(Washington) When Republican Representative Bill Posey of Florida ended an October 21 speech in the House of Representatives with a raised fist and said, “Let’s go Brandon!” It may have sounded enigmatic and strange to many of those listening. But the phrase was already gaining popularity in right-wing circles, and now the seemingly positive phrase – which is actually a way of insulting President Joe Biden – is increasingly used.
South Carolina Republican Jeff Duncan wore a face mask that read “Let’s Go Brandon!” At the Capitol last week. Texas Senator Ted Cruz posed with a “Let’s Go Brandon!” Sign »During a World Series match. Senator Mitch McConnell’s press secretary reposted on Twitter a photo of the phrase on a construction sign in Virginia.
The phrase has become a conservative code for something much more vulgar: “F… Joe Biden. It’s all the rage among Republicans who want to prove their Tory allegiances, like a not-so-secret handshake that signals they’re in sync with the party base.
Americans are used to their leaders being publicly mocked, and former President Donald Trump’s often foul language has seemed to expand the boundaries of what normal political speech is.
But how did the Republicans choose the phrase “Let’s Go Brandon!” As a substitute for the more vulgar expression that begins with the letter F?
It all started during a NASCAR race on October 2 at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Brandon Brown, a 28-year-old pilot, had won his first Xfinity series and was being interviewed by an NBC Sports reporter. The crowd behind him chanted something at first difficult to recognize. The reporter suggested that they chanted “Let’s Go Brandon! To encourage the pilot. But it became clearer and clearer that they were actually saying, “F … Joe Biden.” ”
NASCAR and NBC have since taken steps to limit “ambient noise from the crowd during interviews,” but it was too late – the phrase had already gained momentum.
When the president visited a construction site in suburban Chicago a few weeks ago to promote vaccination, protesters chanted the two three-word sentences. Last week, Mr. Biden’s procession passed a “Let’s Go Brandon!” Banner. As the President drove through Plainfield, New Jersey.
And a group chanted “Let’s Go Brandon! Outside a Virginia park on Monday when Mr. Biden made an appearance on behalf of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe. Two protesters have given up on the euphemism altogether, holding up hand-drawn placards with profanity.
Former President Donald Trump did not miss the opportunity. His “Save America” Political Action Committee is now selling a $ 45 t-shirt with “Let’s go Brandon! Is inscribed above an American flag. A message to supporters reads: “#FJB or LET’S GO BRANDON? Either way, President Trump wants YOU to have our new ICONIC t-shirt. ”
Separately, t-shirts appear in store windows with the NASCAR slogan and logo.
And when it comes to the real Brandon, things haven’t been so good for him. He drives for a short-staffed and under-funded team owned by his father. And while the victory – his first in his career – was huge for him, the team has long struggled to secure sponsorships and his existing partners have not promoted the pilot in their advertising campaigns since. appearance of the slogan.