Suddenly, McCain/Obama battle over lipstick -- Porky's or Palin's

Oh, boy! Or girl! For a presidential race where three of the four major candidates are of the male persuasion, they're spending an awful lot of time talking about lipstick.

Another measure perhaps of how the addition of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to the political mix in the Republican's No. 2 spot has shaken things up on both sides in just 12 days.

New polls out Monday revealed a 20-point swing in support of white women away from the Barack Obama-Joe Biden Democratic ticket over toward the John McCain-Palin package, attributed largely to the blast of fresh air and down-to-earthness brought by the surprise presence of the 44-year-old reform governor and mother of five.

Today, Obama walked into some Republican machine-gun fire when he appeared to echo Palin's lipstick line from her widely viewed and quoted convention speech last week.

The self-described hockey mom ad libbed a joke in response to audience cheers from Alaska women: "You know what the difference is between a hockey mom and a pit bull?" she asked, pausing perfectly. "Lipstick!"

It was one of the best-received lines of the night and widely quoted and replayed for days afterward.

Today, campaigning in Lebanon, Va., and complaining about the GOP ticket portraying itself as agents of change, Obama (see video below) said ...

... "You can put lipstick on a pig. But it's still a pig."

Web browsers could almost hear a gasp of disbelief online.

Could Obama be so stupid as to imply that his newest opponent is like a barnyard animal, this candidate they've tried to portray as an inexperienced lightweight from a rural area who seems to increasingly preoccupy Obama's monologues instead of the GOP's top candidate?

Is that smart for the No. 1 on the Democratic ticket to be so distracted by the No. 2 on the GOP side? And where is Biden in this debate?

To be sure, other candidates including McCain himself have used that pig line or similar pig references about their opponent's programs, implying you can't hide what a hog is merely by applying some makeup.

But, to be honest, pig among men is another word for an ugly woman. And none of those past references came so close on the heels of such a widely read, widely viewed and widely heard lipstick line as Palin's and with the two party's national tickets set, one of them with the first female in its party's history.

Coming in a context where everything in public dialogue is perceived as political and the lawyerly Obama always appears to measure his words so carefully, it hardly seemed an accident.

Although it might plausibly be brushed off as a willful misinterpretation by opponents, as the Obama camp attempted to do during the primary season when its candidate appeared to use his middle finger to scratch his cheek while mentioning another female opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton.

The GOP immediately activated its so-called truth squad Tuesday, a rapid-response unit similar to one Obama uses to counter perceived smears on him.

"Barack Obama's comments today are offensive and disgraceful," said Maria Comella, a McCain-Palin spokeswoman. "He owes Gov. Palin an apology."

On a campaign conference call recorded by The Times' Maeve Reston, former Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift, who also served while raising small children, said: "“It’s both a gendered comment and there’s only one woman in the race … and it’s directly analogous to the comment she had made."

Swift added: "“You would think that having gone through a hard-fought primary with Sen. Clinton that the Obama team would have figured out how to respectfully engage in a debate that represents the things they want to do, which is the politics of hope. This is just the same old low road, flinging accusations.”

Those traveling with the Obama campaign in recent days, like The Times' Peter Nicholas, have noted a new, more emotional tone creeping into his comments. His public persona is often described as cool. But since last week, hitting the battleground states of Ohio, Michigan and Virginia as poll numbers dipped, Obama has seemed increasingly combative.

On Monday in Michigan, Obama became exercised when talking about the need to give even suspected terrorists legal rights.

“We may think this is Mohammed the terrorist,’’ he said at a campaign rally, but “it might be Mohammed the cab driver. You might think it’s Barack the bomb-thrower. But it might be Barack the guy running for president.’’

Continuing, he got more heated, his voice booming. Referring to the Constitution, he said: “Don’t mock the Constitution! Don’t make fun of it! Don’t suggest that it’s un-American to abide by what the founding fathers set up! It’s worked pretty well for 200 years!’’

He finished with a sigh: “These people."

If you're one of "these people" or not, what do you think?

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo credits: Jae C. Hong / Associated Press (top); Getty Images (bottom).

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Comments

[Ed]

Ummm,
"Putting lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig" is a common phrase for saying you can try to pretty something up but at it's core it's still wrong.
I'm sorry that Andrew Malcolm is a little ignorant about commonly used phrases in my country.
For instance, I was in a business meeting where a salesman used that exact phrase about a reinforced hand-tool we were developing - will he next say Palin is a reinforced hand tool?
If you are going to write about things going on in America, maybe you should wake up and listen to how Americans actually speak. If instead you are going to be an unreasonalbe reactionary, just stay in your hole and keep your hole shut.

[Kelly Jones]

Whoa is us if decisions are made in November based on the kind of bull discussed in this post - every journalist the in the US, conservative, liberal or in-between should be outraged that Palin is repeating verified lies every day on the campaign trail - about saying "no thanks" to the bridge to nowhere, about selling her jet on Ebay and firing her chef, about being an earmark maverick, etc. This is a clearly dishonest, dangerously misleading character to put near the highest office in the land. If the public doesn't know about her lies, it's because the press has completely lost its integrity as defender of the public interest in favor of tabloid gossip about lipstick, pigs and nonsense.

You and I may die based on a stupid decision Palin makes or lie she tells. Better get your priorities straight.

[Maria B]

I have been against Obama all along.
But if I were voting at this very moment he would be my choice.

McCain has lost my vote on account of Palin.

McCain and Palin want to overturn
Roe V. Wade. What other ways will a GOP government intrude in our lives?

Women are foolish to support the McCain
ticket.

[Tibor Szen]

So, if Obama said that on Election Day, the "fat lady is going to sing on the Republican administration" that would be sexist too since a woman is mentioned in the analogy. Brilliant!

