During the 1948 Presidential campaign, President Harry S. Truman delivered a speech in Illinois attacking the Republicans in blunt terms. During his speech a supporter called out, “Give ’em Hell, Harry!”. Truman shot back — “I don’t give them Hell. I just tell the truth about them and they think it’s Hell.”
Here’s a snippet of the kind of hell “Give ‘Em Hell Harry” was giving the GOP in those days. (You can read the whole speech here.) I’d like to hear President Obama channel a little more Harry Truman from now until election day.
Paul's Voyage of Discovery & Etc. 
With Obama it’s more like, “Give ’em heck”, but ask politely if you may first.
thats just about the way my father explained it to me when I was – oh maybe about 14 – and getting curious about politics. Good one Paul.