I remember it popping up in the 60's (but that's about as far back as I go). Political correctness in it's present form has roots in the 70's, from the Revisionist history movement, and left of center political and educational institutions. It always tickled me that everybody was fighting The Establishment, and the Man, but everyone was doing it in exactly the same way..;) You had to show how free you were by dressing, talking, and acting like everyone else. Some freedom..;)

There's always been dissent on both sides of the isle, but the term Politically Correct is very much a late-20th Century concept. 

As for the Bushies, they're relative neighbors to my family (we're one of the founders of Waco, TX. It's a city between the Branch Davidian compound, and the Bush Ranch..don't mess with us..;) It's political InCorrectness that they preach.

With any school of thought, you're going to have

1. people who practice it in the sense of smug superiority of anyone who doesn't believe the same way, and
2. people who have to show the 1st group up by being even stricter on themselves and others, and ruining it for everyone else.

I think the quote (several pages back), is

A Puritan is someone who can't sleep at night knowing someone, somewhere, is having a good time..;)
Instead of landing on Plymouth rock, Plymouth Rock has landed on them...;)" - Cole Porter..;)

I wish I'd said that.. The Staircase Wit

anahl nathrak uth vas betude doth yel dyenvey..;)