[Rich]

priceless!

[Red Necks for Obama]

Talk about the issues. Not about made up issues not more of the same. McPain and Sarah Sarah are just four more years of George Bush politics. Sarah Sarah will make Cheney look like Snow White (no that is not a racial remark it is a reference to the cartoon character and no I'm not calling Sarah Sarah, Oh hell you know what I mean....

[Me]

Sorry but if you did some research you'd see others use that phrase-- including McCain and, last election, Cheney.

[Anton B Smith]

There are 3 possibilities: 1) It was not intended as a slur against Palin, and Obama was not aware of Palin's use of the lipstick joke last week. In this case, Obama is out of touch with news that most Americans know, and this does not reflect well on his ability to govern. 2) It was not intended as a slur, and Obama WAS aware of Palin's lipstick joke. In this case, Obama is so insensitive to women, that he could not see that his words would be offensive, this does not reflect well on his ability to govern, and he owes America's women an apology. 3) It was meant as a slur, and done in such a way that he could deny it. In this case, he should not hold any public office in this country, even dog catcher.

[Jay]

I am a Democrat and had been debating about who I should give my vote too. This decided it. His comment was inappropriate and offensive.

I hope that he learns from his mistakes this year and can come back as a better more refined candidate in the future.

[Chad]

Time And Time Again Obama Makes Stupid Moves And Falls From Good Graces. If You Look At Past Elections Candidates Fluctuate Up And Down In The Polls In The Election. However Obama Has Only Declined In The Polls Since The End Of The Primaries. He Went From A Commanding Lead, To Behind In Most Polls, And Even In The Rest. Now That The Novelty Behind Him Has Faded, Hopefully The DNC Will Realize They Picked A Candidate That Is Unelectable.

[Bubba]

I'm confused...Are they upset because they think Obama insulted her makeup, or her deodorant...Or both?

[Sal Guitarez]

"To be sure, other candidates including McCain himself have used that pig line or similar pig references about their opponent's programs"
Any Republican who immediately thinks of Sarah Palin when they hear "lipstick on a pig" owes her a huge apology'.
Was John McCain actually calling Hillary a pig
when he used that line?

[Joe Average]

O-what-bout-ME is showing his true Chicago Political Hack Colors

[Florenzo]

He did not refer TO THE REPUBLICAN VP!
It was a comparison of what the Republicans are putting forth.

The comment goes straight to the heart of the matter.

They are in lock step with the policies of the administration that has set back this country for centuries! You can not cover it up. It is a fact. The comment alludes to that. Get a life America!

[Jussie]

Now this is just plain bickering! I defended Palin when attacks were geared towards her family. I heard what Sen Obama said in detail and did not feel like it was directed towards Gov. Palin. Read the transcript. As a solid republican supporter I must agree that it is a cheap use of the sexist card by the republican party. Do research and you will find it is common Washington verbage also used by McCain at one point. Lets grow up and wait to hear what she has to say on her views and direction of the country. Lets not play the victims when we are just as much to blame on scrutiny of our opponents! To be frank bickering like this and playing victim is really turning me and alot of other McCain/Palin supporters off. It is getting to the point that sheerly the media and our opponents feel like they are walking on thin ice when mentioning her. Almost as if she is untouchable. C'mon....Thanks!

[steve rodriguez]

The women on The View don't like her!
She has Obama and Biden running scared!
They say she doesn't like wolves or even the
polar bear! Even through all this she will not get the
free mainstream media pass that Obama has always
ridden! She exudes leadership, she has Obama beat
on executive experience, she sees the need to drill
now, not to wait as Obama says for the next energy
alternative whenever that may be, who knows?
Well I have news for you liberal America, she's not going
anywhere, but to Washington! Deal with her!

[Mike]

Terrorists are trying to get nuclear weapons, and reporters are writing stories about lipstick??

This country is screwed.

[joe brown]

what?? his remark had nothing to do with palin! what a bunch of manure (since we are into barn yard anologies.

[kathleen]

Senator Obama is right. He understands and illuminates the importance of our constitution. It is shocking how seldom it is referred to in this campaign. It is our bedrock and deserves to be re-read and discussed on an on-going basis. Pigs and lipstick. Well - that is an interesting topic. Seems to e Mrs Palin brought it up on national television. Is it OK for her to jam on the subject, but not her male colleagues. Seems a bit of reverse-discrimination....

[murfie t]

I believe Mr. Obama's comments are an affront to pigs everywhere.

Ms. Palin is a female pit bull....lipsticked...but still a female pit bull and should be called by it's proper name.

[cv]

If he is talking to me he should say "We the people". BTW did he compare himself to a bomb thrower? That will go over well in the battleground states.

[Al]

John McCain used a similar line to deride Hillary Clinton's health care plan.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/a-piggish-debat.html

Do your research you right-wing hack.

[Carl]

Give me a break. Would anyone in their right mind could possibly see this as an attack on Palin? So now no one's allowed to mention the word 'lipstick' without it being somehow a reference to her? Ridiculous.

It's a phrase! A quite common on at that. Arguing over the word lipstick in this context is just stupid.

[A stevens]

I'm glad that Obama did not have the foresight to pick
Hillary as his VP because now he will be sorry that he didin't. She would have added to his ticket like Sarah Palin is adding to McCain's ticket. Only one thing, Sarah has more hands-on experience than Obama. Biden does not do anything for me. McCain-Palin have my vote in 2008.

[BJ]

Clearly the McCain camp is getting in Obama's head... and when that happens, he cannot help himself, and it makes him look and sound like a fool.

Obama needs to stay on script, and go back to his speeches and rhetoric. It becomes him more.