This word is acceptable for play in the US & UK dictionaries that are being used in the following games:

• Lexulous
• Wordscraper
• Wordosaur

v. To furnish a rational structure or meaning for.

v. To avoid psychological insight into (an emotional problem) by performing an intellectual analysis.

v. To treat in an intellectual manner; to discuss or express intellectually.

v. To endow with intellect; to bestow intellectual qualities upon; to cause to become intellectual.

v. (transitive) to find a seemingly rational explanation for something:

v. To treat in an intellectual manner; to discuss intellectually; to reduce to intellectual form; to express intellectually; to idealize.

v. To endow with intellect; to bestow intellectual qualities upon; to cause to become intellectual.

To treat or reason upon in an intellectual manner.

To inform or endow with intellect; cause to become intellectual; develop the intellect or intellectuality of.

To give or attribute an intellectual or ideal character or aspect to; idealize.

Also spelled intellectualise.

"In fact, "intellectualize" does appear to be a word meaning "to furnish a rational structure or meaning for," so I guess he's saying only liberals would judge "most liberal Senator" based on a rational meaning of "liberal.""

intellectualized    intellectualizes    intellectualizing   

overintellectualize   

idealize