Biden F-Bomb: Polls Show Majority Of Americans Not Suffering From Lingering Effects

Greg Sargent has the rundown on the impact of Vice President Joe Biden using the phrase "big fucking deal" a few weeks ago -- and, apparently, it wasn't much of a big fucking deal.

From a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll:

As you may have heard, Vice President Joe Biden used foul language to describe how important he thought passage of the new health care bill was when he whispered to President Obama "this is a big expletive deal" -- do you think the vice president's use of foul language to describe the bill was offensive, or not?

Yes, offensive: 37%

No, not offensive: 57%

Yes, well, no surprise here. Sure, the good people of America take care to observe proper decorum in instances that call for it -- i.e. not loudly swearing in church and whatnot -- but in casual conversation and unguarded moments where we suspect no one is listening, actual real-live people in the world get mad salty.

That's just the real world of human interaction. William Shakespeare, the greatest English language writer in history, penned ornate sex jokes for the Queen of England (there's a reason I snicker whenever I hear a politician say "Country matters!"). Like Biden, even Peggy Noonan -- the only human being I think is actively attempting to speak in iambic pentameter at all times -- drops in the odd swear word when she thinks she's far enough away from the microphone.

Most people don't get worked up over this, because most people aren't mewling, doe-eyed infants. (57% sounds about right to me, actually.)

(Also? Know who also isn't much of a BFD, according to this poll? Sarah Palin! Sargent notes that "a majority, 51%, say that if Sarah Palin campaigns with a candidate, it will make them less likely to support that person." Again: duh.)

RELATED:
Fox News Polls Biden's "F-Bomb," Gets Wrong Answer [The Plum Line]

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Comments

[Cubroncs03]

04:35 PM on 04/25/2010

Who gives a crap if it was offensive - - Where can I buy that Shirt!?!

[Lulubelle1]

11:28 PM on 04/10/2010

I thought Veep Biden's excitement was contagious and endearing.

Once they heard about it, even my kids thought it was great. They've heard me in salty moments plenty of times, and don't find it offensive. Half the time, they find it funny, and half the time, they know I mean business, depending on context.

We all know that there are times and places where we will be with people who find such language coarse or vulgar, but that doesn't make any words themselves "bad" or "wrong."

Expletives perform some necessary and important functions in language, and exist in every language. They convey vehemence, demonstrate strong emotion, establish informality, allow deliberate infliction of non-physical offense, and provide bonding opportunities between like-minded people.

Those who are offended and those of us who are not are obviously NOT like-minded people. Works for me.

[Iowafarmgal]

03:30 PM on 04/10/2010

I found our Vice President's language to be trashy, and vulgar. He is second in command of the one the largest countries in the world, and he has to talk like a bar rag???? This country is getting dumber by the day, and our standard of excellence has gone the way of the wind. Our language reflects our mentality, and our ethical standards. Biden has disgraced us in front of the world.

[Santo2]

10:55 PM on 04/10/2010

Excuse me. Melvina.

[Santo2]

11:15 PM on 04/10/2010

Too bad for You. My other comment got scrubbed,
so the Melvina comment makes no sense. The powers that be,
here on this site are as blue nosed as yourself.

[ChelseaC]

02:20 PM on 04/10/2010

It's just too bad we didn't get "reform". We got "deform" instead.

Tune into PBS-Frontline on Tuesday night--check your local listings.

For links on REAL health CARE reform--yeah-- the kind of reform for We The People:

http://www.pnhp.org/
http://www.healthcare-now.org

[TrueBud]

11:02 AM on 04/10/2010

And don't forget, this is a Fox News "poll", so there is an intrinsic anti-Biden skew. Which means the real numbers are likely not 57/37 but closer to 80/20.

[Mover]

09:32 AM on 04/11/2010

And, of course Fox News is BUNCH OF LIARS and propagandists.

Too funny.

Unlike progressive legacy media, who get "shivers up ... leg", this is one news outlet that asks the tough questions, even when they know they may not get an answer.

[TrueBud]

02:57 PM on 04/11/2010

Oh, you're right. They ask "tough" questions. To progressives, Democrats and moderates. If by "tough" you mean loaded, biased, distorted questions designed to impugn.

Tell me Mover, when did you stop beating your wife?

Don't stop me now, I'm asking you the "tough" questions nobody else will.

[CabinGuy]

10:06 PM on 04/09/2010

These shirts are so cool. If your are a nerd. Hair plug Joe is a hipster.

[judesedit]

12:11 AM on 04/10/2010

I love it. I have to have one...or two. I'm so happy about the healthcare bill, I'll probably pay double for the heck of it. So sorry you haven't been doing your homework, or you'd be saying the same thing. This isn't just about you, it's about the millions of other people in the country, too. Yippee!!

[rfrey]

07:24 PM on 04/09/2010

F***in' way to go Joe!

[SoCalNick]

04:54 PM on 04/09/2010

Dear Cabin guy

You and your comments on this issue prove 2 things.

1) You are an example of what happens when the slowest swimmer makes it to mommy's egg first.

