“Democrats embrace the f-bomb,” reads the headline on the current No. 1 most-read story on The Hill newspaper’s website.
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.”
First of all, the election is more than a year-and-a-half away, a lifetime in politics. If you are already dropping the f-bomb, you have nowhere else to go, rhetorically. Second, if everyone is dropping the f-bomb, all the time, it quickly losses its novelty, impact, and shock value.
I get that Democrats are angry at their sudden and unexpected complete loss of power. But as I move about the world, I don’t see that anger being shared with the rest of America. And winning in 2026 will require earning at least a few votes beyond the Democratic base.
The Hill includes several quotes from someone described as “a lexicography expert,” which appears to be a real word.
The Hill provides a case study,
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.
I guess we’ll find out how that plays in Iowa along with threatening physical violence against women and trying to convince voters that Republicans are the party of corporate America.
You may recall those few days early this year when Democrats were “fighting the oligarchy” while unable to name more than one or two members of the Forbes 400 list of billionaires not on their side.
The Hill story continues on from here to run for another 1,000 words (I’m not kidding). Mostly it makes the obvious point that none of this is spontaneous or heartfelt on the part of Democrats. It’s the highly-scripted result of deliberate choices made by highly-paid campaign consultants.
To which I say…
