Politics imitate the comics: Obama, Palin, pitbulls, lipstick and pigs

The Aug. 27 "Home and Away" comic strip, by Steve Sicula, comments on swine lipstick.

That was even before the unusual combination became one of the day's most heated political issues, involving Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, as The Ticket reported yesterday and then again today.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Credit: "Home and Away" comic strip from Aug. 27, 2008, published by The Ticket with the permission of Steve Sicula / Washington Post Writers Group

Comments

[Andrew]

Man, that comic's serving up a heavy serving of lame sauce.

[Orn R. Critter]

I think I finally understand the "hockey mom = pig + lipstick" formula! The politics of dehumanizing the candidates starts at home. Literally -- at home, with a DOMESTIC ENGINEER. The thing I don't get is this: I don't think Palin even wears lipstick, does she? I mean I thought that was her natural coloration. Maybe the color shows more when she leaves the cold climate of Alaska and enters the more temperate climate of the "lower 48." So her self-effacing humor doesn't work, or does it? Then It's meant as a sort of private joke, for the Alaskans to chuckle among themselves because the rest of us don't get it. At least it'll give them more to talk about at the U of Alaska, Anchorage NCAA hockey games, assuming that one of the Palin clan makes it that far in academics.

[Dana]

This is a brillant comic strip- very relatable!

[Bob Mann]

Maslow’s “Take” on the Election

By Bob Mann, Golf Professional
9/9/2008

Abraham Maslow said “To distract people from higher needs, threaten their lower needs.”
The Republican strategy of giving their convention a war and patriotism theme was quite brilliant. It changed the focus from such issues as health care, education, global warming and long term alternate energy development, and even to large measure, the economy; to the more fundamental human need to feel safe.

As Bob Woodward noted in his recent interview with Larry King, the President is not the Commander in Chief of the economy or global warming. The President is the Commander in Chief of the military.

The polls have shown that Senator McCain is perceived by the American public as more suited to be responsible for national security than Senator Obama. The Republicans are openly selling “inexperience” vs. Obama, but less openly they are selling “fear”. Ultimately, the peoples greatest fear, for themselves, and their families, is annihilation.

Unfortunately many people see bravado talk and aggressive action as the “answers” to fear related national security issues. (This, coupled with Senator McCain’s military service and family heritage gives many people a greater sense of false security.) However, the reverse is true; reserve, caution, negotiation, and having a strong military in reserve enhance national security. As President Clinton said, “..we lead by the power of our example, not by the example of our power.”

In spite of the evidence that we are militarily weaker as a result of the ill-founded invasion of Iraq, proposed by Senator McCain long before it actually occurred; a majority of Americans see Senator McCain’s approach to national security as being better then Senator Obama’s. Iraq has our military so over extended that we are not well prepared to face other situations that may arise, and are more likely to arise, because others recognize that we are over extended, which weakens our negotiating position.

Senator McCain continues to make hawkish noise; including implied threats that, as well as being inflammatory to other countries who might pose a threat, also distances us from our European allies.

In October 1st, 2003 on ABC nightline Senator McCain was asked how much more money the war would cost. He replied, “Estimates I hear as much as 50 to $55 billion more.” When asked, “Over a course of how many years?” McCain answered, “..four or five years.” Five years have passed with no end in sight, and Senator McCain’s estimate of maximum cost has been surpassed by approximately 10 to 1.

Senator McCain brags about his support of the Surge and its effectiveness. This claim is subject to serious question as many experts believe that the turn around in Iraq was more attributable to putting the enemies on our payroll. Moreover, Senator McCain’s bragging about the Surge can be compared to the person who makes a bad judgment about maintaining their car, but brags about repairing it at a cost many multiples of the original neglected service.

Senator McCain’s selection of Governor Palin to be a heartbeat away from a position of invoking nuclear holocaust on the world raises additional questions about his judgment, decision making process, and his motives.

Senator Obama’s campaign needs to make it clear that Senator McCain’s aggressiveness, has in the past, and will in the future, if left unbridled, weaken us militarily by depleting resources. It is not enough to merely point out Senator McCain’s bad judgment, the other shoe must drop, and Senator McCain’s bad judgment and hasty reactions must be clearly defined as weakening national security if permitted to affect our future. Senator Obama’s approach, using military force only as a last resort, and only following negotiation, strengthens us in two ways:
A) Enables negotiations to be conducted from a position of un-dissipated strength
B) Holds military might in reserve to use when and if genuinely required.

Senator Obama’s plan for better treatment of returning veterans coupled with his educational and occupational proposals for military personnel enhances recruiting and thus is superior for strengthening us militarily as compared to Senator McCain’s approach.

The Importance of rebuilding our alliances around the world should be more emphatically communicated as well, so Americans understand that we are stronger and more secure having Senator Obama as our next President, (who our European allies prefer over McCain by a 9 to 1 margin).

When Americans come to understand the superiority of Senator Obama’s temperament and approach to national security, compared to Senator McCain’s, they will recognize that Senator Obama is far more qualified to serve as Commander in Chief.

