A Motherfucking Mistake

Let me preface this blog entry by conveying that it is absolutely acceptable to criticize ideas, politicians, and anyone you support. Similarly, one should be open to criticism and should be constantly reexamining their own beliefs. Without this, there is no growth.

Yesterday Freshman Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), when speaking to supporters at an event on the night of her swearing in, said:

    “when your son looks at you and says ‘mama, look you won, bullies don’t win.’ And I say ‘baby, they don’t’ because we’re gonna go in there and we’re gonna impeach the motherfucker.”

Dropping the motherfucker bomb was a colossal mistake.

I have been known to drop fuck bombs often, but I don’t do that at work (unless I am in a private conversation with a close colleague). I have two voices: my professional voice and my personal / artistic voice, the one that has no problem saying the word fuck. I also don’t have a problem with women dropping fuck bombs. I have been a fan of Madonna for over thirty years and can’t think of any other entertainer, male or female, who has dropped more fuck bombs. But note, she is an entertainer, not a politician.

I have come to realize, in my middle age, that the overuse of swear words is just a lazy way of expressing yourself or the individual simply does not have a good command of the language—something Trump demonstrates everyday whether in front of the camera or on Twitter. In essence, what Tlaib did what stoop down to Trump’s level. She also gave him what he wanted.

Trump and other conservatives will now use Tlaib’s motherfucker bomb as an endless talking point to steer the conversation away from the real pressing issues. And of course, the bigots are going to endlessly EMPHASIZE the fact that she is a Muslim. The rules for a politician of color are not the same; Obama would never have been elected if his credentials were as paper thin as Trump’s.

Earlier today, I commented on a Twitter posting that supported Tlaib that this was a mistake and people responded with comments that she conveyed what we were thinking. One person responded that intelligent people swear more and that I should Google the studies. How do you explain Trump? Also, some additional context is needed beyond that overshared article and meme. One ridiculous post actually said that no one should criticize Tlaib because Trump sat there smiling while Kanye dropped the fuck bomb in the Oval Office. Again, Kanye, like Trump, is an entertainer. The most vexing were the ones that tried to justify her behavior by saying that Trump does it. No. I agree with the line of thought that we cannot normalize Trump’s lack of decorum, which Tlaib did by acting like him.

Our politicians are not entertainers and should be held to a higher standard. Speaking eloquence is not required, but expletives are always inexcusable. The most scandalous thing I want the politicians I support to do is to wear a tan suit.

edwinroman.com

5 comments

  1. I see your point, and here’s where I diverge with you: whether she says it or not, there is going to be ZERO respect for Democrats coming from Republicans, both politicians and the rank and file. Distractions have been flying at such as high rate that it couldn’t matter less. Look at how they use AOC’s dancing against her. If it’s not one thing, it will be the next. I’ve noticed this throughout Trump’s presidency. We may not like it, but the rules have changed. I don’t think it will have any negative effect on the narrative moving forward. What it DID do is to send a very clear and strong message to that traitor and his protectors. For a group who has exhibited meekness far too often, Democrats can use this type of fire. Much respect for your well thought out post, though. As I said, in a pre-Trump world, I would have agreed with you wholly.

    1. You are absolutely correct. Republicans have been spitting on our democracy for decades now. But did you see how them trying to scandalize Ocasio-Cortez: it backfired spectacularly because she wasn’t doing anything wrong. And then when she released that video today of her as dancing congresswoman, it essentially squashed this. That won’t happen here. And what makes it worse is that she is a Muslim Woman of Color—this is a gift-wrapped package for Fox “news.” As far as I know, Maxine Waters, who doesn’t hold back, has never used an expletive and is quite effective.

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