Getting Politicians to Swear off Cussing

(CBS)  When Joe Biden whispered something indiscreet in the president's ear, the president was deeply offended. The president, that is, of the "No Cussing Club."

"I was really, really disappointed that our vice president of the whole United States actually said this," McKay Hatch said.

McKay, 17, is on a mission to clean up America's language. The California teen has written and recorded songs, he's printed posters and published a book. Now he's sending the vice president a T-shirt and a Cuss Jar where Biden can pay up for every bad word - and not just a quarter.

"Maybe a hundred," McKay said.

McKay has some experience pressuring politicians, reports CBS News correspondent John Blackstone. Earlier this month he delivered Cuss Jars to lawmakers in California, pushing for the adoption of a "No Cuss Week" in the state.

"I know we're all not perfect - I've actually already put $5 in my jar," said Anthony Portantino, a California assemblyman.

There wasn't a bad word said as the resolution sailed through the Assembly.

The measure has since stalled in the state Senate.

But in several other states, old laws still on the books do make cursing a crime. The fine for foul language in Mississippi is $100, in Virginia it's up to $250. And in South Carolina swearing in public could cost $5,000 under a bill now before the state Senate.

The vice president isn't facing a steep fine, but on behalf of America's youth McKay Hatch does want an apology.

"Words have a lot of power and that was one word that obviously offends people and people don't like," McKay said.

And before he next whispers in the president's ear, Biden may want to take some advice from California.

"I think 'fudge' is a good word," Portantino said.

After all the vice president may be just a heartbeat away - from another slip of the tongue.

©2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved

[panton41]

Let's see...

Curse words in English are largely Anglo-Saxon in origin and usually have some relation to defecation, sex or blasphemy - all very taboo topics in themselves. When the Normans invaded England in 1066 they enforced the use of Norman French as the "courtly" language (something that took until Henry V in the 14th century to do). Since these "crude" Anglo-Saxon farmers, laborers, etc. spoke in the more "base" language their words for those taboo topic eventually became outright offensive.

To this day, closing in on 1,000 years later, the more Anglo-Saxon words you use in everyday speech the less "educated" you seem, vice versa the more Norman French, Church Latin, Greek, etc. words you use the more "educated" you seem. No surprise that saying "defecate" (Latin) is polite why that word alliterates with "ship" and of the the Seven Dirty Words is Anglo-Saxon in origin.

[panton41]

Sorry, it took until Henry V to change the use of Norman French.

[panton41]

If I were fined for swearing in public my first response would be to file suit. Like it or not the First Amendment covers "offensive speech".

[niko1415]

jesus, who cares... If this kid wants to create a no swearing club, go ahead. I've heard arguments that those who swear don't know much -which is completely stupid to say the least. It's ingrained into the media to much, it's not going to go away... Unless the word of curse brings about some stomache flu that makes us all spew out our intestines (for those who understand the reference).

[russelllewis]

Give me a break. What am I 9 years old that I need some kid who is not old enough to vote dictating what people can say and hear. Come back when you have some fuzz on your sack kid, then at least I'll listen. Until then, leave the room, grownup are talking and cursing.

[kansas1946]

I think this is cute, silly, and deserves five minutes of news as a human interest story. End of story. Swear words are meaningless and have no power of their own. We say the "f" word in every context, just like our favorite word, the "sh**" word. They are the least offensive words that there are because they are meaningless.

[THuntL1]

McKay Hatch - AMERICAN HERO! VP Biden is likened to treating people like trash cans - he can step on your foot and your head pops open like a lid so he can dump his trash into it. All that education Biden went through and this is the only way he knows how to express himself? Also, what kind of respect did this show for the president?

[ockham500]

Let us encourage them to do their jobs without fleecing the American public. I can live with a few cuss words.

[medicricci]

Stupid dumb-ass kid with too much time on his hands. Find another useful outlet for your energy. Cussing, like other forms of expression, is part of the art of language. Maybe he could work on getting dumb kids to pull their pants up instead of wearing them draped around their knees? I can't believe CBS actuall prints this ****!

[RiniThomas]

Sillies. People should be allowed to say whatever they want in private. I'm pretty sure Biden was whispering.
Not only that, but the entire idea of 'bad words' is so old-fashioned. Why are they 'bad?' Not because of their meaning. I'm not allowed to say '****,' but I can say 'poop?' It's only wrong to use these words because our society has defined them as bad.
I'm not a fan of swearing - I don't want to use the same 5 or 6 words over and over when I have a huge vocabulary to show off - but I wish people would stop teaching their kids that there's certain words they can't say. It sounds so... Victorian.

[dolleybird]

Joe Biden was not in a private place. He was standing next to the President of the United States in front of television cameras. Obviously, he did not whisper quietly enough - if he had, we wouldn't know what he said. He embarrassed the president, and was disrespectful to the president, all the congressmen standing with him, and to the viewers. He has no class.

[dolleybird]

A second comment - under this comment box, it says that posting of profanity is prohibited. I hope Joe Biden reads the rule if he wants to comment.

[Steven188]

In all honesty I feel sorry for this kid, he?s pathetic enough to make a futile club in an attempt to stop cussing and to make matters worse he wants to send a swear jar to Joe Biden.
Answer me this. If you had to stand in front of the American population currently ran by the most idiotic president in U.S history and the first thing he ever plans to do is supposedly ?help people? with this new bill that in all actuality hurts the entire population. Would you too not be irritated and aggravated enough to say or in this case swear and not care who heard you after the recent events constantly reported on T.V and the massive amount of stress he had to deal with?
Swearing is the least of this countries problem, We have more important matters to deal with.
Steven 18, FL