2) You have something in common with he uni bomber. You live in a cabin and no one likes you.

That is all

[CabinGuy]

10:05 PM on 04/09/2010

I am sure you have a number of these shirts in triple x size.

[Mover]

12:03 PM on 04/12/2010

Reveal the secret. How would the slowest guy get there first?

Oh wait. He got help from the government/ No, that wouldn't account for it either as anyone's experience will show you, the feds only slow things down

Too funny

[booker52]

04:39 PM on 04/09/2010

I want that T-shirt

[prettyinpink]

02:59 PM on 04/09/2010

BFD unless you are a senior and have paid most of your working life into a system that will now help those making up to $88K per year.

Cuts to Medicare:
2009:
•Medicare cuts to hospitals begin (long‐term care (7/1/09) and inpatient and rehabilitation facilities (FY10))

2010:
•Medicare cuts to inpatient psych hospitals (7/1/10)

2011:
•Medicare Advantage cuts begin
•Medicare cuts to home health begin
•Wealthier seniors ($85k/$170k) begin paying higher Part D premiums (not indexed for inflation in Parts B/D)
•Medicare reimbursement cuts when seniors use diagnostic imaging like MRIs, CT scans, etc.
•Medicare cuts begin to ambulance services, ASCs, diagnostic labs, and durable medical equipment
•Prohibition on Medicare payments to new physician‐owned hospitals
•Seniors prohibited from purchasing power wheelchairs unless they first rent for 13 months
•New Medicare cuts to long‐term care hospitals begin (7/1/11)
•Additional Medicare cuts to hospitals and cuts to nursing homes and inpatient rehab facilities begin (FY12)

2012:
•Medicare cuts to dialysis treatment begins
•Medicare to reduce spending by using an HMO‐like coordinated care model (Accountable Care Organizations)
•New Medicare cuts to inpatient psych hospitals (7/1/12)
•Medicare cuts to hospitals with high readmission rates begin (FY13)
•Medicare cuts to hospice begin (FY13)

2013:
•Medicare cuts to hospitals who treat low‐income seniors begin

2014:
•More Medicare cuts to home health begin
•Government board (IPAB) begins submitting proposals to cut Medicare
•Medicare payment cuts for hospital‐acquired infections begin (FY15)

2015:
•More Medicare cuts home health begin

[mratcheson]

03:50 PM on 04/09/2010

And all of this is due to the Health Care Reform bill that V.P. Biden was referring to? Do you have a source for this list that you can provide?

[Mover]

09:21 AM on 04/12/2010

It's always best to find and check these things yourself.

[Mover]

05:34 PM on 04/20/2010

Oh yeah, mratcheson.

Do a search on any item in prettyinpink's post and you will find many reports on it. Or you can rise above the congress and the president and read the thing.

[osusana]

04:30 PM on 04/09/2010

Please post a link to your source. I suspect that it comes from your Insurance Company that sold you your Medicare Advantage program. You DO know that those payments go straight to the insurance company, don't you? It's not Medicare that's being cut, it's the high priced, insurance company peddled Advantage products. Full Disclosure: I am on Medicare, plus a supplemental policy that I pay for out of pocket, and I am completely in favor of the new Health Care Bill. I just wish it did more for more people.

[mratcheson]

05:53 PM on 04/09/2010

And I don't see how cuts to hospitals that began last year, can be attributed to the bill. This makes me suspect everything else on the list, except, as you say, the cuts to Medicare Advantage which was a boon to the insurance companies when the Republicans included it in the Part D legislation.

[Mover]

04:52 PM on 04/15/2010

Health Law Bans New Doctor-Owned Hospitals, Blocks Expansion of Existing Ones
Monday, April 12, 2010: http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/64034

Complete list: http://hoekstra.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Timeline_of_Major_Health_Provisions_in_Democrats_Bill.pdf

Complete list: http://public-healthcare-issues.suite101.com/article.cfm/medicare-cuts-and-how-it-effects-seniors

[judyx]

02:48 PM on 04/09/2010

The most pointless poll in the history of polls.

[Duppy]

12:55 PM on 04/09/2010

Actually that is my favorite word. It pretty much works in every situation. Good for you JB

[Lore Splitt]

12:37 PM on 04/09/2010

I'm sorry- I LOVE the fact that a poll of Fox News, which is always anti Obama/Biden... their viewers didn't see it as a big deal. That says a lot. The conservatives didn't mind the cursing, because in that moment, it was completely appropriate- even though technically it wasn't.

I agree. Sometimes Biden's said things that were of a near Bush-esque quality, especially before the elections... but this- This was just perfectly said- even if by accident.

[smile13]

12:17 PM on 04/09/2010

When you buy that T-shirt, you are donating to Organizing For America so buy as many as you can!!

[VeroucaSalt]

04:38 PM on 04/09/2010

I got 2!!

[NBD09]

12:15 PM on 04/09/2010

I think it's a clever t-shirt! Republicans need to lighten up, no adult can say they have never cussed before.