They really said that

So what do Nikki Giovanni and Chris Finney have in common? They both have a foul-mouthed approach to political commentary.

Giovanni, a nationally celebrated poet raised in Cincinnati, was invited to recite her original poem, "I am Cincinnati," at Saturday's rededication of Fountain Square. The recitation listed many thngs that Cincinnati is, and a few that Giovanni thinks it is not, including "that son of a b---- Kenny Blackwell."

Finney, an attorney and staunch ally of Republican Hamilton County Commissioner Phil Heimlich, unleashed a stream of vulgarity at Heimlich's challenger, David Pepper, at a Pepper press conference two weeks ago. Among other comments, he invited Pepper to kiss his backside.

OK, the first amendment guarantees free speech and who am I to suggest putting a muzzle on political comment. And the Square is supposed to be an open-air soapbox. But it has been previously noted in this blog that civil discourse should be the preferred debating form in a democracy.

It may have given Giovanni and Finney each a momentary thrill to go over the top against politicians they despise, but it probably didn't help their arguments or their preferred candidates.