Below is my column in the California Post and New York Post on the rise of profanity politics in the United States. Politicians today do not just solemnly swear, they can not stop swearing.
Here is the column:
“Respectfully, f–k off.” Those words by California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s spokesperson, Izzy Gardon, summed up the current race to the bottom of American politics.
Democrats appear in a competition of the profane where voters are now subject to a virtual carpet-bombing of f-bombs and other indecent language.
Gardon’s response was to a standard media inquiry after Newsom’s controversial statement to a black interviewer.
In an Atlanta event, Newsom declared: “I’m like you … I’m no better than you. I’m a 960 SAT guy … literally a 960 SAT guy. You’ve never seen me read a speech because I cannot read a speech.” It was widely denounced as racist, but Newsom insisted that he was only talking about his struggle with dyslexia.
The spin quickly fell apart after his statement, “I’m like you … I’m no better than you,” which suggested he thought the audience in Atlanta had low scores.
Reporters followed up to ask for proof about his disability, including his claim that “I cannot read.” The response was an f-bomb from Gardon.
Newsom, too, unleashed a profane attack on Sean Hannity of Fox News — who gave the California governor a chance to respond to his critics.
When Hannity criticized Newsom’s comments in Atlanta, the governor posted several four-letter words on X, concluding with: “Spare me your fake f—ing outrage.”
There was a time when political leaders maintained basic standards of civility and avoided profanity in public. Presidents like Lyndon Johnson could be quite salty in private, but drew a line in public.
Rporters followed up to ask for proof about his disability, including his claim that “I cannot read.” The response was an f-bomb from Gardon.
Notably, one of Richard Nixon’s objections to his tapes being made public was the inclusion of foul language used in the Oval Office. He noted in his book In the Arena that “since neither I nor most other presidents had ever used profanity in public, millions were shocked.”
It was not long ago that Trump’s then-new White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci shocked many with a profane diatribe. He defended it as “an Italian thing.”
At the time, I wrote that, as someone who was raised in an Italian family, we clearly had a different upbringing. I noted that if I used that language in public, my Sicilian grandmother would have ended the diatribe with a backhand.
Profanity sometimes added to the mystique of military leaders who sought to convey that they were unconcerned with social norms as warriors.
Gen. George Patton was known to drop some doozies. In one scene in the famous eponymous movie, Patton is asked about the Bible next to his bed and whether he really prayed. Patton responds, “I sure do … Every godd–n day…”
Politics was different. The public once looked to political leaders as role models who exemplified social norms.
It now appears that profanity is viewed as an essential element of political speech on the left.
Katie Porter this week thrilled a crowd by waving around a sign reading “F–k Trump.” Porter was previously criticized for using such language to abuse staffers to “get out of my f–cking shot” in an interview.
At the State of the Union, Rep. Rashida Tlaib wore a button on the House floor reading “F–k Ice.”
Such behavior is not just limited to Democrats. President Trump has used profanity on occasion.
However, the Democrats appear to have made profanity a signature element in their campaigns.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Texas, seems a perpetual profanity machine, regularly telling figures like Elon Musk to “f–k off” and dropping the f-bomb at a higher rate than prepositions.
Some are virtually giggly over swearing in public. Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.) declared, “I don’t swear in public very well, but we have to f–k Trump. Please don’t tell my children that I just did that.” The crowd roared with approval that Dexter was feigning being naughty with dirty words.
There is a belief that profanity is a way to connect to younger voters who trash-talk and seem to like what was once called “potty mouths.”
However, there is also a clear use of profanity as a way to establish your bona fides with the mob.
Trashing conventions of civility and decency is a way to convey that you are part of a radical chic.
Figures like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have tried cringeworthy efforts to connect with voters by dancing or cooking burgers. Schumer then joined his colleagues in dropping the f-bomb to show that he is very, very angry.
The use of profanity has risen alongside the rise in rage rhetoric.
