Speaking in Lebanon, Virginia yesterday, Barack Obama went after John McCain's policies:
"John McCain says he's about change, too," Obama said, leading into a string of ways he contends McCain represents more of the same -- economic policy, taxes, education, foreign policy, campaign tactics. "That's not change. That's just calling something that's the same thing something different.
"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. We've had enough of the same old thing."
McCain immediately objected, not to the stinky fish comment, but to the comparison between McCain and a dolled up pig. He had no such objections last year, when Obama noted that "George Bush has given a mission to General Petraeus, and he has done his best to try to figure out how to put lipstick on a pig," nor of course when McCain referred to Hillary Clinton's health care proposal with the same idiom, or indeed when McCain used the idiom in referring to opponents of the Iraq war.
But McCain objects now, thinking somehow that referring to his policies as lipstick on a pig is a reference to Palin, with the campaign explaining: "As far as I know, she's the only one of the presidential candidates or vice presidential candidates who wears lipstick. It seemed to me a very gendered comment. There's only one woman in the race."
Only one pig, too, and his name is John McCain.
While McCain staffers went into an outrage overdose, people at the rally loved it:
JoAnn Vicars, a retired Bristol police employee, thought Obama's remark was great: "Loved it!" She and several friends scoffed at the idea that Obama was talking about Palin. "That's the way we talk, buddy," Vicars said, in a raspy local accent.
Shame McCain is so out of touch with rural voters.
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> But McCain objects now, thinking somehow that referring to his policies as lipstick on a pig is a reference to Palin
Well, if the shoe fits...
It is very, disturbing that--according to the polls, at least--Palin is winning over so many independent female voters. We all know that there is a huge audience out there that is convinced that the "Washington Types" consider themselves above the crowd. As demogogues and their henchmen ("henchpersons"?) throughout recorded history have taught us, the issues are swept aside once emotions take over. It's us against them. Period. Rally 'round the flag boys and girls!
Even though an overwhleming majority of Palin supporters have been screwed by the Bush Administration and will be treated just as shabbily by a McCain Administration, Palin represents them: Mother of 5, Hockey Mom, good old gal, wise-cracking, gun-toting,"straight talkin'" and attractive.
We can only hope that during the debates, Biden finds a way to (gentlemanly, of course) get her to demonstrate her ignorance in such a way that even her new supporters take a step back to reconsider their vote.
And now is the moment for Hillary to jump back into the fray with the fervor she showed in the primary campaign. This time, however, woman to woman.
Are so many people really unable to understand metaphors? And judging from some of the rallies and polls, will people again vote against their own interests because someone pushed the right button, i.e. every life is precious, we'll lower everyone's taxes, etc.
What?! The far right quote-mining for a false martyrdom effect? Who'd have thought . . .
Once again, the election is not about facts, logic, rational, or cool, calm and collected. It's not about smarts. It's not about who is the best person for the job. It's not about what the country needs. It should be about all those things, but it isn't.
It's about who can trigger the most useful emotions. The Repubs have proven themselves masterful at that, and they're doing it again.
Shame McCain is so out of touch with rural voters.
The real shame, IMHO, is that so many voters are so easily influenced by character assassination, rather than issues.
But then, didn't McCain's campaign manager admit that this election isn't about issues in the first place?
McC uses the "lipstick on a pig" line often in his own speeches = good
McC nominates VP Barbie, who says the only difference between her and a pit bull is lipstick.
Obama uses the same lipstick line, in the same context = baaaaad.
Sarah Palin = Closet lipstick lesbian