Lipstick on a Pig
Thursday, September 11th, 2008Yesterday (10 Sept. 2008) was interesting in that news outlets immediately started talking about Obama “equating” Palin to a pig. Now, my initial thought when I heard that snippet was this: Obama is getting racial. Why? Pig is also known as the “other white meat”. However, when you look at the context of the statement, Obaman is not referring to persons but to policies:
John McCain says he’s about change too. Exce- and and so I guess his whole angle is – watch out, George Bush – except for economic policy, healthcare policy, tax policy, education policy, foreign policy, and Karl-Rove-style politics, we’re really gonna shake things up in Washington.
That’s not change.
That’s that’s just callin’ sumpin’ the same thing somethin’ different.
But you know, you can’t, you know, you you can put, ah, lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig.
The phrase itself has been used by politicians and is the title of a 2006 book by Torie Clark: “Lipstick on a Pig”. Ironically, McCain used the phrase during the campaign as well. [Source]
So, was he aiming a cheap dig at Palin or, given the revived popularity of “Lipstick On…” after Palin’s speech, was the phrase fresh in his mind and that of his speech writing staff? Most likely the later, so on face value, I give Obama the benefit of the doubt on this matter and think people, as a whole, would be best to let the comment pass and be simply that. Had he continued to run with the phrase beyond the High School speech then the accusation would have more merit.
Obama should join Toast Masters. He really needs to learn to deliver a speech without “ah”s and “uh”s because so far, he really does not sound smooth outside of a Teleprompter.
Tune in next time to read a longer tap at policy and why change is not always good. ie: why I won’t vote for Obama.