The term "bloody shirt" is often used to describe a political tactic of exploiting past grievances or tragedies to rally support or attack opponents. However, there are several synonyms that can be used to describe this tactic in different ways. One common alternative is "playing the victim card," which implies that the person or group using the tactic is portraying themselves as unfairly persecuted. Another synonym is "whipping up resentment," which suggests that the tactic is aimed at stirring up negative emotions rather than addressing the actual issue. "Exploiting tragedy" can also be used to describe the tactic, emphasizing the manipulative nature of using past events to sway opinion.