WASHINGTON (AP), When Republican Rep. Bill Posey, Florida ended an Oct. 21 House speech with a fist pump as well as the phrase "Lets go Brandon!" it might have seemed strange and cryptic to those who were listening. The phrase was popularized by right-wingers and is now a common expression of support for Joe Biden.
South Carolina Republican Jeff Duncan donned a Lets Go Brandon mask at the Capitol last Wednesday. Ted Cruz, a Texas senator, posed with a Lets Go Brandon banner at the World Series. The photo was tweeted by Sen. Mitch McConnell's press secretary. It is a sign that depicts the phrase on a Virginia construction sign.
This line has been renamed conservative code for F- Joe Biden, which is a vulgar term that means Republicans want to show their conservative credentials.
Americans have grown used to having their leaders publicly criticized. Former President Donald Trump's often-coarse language seems to have expanded the boundaries of acceptable political speech.
How did Republicans come to the Brandon expression as a G-rated replacement for its vulgar three-word counterpart?
It began at Talladega Superspeedway, Alabama's Oct. 2 NASCAR race. Brandon Brown, a 28 year-old driver, was interviewing by an NBC Sports reporter after he had won his first Xfinity Series race. It was difficult at first to understand what the crowd behind him was singing. According to the reporter, they were cheering for Brandon. It became clearer that they were saying F- Joe Biden.
Although NASCAR and NBC took steps to reduce ambient crowd noise during interviews, it was too late for the phrase.
Protesters used both three-word phrases when the president visited a Chicago construction site a few weeks back to promote his vaccine-or-test mandate. As the president drove through Plainfield, N.J., Biden's motorcade passed a Lets Go Brandon banner.
Continue the story
On Monday, Biden was visiting a Virginia park to make an appearance for Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic candidate for governor. A group of protestors chanted "Let's Go Brandon!" Two protesters held up signs with profanity on hand-drawn signs and dropped the euphemism.
Friday morning, a Southwest flight from Houston was greeted by the pilot. He used the phrase "To audible gasps" to sign off his greeting.
Jim Innocenzi, a veteran GOP ad producer, was not afraid of the coded crudity and called it hilarious.
He said, "Unless you live in a cave you don't know what it means." It's done with a bit of class. If you object or take it too seriously, just go away.
America's presidents have been subject to meanness for centuries. Grover Cleveland was the victim of Ma, Ma Wheres My Pa? chants in 1880s because of rumors that he had fathered an unborn child. Poems that lean into racism and allegation of bigamy focused on Andrew Jackson and Thomas Jefferson.
Cal Jillson, a political expert and professor at Southern Methodist University's political science department, stated that we have a sense about the dignity of being president. This has been repeatedly violated to our horror throughout American history. Every new outrage is a source of horror.
There were many old outrages.
F- Trump graffiti can still be seen on many Washington, D.C. overpasses. George W. Bush was thrown a shoe in his face. Bill Clinton was criticised with such passion that his most vocal critics were called the Clinton crazies.
However, the most striking difference between the Grover Clevelands of old and current politicians is the amplifying they receive on social media.
Matthew Delmont, a Dartmouth College history professor, stated that there was not an easy way to voice your opinions before the advent of social media.
Because Twitter was so new, even the racism and vitriol that Barack Obama was subject to was temperate. Tik Tok was not available. Facebook was not a Tik Tok. Recently leaked company documents revealed that Facebook has been increasingly accepting hate speech and misinformation, and allowed it to flourish.
Some Americans were already upset before the Brandon moment. They believed the 2020 election was rigged, despite the mountain of evidence that has been presented. This has been proven true in court cases and recounts. Stanley Renshon is a City University of New York political scientist and psychoanalyst.
He mentioned the Afghanistan withdrawal, the Southern Border situation, and the fractious school board debates, as examples of situations where Biden critics believe that American institutions are lying to the American public about what they see and understand.
Trump has not missed the moment. The Save America PAC sells a $45 Tshirt with the slogan "Lets go Brandon" over an American flag. Supporters can send a message that reads #FJB, or LETS GO BRANDON. Trump would like you to wear our ICONIC shirt.
Separately, you will see T-shirts with the NASCAR logo and slogan on them in stores.
Things have not been easy for Brandon. His father owns a team that is short-staffed and underfunded. He drives for them. He was elated to win his first career victory, but the team has struggled for sponsorship since then and the existing partners have not promoted the driver since the slogan.
___
This report was contributed by Aamer Madhani and Mary Clare Jalonick of the Associated Press, Brian Slodysko and Jenna Fryer in Charlotte.
