WTF? Embracing profanity is one thing both political parties seem to agree on

By STEVEN SLOAN Associated Press WASHINGTON AP As he shook President Barack Obama s hand and pulled him in for what he thought was a private aside Vice President Joe Biden delivered an explicit message This is a big f deal The remark overheard on live microphones at a ceremony for the Affordable Care Act caused a sensation because open profanity from a national leader was exceptional at the time More than years later vulgarity is now in vogue During a political rally Tuesday night in Pennsylvania that was intended to focus on tackling inflation President Donald Trump used profanity at least four times At one point he even admitted to disparaging Haiti and African nations as shithole countries during a private meeting a comment he denied at the time And before a bank of cameras during a lengthy Cabinet meeting last week the Republican president referred to alleged drug traffickers as sons of b -s While the Biden event was accidental the frequency sharpness and masses nature of Trump s comments are intentional They build on his project to combat what he sees as pervasive political correctness Leaders in both parties are seemingly in a race now to the verbal gutter Vice President JD Vance arrives before the lighting of the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse Thursday Dec near the White House in Washington AP Photo Julia Demaree Nikhinson FILE President Joe Biden speaks about the business sector at Prince George s Group College Center for the Performing Arts Sept in Largo Md AP Photo Alex Brandon File Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N Y speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill Wednesday Dec in Washington AP Photo Mark Schiefelbein Rep Jasmine Crockett D-Texas speaks to reporters after announcing her run in the Democratic primary for U S Senate Monday Dec in Dallas AP Photo LM Otero Show Caption of Vice President JD Vance arrives before the lighting of the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse Thursday Dec near the White House in Washington AP Photo Julia Demaree Nikhinson Expand Vice President JD Vance called a podcast host a dips t in September In Thanksgiving remarks before troops Vance joked that anyone who declared they liked turkey was full of s - After one National Guard member was killed in a shooting in Washington last month and a second was critically injured top Trump aide Steven Cheung communicated a reporter on social media to shut the f - up when she wrote that the deployment of troops in the nation s capital was for political show Among Democrats former Vice President Kamala Harris earned a roar of approval from her audience in September when she condemned the Trump administration by saying these mother - are crazy After Trump called for the execution of several Democratic members of Congress last month Sen Chris Murphy D-Conn announced it was time for people with influence to pick a f side Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York commented the administration cannot f - around with the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files Democratic Rep Jasmine Crockett who on Monday released her Senate campaign in Texas did not hold back earlier this year when requested what she would tell Elon Musk if given the chance F - off The volley of vulgarities underscore an ever-coarsening political climate that often plays out on social media or other digital platforms where the posts or video clips that evoke the strongest emotions are rewarded with the preponderance engagement If you want to be angry at someone be angry at the social media companies Utah Gov Spencer Cox a Republican disclosed Tuesday night at Washington National Cathedral where he spoke at an event focused on political civility It s not a fair fight They ve hijacked our brains They understand these dopamine hits Outrage sells Cox whose national profile rose after calling for civility in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk s assassination in his state approved an overhaul of social media laws meant to protect children A federal judge has temporarily blocked the state law Tough political talk is nothing new Tough talk is nothing new in politics but leaders long avoided flaunting it Recordings from Democrat Lyndon B Johnson s administration for instance revealed a crude profane side of his personality that was largely kept private Republican Richard Nixon bemoaned the fact that the foul language he used in the Oval Office was captured on tape Since neither I nor the greater part other Presidents had ever used profanity in populace millions were shocked Nixon wrote in his book In the Arena Related Articles Trump floats autopen assessment into Biden s Fed nominees The Latest Hegseth tells congressional leaders he is weighing release of boat strike video Trump strays from script at Poconos rally calling affordability a hoax and Pa a dumping ground for immigrants EPA eliminates mention of fossil fuels in website on warming s causes Scientists call it misleading What are parents to do as doctors clash with Trump administration over vaccines Politicians have invariably sworn just behind closed doors noted Benjamin Bergen a professor at the University of California-San Diego s Department of Cognitive Science and the author of What the F What swearing reveals about our language our brains and ourselves The big change is in the past years or so it s been much more society As both parties prepare for the midterm elections and the presidential campaign the question is whether this language will become increasingly mainstream Republicans who completely try to imitate Trump s brash style do not constantly succeed with voters Democrats who turn to vulgarities liability appearing inauthentic if their words feel forced For specific it is just a distraction It s not necessary reported GOP Rep Don Bacon of Nebraska who is retiring next year after winning five elections in one of the most of competitive House districts If that s what it takes to get your point across you re not a good communicator There are risks of overusing profanity There also is a peril that if such language becomes overused its utility as a way to shock and connect with audiences could be dulled Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has talked about this obstacle noting that he used swear words in his early routines but dropped them as his career progressed because he felt profanity yielded only cheap laughs I felt like well I just got a laugh because I stated f - in there he mentioned in a interview on the WTF podcast with fellow comedian Marc Maron You didn t find the gold White House spokesperson Liz Huston explained Trump doesn t care about being politically correct he cares about Making America Great Again The American people love how authentic transparent and effective the President is But for Trump the words that have generated the majority of conflict are often less centered in traditional profanity than slurs that can be interpreted as hurtful The final weeks of his campaign were rocked when a tape emerged of him discussing grabbing women by their genitals language he minimized as locker room talk His shithole remark in was widely condemned as racist More in recent times Trump called a female journalist piggy comments that his press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended as evidence of a president who is very frank and honest Trump s use of a slur about disabled people prompted an Indiana Republican whose child has Down syndrome to come out in opposition to the president s push to redraw the state s congressional districts On rare occasions politicians express contrition for their choice of words In an interview with The Atlantic published last week Gov Josh Shapiro D-Pa dismissed Harris depiction of him in her book about last year s presidential campaign by saying she was trying to sell books and cover her a He seemed to catch himself speedily I shouldn t say cover her a he revealed I think that s not appropriate