[betsy]

I don't care much about lipstick on swine. I do take issue of the fact that Palin attended six colleges in six years -- Chicago Tribune Sept. 4, 2008. Seems a little like a red flag, to me.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-ap-cvn-palin-education,0,1503213.story

Oh well. On second thought, Bush and Cheney were flunkies too, and look at their wonderous achievements.

[betsy]

Very observant and well written, Orn. A++

[wehojoel]

Liberal Press?

Year after year I voted Democratic without blinking an eye. Every time I head those loud voices on the radio and television bashing the media elite I just brushed it aside. The media elite? What you mean those folks who actually think and don't run a story from the gut? At age 36 I've voted for every local, state and national Democratic put on a ballot. As any true blooded Democrat vote I still am disgusted at Ralph Nadar and Florida. Al Gore won! I've always thought that voting for a 3rd party was a throw away vote. Why bother? Even when living in a solid Democrat state like California I felt the urge to stand with the party. The Democratic Party!

Things have changed. In the primary I voted for Hillary Clinton. The right candidate with the right qualifications. She is the man! She lost. I moved on. Last week I decided that I would vote for the one candidate who came to California and spoke on the anti gay marriage proposition. The Vote on No! I told myself the first candidate who came to California and told all the voters to vote No on the Gay Marriage Ban would be my candidate. It was my litmus test.

Yes, I knew that would mean I wouldn't vote for the Democratic candidate as he as of now has yet to publicly come out against this horrible ballot measure. As of now he has only let his staff discuss this issue via press releases. Obama for all his support from the gay community has yet to set foot in the state of California and publicly discussed his views on ballot issue 8.

So this year based on my litmus test I'm voting for a 3rd or maybe 10th political party. And for those Democrats who think I've abandoned the party I answer that I've only abandoned the candidate. I live in a state that will go to him so my vote is just a protest vote.

As for his pig and lipstick comments well we knew he was a sexist frat boy during the primary with his comments toward Hillary. Back months ago in New Hampshire Obama snidely commented to Hillary "You're likable enough" with a tone of arrogance and male machismo. After that it became the battle of the frat h

[Siva]

You can put lipstick on a Rush Limbaugh, but it is still a Rush Limbaugh.
www.SivaKrishna.com

[sandy]

palin acts like nobody's ever used the phrase before. she shouldn't take it personally. in this comic strip (quite funny, btw) the pig w/ lipstick phrase is directed at a man. so, you see mrs. palin, it NOT all about YOU!

[yuk]

Yes...If Obama had referred to a pig wearing stupid looking glasses...and an absurd hair do....then the "Whine Squad" might have made a case

[dave]

enough already with this lip-shtick.

[coden]

it is with great enthusiasm that I announce today, on behalf of the nation's oldest and largest women's rights organization, that the National Organization for Women Political Action Committee (NOW PAC) proudly endorses Sen. Barack Obama for President of the United States.

It is no coincidence that I am joined in this announcement by so many allied organizations that collectively represent a broad and diverse cross-section of U.S. women. From teachers to social workers, from business owners to college students, women in this country are lining up behind the candidate who is out there every day standing up -- clearly and consistently -- for women. Women of all ages, races and ethnicities are coming together in support of Sen. Obama and his pledge to fulfill this country's promise of equal opportunity for our daughters as well as all our sons.

Although it is very unusual for us to endorse in a presidential election, this is an unprecedented candidate and an unprecedented time for our country. The NOW PAC reviewed Sen. Obama's record and public statements on issues that disproportionately affect the women of this nation, and I spoke with him at length about his commitment to women's equality. For example:

On pay equity. Sen. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation to end wage discrimination against women.

On reproductive rights. Sen. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Prevention First Act, to strengthen access to contraception and reproductive health care, and prevent unwanted pregnancies. He strongly supports Roe v. Wade and will oppose any efforts to overturn it.

On violence against women. Sen. Obama supports the continued reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act -- of which Sen. Joe Biden is the chief sponsor -- as well as the Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) Act, which is legislation to provide legal, medical and financial support to victims of domestic violence.

On the Supreme Court. Sen. Obama opposed the nominations of George Bush's extreme right-wing nominees to the Supreme Court, who have consistently ruled against women's rights,

For more than a decade, Barack Obama has said "yes" to women's rights, while John McCain has consistently said "no" - NO to pay equity, NO to contraceptive access and reproductive rights, NO to appointing Supreme Court judges who will uphold women's rights and civil rights, NO to funding shelters and other anti-violence programs, and NO to supporting working moms and dads with policies that support work/life balance.

NOW supported Sen. Hillary Clinton in the primary, and now we join with her in saying "NO" -- No Way, No How, No McCain! And we proudly stand arm-in-arm with her in putting our hopes and our dreams, our hard work and our hard-earned money, behind the next President of the United States -- Barack Obama, and his running mate, longtime friend and ally of women, Sen. Joe Biden.