Just when conservatives thought John Kasich could not drift any further from the party he still technically belongs to, he found a new way to irritate them in under 280 characters. The former Ohio governor, long infamous for his allergy to Republican voters, ignited fresh backlash after he took to X to heap glowing praise on Bad Bunny’s widely criticized Super Bowl LX halftime show.
Kasich declared the performance a “grand slam home run,” a phrase that somehow managed to fuse baseball and football into one confused burst of enthusiasm. That line alone was enough to trigger mockery, but the substance behind it did even more damage. Conservatives had already been fuming over the NFL’s choice of performer and what many viewed as an intentionally tone deaf, politically charged spectacle. Kasich’s applause landed like gasoline on a fire.
The ridicule was immediate. Replies filled up with jokes about Kasich desperately chasing relevance, pandering to progressive tastemakers, and once again positioning himself as the Republican who cannot wait to clap for something his own base overwhelmingly rejected. Even casual football fans cringed at the phrasing. “Grand slam home run” sounded less like an authentic reaction and more like something cooked up by a consultant trying to sound excited in a focus group.
That sparked an obvious question. Was this a staffer fishing for engagement, or was this simply John Kasich being John Kasich? Either explanation leads to the same outcome. Conservatives roasted him mercilessly, posting memes, sarcastic replies, and reminders of his long record of siding against Republicans on nearly every cultural flashpoint that matters.
Some critics speculated that the praise was a calculated signal to progressive media circles that adored the halftime show’s messaging. Others joked it was a textbook “how do you do, fellow kids” moment, complete with forced enthusiasm and a total misread of the audience. Either way, the post felt performative, not sincere.
The contrast with the broader conservative reaction could not have been clearer. President Trump blasted the performance as one of the worst halftime shows ever, echoing the frustration of millions of viewers who complained about the language barrier, awkward choreography, and what they perceived as smug political signaling. Many Americans skipped it entirely, opting instead for a patriotic alternative broadcast that did not insult its audience.
That is where Kasich’s problem really shows. His post quickly stopped being about Bad Bunny and became about Kasich himself. To critics, it reinforced his reputation as a Republican in name only, someone who reliably breaks ranks to applaud cultural moments conservatives reject, then acts shocked when the backlash arrives.
In the end, the halftime show faded, the game ended, and attention moved on to commercials and box scores. Kasich’s post lingered. It served as another reminder that in today’s political environment, nothing spreads faster than a badly received take from a familiar RINO name, especially when it confirms everything voters already suspected about him.
For a politician who once claimed to understand middle America, praising a performance most of middle America disliked was a curious choice. But then again, disappointing conservatives has become the most predictable part of John Kasich’s brand.
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