Democrats embrace the f-bomb
Democrats are embracing the f-bomb in congressional campaign messaging as they seek to tap into their party’s anger.
In recent weeks, a number of newly launched Democratic hopefuls for key House and Senate seats have pledged to “unf‑‑‑ our country” or have urged their party to “drop the excuses and grow a f‑‑‑ing spine.”
The ads are indicative of the rising temperature in American politics generally, but they also underscore the ways politicians are trying to resonate with base voters, many of whom have expressed frustration with Democratic leaders.
“I think that in the case of the Democratic candidates … the swearing reflects their sense of crisis,” said Michael Adams, a lexicography expert and author of the book “In Praise of Profanity.”
“There's just a point at which the usual vocabulary will not be sufficiently expressive in the moment,” Adams said. “I suspect that this is a ‘no, I really mean it,’ type of emphasis … All of the niceties, all of the conventions, all that stuff — we have to put that aside because the situation in which we find ourselves is so dire politically, culturally and historically, that we just need to act.”
Democrat Nathan Sage last week launched his campaign by decrying that farmers have been “f‑‑‑ed over” and vowing to “kick corporate Republican [Sen.] Joni Ernsts’s a‑‑” in the midterms.
A spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) hit back, arguing that Democrats “seem obsessed with saying ‘f‑‑‑ing’ and ‘a‑‑’ as the strategy to win back the voters that rejected them in 2024.” They pointed The Hill to examples of sitting congressional Democrats leaning on the language lately.
Sage appears as the latest of a handful of Democratic hopefuls who have used strong language in their polished ads.
In New York, former journalist Mike Sacks earlier this month launched a Democratic challenge for Rep. Mike Lawler’s (R-N.Y.) Empire State seat, pledging to “unf‑‑‑ our........
© The Hill
