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Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Bozos, goat lovers and sons of whores: a history of political insults

The Philippine president’s surprising remark about Barack Obama belongs to a tradition of undiplomatic language President Rodrigo Duterte’s description of Barack Obama as a “son of a whore” has caused a spat between the Philippines and the US and raised eyebrows in diplomatic circles. But Duterte’s discourteous language is not exactly a new low in high-level political discourse. Insults – mortal, vulgar, stylish or lighthearted – have been levied by politicians against other politicians, national leaders, public figures and the countries they represent ever since the Greeks invented democracy. Continue reading...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.theguardian.com