Our leading lights are embracing the political low road

Yahoo

23-04-2025

Apr. 23—In 1992, Iowa U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin went searching for a gimmick to draw attention to his campaign for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.
The populist firebrand eventually settled on the use of profanity as a means of appearing authentic.
Harkin failed as a candidate, eventually endorsing rival Bill Clinton. But he succeeded in drawing attention — both positive and negative — to his embrace of the then-un-embraceable: public use of profanity.
Harper's magazine thought Harkin's vocabulary so unique that it counted the frequency of Harkin's use of the "B" word, an adjective intended to portray his opponent's positions as "misleading or deceptive."
"Number of times Senator Tom Harkin used the word [expletive] in public speeches last summer: 17," it reported.
In his own way, Harkin has proved to be a rhetorical trailblazer.
These days, politicians in both parties routinely and publicly use what is considered foul language.
In addition to calling his opponents "losers" and "scumbags," President Donald Trump has employed vulgar adjectives to make his points.
Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin once professed to be scandalized because Trump, in a first-term private meeting, used a profane adjective to describe the country of Haiti.
These days, Durbin's fellow Democrats fire one expletive after another at the political opposition.
Illinois' junior U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth has dropped a series of "F" bombs to denounce Trump, chastise former cable program host Tucker Carlson and challenge the credibility of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
In a recent interview, she added to her repertoire by accusing Trump of defecating (not her specific word) on the American flag.
The insulting language has gone beyond profanity to meanness.
Texas U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett recently lampooned Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as "Governor Hot Wheels," an obviously demeaning reference to a disability that requires him to use a wheelchair.
Forbes magazine in 2012 asked, "When Can a Politician Use Profanity, If Ever?" Seven years later, Politico answered that question with a story headlined, "F-bombs away: Why lawmakers are cursing now more than ever."
It's nothing new for those who hold positions high or low to express themselves in vulgar terms. For some, it's part of their private vocabularies, and politicians are no exception, even if they pretend otherwise.
When he was vice president, Richard Nixon praised President Dwight Eisenhower for restoring clean language to the White House, a clear reference to President Truman's expletive-laden vocabulary.
Decades later, the White House tapes revealed a private Nixon who was so profane that the Rev. Billy Graham, a longtime friend, said the tapes revealed a side of Nixon he did not know.
CNN has identified other famously foul-mouthed-in-private politicians including Trump, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Dick Cheney, George W. Bush and John Kerry.
But what's with the public displays? And how does it go over with their audiences?
It's a sign of the times.
National writer Noah Rothman said "these crass displays" could be interpreted as "earthy expressions of candor" that are applauded by those who agree with the speaker.
But he said they are more likely a tactic that can be characterized as "an anti-intellectual shtick aimed at manipulating the audience into exhibiting an emotional response to otherwise deficient stimuli."
In other words, those who cannot make a cogent argument engage in name-calling to state their cases. Loudness does not equate with logic, but the name of the political game is tapping into audience emotions, resentments and grievances by any means necessary.
Some, of course, object on grounds of taste alone. But it's a new world, for good or ill, and that ship sailed long ago.