Democratic politicians now regularly call Trump, Republicans, and law enforcement “Nazis” and “Gestapo.” Many are promising to carry out a crackdown on Trump supporters once they are returned to power, including through criminal prosecutions.
Figures like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have tried cringeworthy efforts to connect with voters.
The devolution of American politics is occurring as politicians and pundits call for radical changes to our constitutional system. Showing that you do not respect social conventions adds to your cache as a radical leader.
In my book Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution, I explore comparisons with our current politics and the conditions that led to the French Revolution.
There is a value to dehumanizing one’s opponents to justify radical, even violent, action. Profanity conveys your self-authenticating anger to the mob. You may be an establishment politician, but you are one of them.
It rarely lasts. Revolutions tend to devour their own.
Swearing up a storm will not satisfy the mob very long. Democrats hope to ride the rage wave back into power and assume that, once they have that power, the mob will simply disappear in gratitude.
It is likely that politicians of both parties will continue this trend toward potty-mouth politics. If you are speaking with civility, you are not mad enough.
These politicians are feeding a rage addiction in this country by showing that they do not respect any limits of decency or decorum in seeking radical changes.
Mark Twain said that “under certain circumstances, urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.” The difference today is that the profanity itself is a prayer by politicians seeking power.
There is a belief that, if you want to be sworn in as the new governor of California or senator from Texas, you’d better start swearing now.
Jonathan Turley is a law professor and the author of the New York Times bestselling “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution.”
Meh. Just like the value of a college degree today has become nearly moot, so will politicians using profanity. Ohhh! That person swore!! That makes them so much more . . . nothing.
Some people, including many politicians, seem to believe that if you insert profanity into your comments, that somehow makes them more compelling. ‘Dumb as a box of rocks’ captures the essence of such folks.
No excuse for profanity in politics by either party. It demeans the debate and reduces politics to basically an attempt at mob action. It also tends to inflame the other side and heighten the chance for mis-interpretation and then a wrong response which then raises tension even more.
I’m not sure what the Democrats think they are gaining by using so much profanity. To me it demeans almost everything they say and makes me wonder about what they are not saying and why.
Are their arguments so poor that have to resort to profanity to cover the lack or is a means of deflecting you from news that they would not like for you to hear.
I date much of their use of profanity from the appearance of DOGE and the wayward travels of our tax dollars in USAID and other schemes. Every discovery of burn bags, prohibited files, interference with law enforcement , corruption and graft in Minnesota, then California and then other blue states just seems to raise the decibel level of profanity.
Sort of like what you say when the adult walks into the kitchen and your hand is stuck in the cookie jar and there are cookies all over the floor. “Oh Darn” I guess does not cut it any more.
Obscenity in government is nothing new!!!
‘The Middle East Region Is Quieter Today Than It Has Been in Two Decades’ — National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan under Joseph Biden on Sept 31, 2023 at the Atlantic Festival Conference, 8 days before the famous October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. In justification of effective dismantlement of the Abraham Accords as one of the first acts of the Biden administration and the release of frozen Iranian Assets coordinated through Antony Blinken (then Secretary of State) through the
“There is no way for the Qataris to make this money accessible to Iran without the U.S. government’s permission. We were told the money was frozen after October 7, so the administration needs to confirm whether the funds are still indefinitely frozen or not.” — Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo
https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2024/10/07/iran-reaches-good-understanding-with-qatar-on-6-billion-of-frozen-assets-despite-earlier-u-s-assurances/
my immense respect for you and your commentary has just been increased knowing you were raised in an Italian family!
I’ve said this before: The ceiling of government competence is set by the floor of citizen capacity.
That echoes what James A. Garfield warned in 1876:
Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption.
We get the politics we reward. Raise the floor, raise the ceiling.
More stupid from olly.
Formerly common words which are rarely used these days: dignity; decorum; decorous; manners.
I don’t care about talk at this point
Republicans KNOW of 1000’s of Democrats crimes and NO ONE HAS BEEN PUT IN JAIL!
