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

[commoner]

Obama owes Palin nothing--especially an apology. She is the one that starts conflicts by innuendo--now it is poooooor little Palin. If she can't take it, then she shouldn't have brought her little attitude to the public arena. No sympathy here.

[Patrick]

If anyone thinks that's got anything to do with Sarah Palin, you couldn't be more off base. Obama isn't that dumb. Get over it. Looks like they'll be calling the Gender card til the bitter end.

If Miss Palin takes any offense to that, she ought to re-evaluate her position in this election or just go back to Alaska.

[jefflz]

Typical McCain confusion tactic ainmed at the uneducated since he used the same common expression talking about Hillary's health plan. It reminds me of the time McCain tried to say the Surge and counter- insurgency (Anbar Awakening) were the same thing to cover his mistakes.. This is a dishonest McCain technique. I guess he buys into the Rove approach of creating confusion instead of speaking the truth. Is this the behavior of a so-called honorable war hero? ...or the behavior of a coward?

[Jeremy]

He was referring to their policies as a pig, not Palin. Looks like this will get misquoted, too bad.

[Phil]

Obama blew this one big time! Sure, he'd like for us to believe that he had no hidden message in this line. That seems to be his model for covering his miscues.
Remember how he said he wasn't sure when life begins" It's above my pay grade" he said. Seems to me that the Presidency is above his pay grade as well.
I've made up my mind at long last... Go McCain

[JudiNV]

I say, if the snout fits....:)

[jefflz]

Typical McCain confusion tactic ainmed at the uneducated since he used the same common expression talking about Hillary's health plan. It reminds me of the time McCain tried to say the Surge and counter- insurgency (Anbar Awakening) were the same thing to cover his mistakes.. This is a dishonest McCain technique. I guess he buys into the Rove approach of creating confusion instead of speaking the truth. Is this the behavior of a so-called honorable war hero? ...or the behavior of a coward?

[Rick in Chicago]

Whether or not Sen. Obama conciously was making a derogatory comment about Gov. Palin, he surely is aware of the context any mention of "lipstick" brings up. Palin's speech in St. Paul last week was viewed by 37 million people, and her "lipstick" punch line has been frequently shown on news and discussion programs.

Clearly, Sen. Obama is becoming unglued. His carefully created image as a "new politician" is in tatters.

The Democrats, for good reason, have felt that this election was going to be an easy win, given the unpopularity of Pres. Bush. But, the Obama campaign has stumbled badly, and they are looking more and more confused over how to move forward.

How else can you explain a No.1 fighting with the other party's No.2?

[Steven L.]

To which "people" was Obama referring when he said "These people"???

Those poor benighted folks in the heartland who "cling to their religion and guns"???

[Sanford Evans]

Barak is right. You can't disguise a phony position with a slogan. McCain is trying to claim the mantle of change but continues to embrace the Bush policies. And anyone with a brain in his head can tell that he's calling the policies phony, with the pig-lipstick metaphor, not that McCain is a pig.
Once again the Republicans are like the schoolyard bully. They can lie, they can viciously attack Obama, they can twist the facts, but God forbid you call them on it or hit back and they scream foul. I hope Barak and Biden keep on the attack. It's the only language the Republicans understand.

[gopgranny]

Obama and crowd are getting desperate. Clearly he's rattled or he wouldn't even be mentioning Palin. What a disappointment this must be to the O - a woman knocked him off his messianic pedestal.

[Mooseburger]

Is this what it has come to?? First it is McCain accusing Obama of wanting to give first graders condoms, and now they want to paint Obama as calling Mrs. Palin a Pig.....and the press is just loving this story. America will get only the Government and representation we deserve...I think we all are totally screwed. People better wake up and DEMAND that facts are checked, the truth is told and the issues for the people are the focus, this kind of crap coverage is not good for the country. We are so divided now that we will cease top function as a nation if this follows course and this great country will be the worse for it.

[Mooseburger]

Is this what it has come to?? First it is McCain accusing Obama of wanting to give first graders condoms, and now they want to paint Obama as calling Mrs. Palin a Pig.....and the press is just loving this story. America will get only the Government and representation we deserve...I think we all are totally screwed. People better wake up and DEMAND that facts are checked, the truth is told and the issues for the people are the focus, this kind of crap coverage is not good for the country. We are so divided now that we will cease top function as a nation if this follows course and this great country will be the worse for it.

[Beth L]

Um... You forgot to mention that McCain said the same line about ...Hillary Clinton. Was it sexist then? Was that not a comment on Hillary, if pig is a signifier for an ugly woman?

