By now, you’ve probably heard that Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry dropped a bomb over the weekend.
If you hadn’t heard, relax.
It wasn’t a smart bomb or a dirty bomb, it was an f-bomb.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Kerry said, “When I voted for the war, I voted for what I thought was best for the country. … Did I expect George Bush to f– it up as badly as he did? I don’t think anybody did.”
White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card said on CNN’s “Late Edition,” “That’s beneath John Kerry. I’m very disappointed that he would use that kind of language.” He went on to imply that Sen. Kerry owed the president an apology.
But apparently people in the White House have heard the word before. In March, Time magazine reported that, during a discussion on Iraq, the president poked his head into Condoleezza Rice’s office and said: “F– Saddam, we’re taking him out.” In either case, my question is, what the hell is wrong with that?
Let’s get real, people. Most of us utter, or at least overhear, that word more than once a day. Whether it’s picked up by a sideline mic during an NFL telecast, or uttered on-camera (with a half-assed attempt at bleeping) during an MTV awards show, the f-word just ain’t what it used to be.
I’m not advocating that the word be introduced into grade school curriculum, but we don’t live in the 1950s anymore. As desensitized as we are to violence, the same can be said about swear words. They’re everywhere (except, admittedly, in most newspapers, including this one). From Eminem to the Osbournes, from video games such as Vice City to anti-Cubs T-shirts hawked by street vendors on the South Side.
To its credit, the Kerry campaign isn’t backing down. Reps say Kerry is a Vietnam vet who saw combat action and was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Maybe, they say, the president should concentrate more on his Iraq policy than on Sen. Kerry’s language. Good for them. I think it’s refreshing to have a candidate like Kerry who is passionate, real and not afraid to appear that way.
Granted, I’m not sure of Kerry’s stance on all the big issues. But there’s plenty of time to research those before the election. The senator’s use of the queen mother of all swear words isn’t enough, in itself, to earn my vote. But it sure doesn’t hurt him, in my eyes.
Some of you may argue that using the f-bomb may make Kerry appear less capable of diplomacy. I invite you to watch David Letterman, who often features videotape of the president stumbling over his words, or spitting loogies on the White House lawn. And let’s not forget the president used the word on the record too.
We all can debate Bush’s policy in Iraq, but in the end what matters is that U.S. soldiers are still over there, laying their lives on the line, and they need our support. Kerry voted in favor of the war at first, and now, he has a different opinion, and he wasn’t afraid to express it. Candidates (and former presidents) have done a lot worse.
Besides, wouldn’t it be nice if the only bombs our president ever had to drop were f-bombs?
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joesteph@concentric.net
