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'Let’s Go Brandon' signs test boundaries of obscenity and free speech
FOX 43 ^ | July 7, 2022 | Harri Leigh

Posted on 07/10/2022 8:34:05 PM PDT by DoodleBob

RED LION, Pa. — Signs and flags emblazoned with the phrase “Let’s Go Brandon” and the stronger-language phrase it substitutes for aren’t an uncommon sight in Central Pennsylvania yards and on cars.

Flying a flag with the “F” word on it offends some, while others, like Melissa Low of Mount Wolf, are concerned about its impact on kids.

“No matter your political opinion, I don’t think it needs to be that vulgar,” she said.

One can debate whether the phrase is in bad taste, but there’s likely no legal basis to remove them.

Free speech does have some limits; for example, the Supreme Court has ruled obscenity is not protected.

“But what the Supreme Court means by obscenity in that context is not swear words. It’s hard-core pornography,” said Michael Dimino, a law professor at Widener Law Commonwealth.

The “F” word could qualify as obscenity in certain contexts if its use “appeals to the prurient interest,” meaning the language is overly sexual. In that context, displaying a sign with the “F” word could violate a Pennsylvania law banning the display of obscenity.

In the case of “Let’s Go Brandon” and the phrase it represents, the “F” word instead has a distinctly political meaning. Political speech is the most protected form of speech in the Constitution.

“It may be vulgar. It may be obscene. It may be hate speech,” said attorney Mark Scaringi of Scaringi Law. “But the slogan is protected by the First Amendment.”

After seeing a few such signs in Red Lion Borough, FOX43 reached out to borough officials. The borough solicitor said the speech would be protected even if residents complained, though one borough official said he had not heard of any complaints.

Just because the signs are legal, though, doesn’t mean they’re appreciated by neighbors.

“I think people do have a right to put what they want in their yard,” Low said. “But I just don’t feel that it needs to be vulgar and something that’s negative for the community.”


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: alinsky; associatedpress; bidenvoters; concerntroll; dissent; fjb; freespeech; frpottymouths; harrileigh; letsgobrandon; lgb; media; mediawingofthednc; panicporn; partisanmediashill; partisanmediashills; pottymouths; ronklain; rulesforradicals; testboundaries
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To: irishjuggler

Seriously? How do you know that?


41 posted on 07/10/2022 9:51:21 PM PDT by NetAddicted (Just looking)
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To: central_va

That and Chimpybushitler.


42 posted on 07/10/2022 9:52:51 PM PDT by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: DoodleBob
788-A2-EA0-5941-4-F40-9648-8-F3-F8-B31-F1-BE

They need to get Biden to stop saying it.



43 posted on 07/10/2022 9:53:50 PM PDT by AnthonySoprano (Lindsey Graham: How can anyone be Mad at Joe Biden)
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To: NetAddicted

Not quite following you...
You asked if those blond kids were his grandkids? Yet they’re all wearing Trump/MAGA gear.


44 posted on 07/10/2022 10:02:21 PM PDT by irishjuggler
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To: enumerated

Okay. Now I understand.


45 posted on 07/10/2022 10:03:41 PM PDT by NetAddicted (Just looking)
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To: DoodleBob
“It may be vulgar. It may be obscene. It may be hate speech,” said attorney Mark Scaringi of Scaringi Law.

Note to self: Never hire a lawyer who thinks "Let's Go Brandon" is or could be vulgar, obscene hate speech.

46 posted on 07/10/2022 10:14:12 PM PDT by pepsi_junkie (Often wrong, but never in doubt!)
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To: DoodleBob

Apparently, these BidenIdiot supporting media channels have no real clue to what obscenity is if they think ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ is such. ‘*uck Joe Biden’ would be an obscenity, for the clueless on the Left. at any rate:

Foxtrot
Juliet
Bravo


47 posted on 07/10/2022 10:50:12 PM PDT by cranked
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To: firebrand

He doesn’t know where HE lives.

CC


48 posted on 07/10/2022 11:01:12 PM PDT by Celtic Conservative (My cats are more amusing than 200 channels worth of TV.)
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To: dfwgator

That’s right.

I had the lasagna.


49 posted on 07/10/2022 11:08:01 PM PDT by SaveFerris (The Lord, The Christ and The Messiah: Jesus Christ of Nazareth - http://www.BiblicalJesusChrist.Com/)
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To: Southside_Chicago_Republican

Or “Oh, fudge!”


50 posted on 07/10/2022 11:11:17 PM PDT by susannah59 ( )
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To: Southside_Chicago_Republican

Or “Oh, fudge!”


51 posted on 07/10/2022 11:11:17 PM PDT by susannah59 ( )
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To: DoodleBob
Really?

I thought Lori Lightfoot "tests boundaries of obscenity and free speech."

-PJ

52 posted on 07/10/2022 11:13:06 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
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To: DoodleBob

So which word is obscene? “Let’s”, “go”, or “Brandon”?


53 posted on 07/10/2022 11:47:55 PM PDT by Flick Lives
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To: dfwgator

As if nobody had a “F___ Donald Trump” sign.

Yes. F word has been all over the place.

For years.

Now they start saying it’s illegal.


54 posted on 07/11/2022 12:23:20 AM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: DoodleBob

After years of “F**k Trump” and now “Abort Kavanaugh,” suddenly the karens are concerned about “appropriateness?”


55 posted on 07/11/2022 1:45:42 AM PDT by ScottinVA (Кчерту Путина, Kчерту Россию)
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To: dfwgator

I drive by a F Donald Trump along side a By Don flag with his signature hair style on it every day, delivering mail. They’re getting pretty ratty and faded. Doesn’t bother me at all.


56 posted on 07/11/2022 2:24:48 AM PDT by lucky american (Progressives are attacking our rights and y'all will sit there and take it.)
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To: DoodleBob

Well the current administration is “testing the boundaries” of my manners and temper so there is that.


57 posted on 07/11/2022 2:27:15 AM PDT by corlorde
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To: Larry Lucido

But drag queens performing in front of little children is perfectly acceptable.


58 posted on 07/11/2022 2:39:43 AM PDT by Quilla
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To: irishjuggler

I couldn’t see that the kids were wearing Trump/MAGA gear. My bad.


59 posted on 07/11/2022 2:49:10 AM PDT by NetAddicted (Just looking)
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To: DoodleBob

Besides being a slam on Biden, LGB also serves as a reminder of how the media blatantly lies to protect Dem politicians. It is part of why this thing bothers our Left so much.


60 posted on 07/11/2022 2:52:33 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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