Broken Window theory. If you don’t fix problems…they get WORSE!
very clear at this point, Democrats are using Cheating and taxpayer funded public unions, colleges to fund electioneering.
They absolutely HATE Hate America.
The idea of people voting for the SUICIDE of America is astounding….but as Johnathon Gruber says
“Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage. And basically, call it the stupidity of the American voter or whatever, but basically that was really, really critical to getting the thing to pass.”
“. . . a virtual carpet-bombing of f-bombs and other indecent language.” (JT)
The Left degrades everything it touches: the Olympics, money, rights, America, the innocence of childhood, the media, education. And now it degrades the richness and the dignity of the English language.
The Left is an utterly mindless and nihilistic movement.
“These people are crazy” – Donald Trump said this during his 2026 State of the Union address, referring to Democrats who remained seated while his Republican colleagues applauded. He added, “Nobody stands up. These people are crazy, I’m telling you. They’re crazy.” The comment came after many Democrats refused to stand or clap in response to his remarks, with Trump expressing frustration over their lack of engagement.
But that’s acceptable.
Your party has spent a decade referring to Trump as a fascist Hitler wannabe comparable to almost every bad guy in history. But you think Trump calling Democrats “crazy” is unacceptable?
The reason he called them crazy is because Democrats refused to acknowledge that the purpose of government is to protect the interests of the American citizens who voted for them, rather than illegal aliens.
Have you considered the possibility that the Democrat position is considered crazy by most Americans?
My party, is the republican party. If Trump doses it, its acceptable? You are a stupid commenter.
Great column. You must admit the F-bomb does condense and clarify thought, even in its absence. Two examples. (1) Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s F-ICE button bomb. She could have said on that button, “I resent what ICE is doing, using excessive force, violating due process, and exercising other inhuman acts.” Just the one F-word brought clarity. (2) I was having trouble making my Bucket List until I thought to change the single letter “B” to an “F.” Bingo! The list was completed in minutes.
The pearl-clutching is always adorable.
Orgasm
How dare you, that’s disgusting. I demand that management remove that dirty comment. Just kidding.
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me … MAGAots, time to grow up.
You mean libs..
No, the MAGAots.
The ONLY thing elections sort for is the ability to win elections. Elections do not sort for who is the most virtuous; most honest; who proposes the best policy; or even necessarily majority support (a significant minority of Americans who could vote choose not to).
That’s not a cynical view. It is a statement of fact.
You can be 100% certain that if they are using profanity at an increasing rate, they are doing so solely because they believe it will help them win. Period. It’s likely been focus grouped, polled, surveyed, etc. as a winning tactic in a strategy to win.
View? Didn’t understand a word you wrote.
Admitting you are poor at reading comprehension is commendable. Don’t give up. Keep trying. You may eventually get the hang of it. We’ll all be rooting for you.
Check the grammar and spelling. SF
So democrats use flowery language, enhances the message. But Reps don’t? Read the comments here later today. Or just check past comments.
Profanity is the ultimate refuge of those too ignorant to formulate a cogent argument, due to their elevation of feelings over facts. Time for John Gray, Ph.D to write the sequel: “Conservatives Are From Mars; Liberals Are From Venus”
Gordy, GFY.
Just kidding. Hopefully you reps can take a joke.
Refuge? Swearing? Well it depends eh? Using it as a campaign slogan… what’s the problem? Its all about votes.
I recall how the Reps here went after K. Harris, Biden, Newsom, Smith etc. Yeah, that’s different?
Yes, different. Those were audiences yelling Let’s Go Brandon. Politicians were generally polite in describing Harris as Willie Brown’s former mistress and her fourth-string entertainment lawyer husband as a nanny-impregnator. Sleepy Joe is much more polite than other terms for an aged person in lala land.
Democrats are using profanity because they cannot use logic and good ideas to defeat the other side. Violence and cursing are the things to which these leftwing fascists always resort.
Logic, ideas? Are you really that lame in the mind? And still people are voting democrat.