BTW, when Palin criticizes Obama, she is called engaging and feisty. When the black candidate starts fighting back, he's called combative. You are trying to say that Obama is sexist while at the same time relying on implicitly racist subtext to make your point. He is "combative" when he starts speaking up for himself and his positions. Why is it combative to defend his position? Did he really get "heated"? And why is so scary when the black man gets heated, but so charming when the hockey mom gets snarky?

I am sick of the double standard we have seen. We saw it when Obama ran against Clinton - every word he uttered was sexist, and yet the racist subtext of the discourse against him went largely unnoticed.

[This is LA not Oklahoma]

Did you watch the video you linked? Obama was referring to the republican platform not Palin. So because Palin gave a speech about a pitbull in lipstick... The phrase "you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig" is no longer allowed ? Truly pathetic, fire this writer.

[Dan O]

It's like watching a AAA pitcher being called to the show and finding out his fast ball sucks. Mind you Palin just got into the batters box and this guy is 3 balls and no strikes to her and she hasn't even fanned her bat.

I got a feeling the DNC is wishing tonight that they would have gone with a more experienced major leaguer.

Mr. Obama is not ready for the show, send him back to Springfield.

[Kevin Marks]

This is why I am undecided voter: because instead of the media informing me about real issues, you guys focus on the most stupid, trivial and inane thing you can find in any given news cycle.

Could you please focus on real issues instead of this crap? I care more about tax policy, homelessness, a safe way out of the Mideast for our troops, and a host of other issues than I care about this crap.

Can you PLEASE stop being distracted by the shiny, empty fight over gaffes, alleged and real? This is an important election, and the mainstream media is treating it with all the seriousness and weight of a county fair.

PLEASE do your jobs and serve the democracy. If not, please get out the way and let your paper hire some real journalists.

[Mary]

What is wrong with the Obama camp, are they trying to lose this election. Biden had a derogatory statement about lipstick today too. This is just going to piss off women voters all the more.

[AG Musgrove]

We know most Americans couldn't give two figs about what the rst of the world thinks, but for what its worth the serious possibility of a fundamentalist small town christian President fills many with fear and loathing.

These are not middle eastern views but serious anglosaxon christian ones.

[duriseti]

I initially read this thinking that you were just stupid. What is clear however is that while you may be stupid, it is more apparent that you are trying to stir the pot. In an election where so much is at stake, you choose to echo a moronic and forced talking point that has NO bearing on anything of substance.

Does it matter that I've used that phrase over the last 2 months to describe the Iraq troop surge on numerous occasions? I'll apologize to as many women as possible.

Nice work.

[Literal Lee]

"But, to be honest, pig among men is another word for an ugly woman"

Well, thank you for your honesty. And the big information breakthrough there, although I doubt that more than two or three people in the reading public are so uninformed as to be unfamiliar with that usage. But I appreciate that "uninformed" is kind of a precondition to believing the eloquent Obama was "infer{ring Sarah Palin is] like a barnyard animal". So I guess you do know how to reach your base.

[no i'm not stupid]

I think you are an idiot and only gave enough information to spin opinion in the direction you wanted to.

Obama's next sentence was the following "You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change, It's still gonna stink after eight years" which made it clear he was not talking about Palin.

I realize this is a blog, but it's a blog in a newspaper, so perhaps it would be nice if you didn't omit pertinent facts.

[nick lang]

First of all, this editorial does a poor job of showing both sides. It barely mentions McCain's use of the "pig line". To be exact, McCain was using the line in reference to policy ideas of Hillary Rodham Clinton, who wears lipstick, and who didn't get all bent out of shape.
Yes, a pig can be slang for an ugly woman. But again, this is purely cherry picking hackery. Pig is also slang for police officers and perverts; it's a very inappropriate slang term, but we didn't hear any police officers or perverts complaining that Obama was taking pot shots at them.
And another thing. The video attached to this article shows the exact context Obama used the "pig" line. It's all about McCain's policies, how he'll spend just like Bush has been, give tax cuts to select upper echelons, and that public education will fail, and tuition will continue to rise. Notice how McCain's camp still doesn't answer to voting with Dubya 90% of the time. They dodge the issue; they change the subject, and twist Senator Obama's words to look like some sexist remark, shifting the focus again from issues that matter, to Palin's gender. And they accused of Obama of playing the race card.
Exploiting people's emotions once again seem to be the focal point of the McCain campaign.

[Jim]

"Eight years" in the quote only makes sense if the "pig" is Palin and the "old fish" is McCain.

"You can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig," Obama went on, and the crowd erupted into shrieks, whoops and cheers. "You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper and call it change. It's still going to stink, after eight years."

[michael]

I think if you are going to write columns and opinion pieces you should learn the difference between "exercised": and :"exorcised."

I think you meant the latter.