, which have been denounced by critics as unrepresentative and elitist,[27][37][38] culminated in the resignation under pressure of then-president Joseph Estrada and the installation of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as his successor.
Arroyo, educated abroad and fluent in multiple colonial languages, was highly regarded in liberal elite circles in contrast to Estrada,[39] a university dropout whose proficiency in English was wanting.
[42] Duterte, while fluent in English, has similarly run afoul of the liberal elite,[43] which repeatedly draws attention not only to his questionable antics—deplored by no less than his daughter Sara—but also to his frequent use of gutter language.
[43][45][46] Such attitudes have been described as a desire on the part of the liberal elite to "demonize" detractors by portraying them as somehow morally or intellectually deficient,[47][48] as well as incapable of critical thought.
[60] The term Hampstead Socialist was regularly used by Nick Griffin, the former leader of the British National Party[61][62][63] and the phrase "North London metropolitan liberal elite" has been used by Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Simon Danczuk, the then-Labour MP for Rochdale, commented that Thornberry's tweet furthers the perception that the Labour Party "has been hijacked by the north London liberal elite".
Columnist Dave Barry drew attention to these stereotypes when he commented, "Do we truly believe that ALL red-state residents are ignorant racist fascist knuckle-dragging NASCAR-obsessed cousin-marrying roadkill-eating tobacco-juice-dribbling gun-fondling religious fanatic rednecks; or that ALL blue-state residents are godless unpatriotic pierced-nose Volvo-driving France-loving left-wing communist latte-sucking tofu-chomping holistic-wacko neurotic vegan weenie perverts?