Smear or playing 'gender card?'

PARTY ANIMALS

NEWSWIRE:
"...the difference between a hockey mom and a Pit Bull? Lipstick."
-- Sarah Palin
"You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig."
-- Barack Obama

If you can let the sleeping Pit Bull lie,
And avoid the donkey and its hooving,
Then here's a rule for pigs you should apply:
They're only lying when their lipstick's moving.

www.newsandverse.com
Light verse, ripped from the headlines

It's neither a smear or the gender card. He used an idiom that has been used a million times before. The media is just doing anything they can to make sure McCain is elected.

I love it. Every time Obama opens his mouth he pukes all over himself. Double digit lead now for McCain and he'll will in a landslide come November. Just keep talking Obama!

Here we go -- as always this turns into a schoolyard fight, and the topics of importance are ignored.

Jane Swift: Stop playing the gender card. We don't care what you have to say, anyway.

Jane Swift needs to get a grip. Coming from a woman who abused her political power to make her aides her babysitters and used the state helicopter as her personal taxi - I'm not sure we should believe any type of moral judgement or opinion she renders. WAAAAAA - that's all I have to say to the Republicans and their ARMY OF TRUTH! Give us all a break and stick to the issues.

wow, can the right ever talk about issues?? no..

they just keep things at the wall to distract the public from talking about things that really matter.

this is embarrassing to most americans and most of the rest of the world.

Swift was a waste of a Gov of MA and she needs to just fade back into obscurity with her helicopter rides and husband as she and the GOP are wasting all of our time with this BS.

Did Palin apologize for the "political organizer" comment, which was code word for "uppity n***r"? I did not think so.

Jane Swift's comments are an embarrassment to women specifically and an insult to thinking humans in general. How can she seriously say this with a straight face? Of, I forgot, she's a Replublican. Lies and smears first, Country second. (Jane must be angling for a new job....)

The media gave Sen. Obama a pass when he called a female journalist "sweetie." He got another pass during the primaries when he referred to arguments from Sen. Clinton "as the claws coming out." It seems to me that given Sen. Obama's past statements, that this was a calculated sexist put down.

Not sure this is a story. But, If McCain can continue to jab at Obama and put him off his agenda and even make him appear defensive then its a valuable tactic. The real story hear is whether the press has performed well enough to reveal and present the true candidates. McCain has been self revealing and admittedly imperfect. Nothing to date of substance has been offered to the AMerican people to re-introduce Joe Biden. Believe me, westerners don't know him. He looks like he's from the same class as McCain without the sacrificial credentials. To soon to say on Palin, but for certain, the press has failed to perform on Obama. The McCain campaign staff will uncover Obama and as this trend continues, see how his support dips. Only the faithful (of which there are many)and those unrealistically expecting the delivering of impractical buerecratic promise, to do what they can not due for themselves, will follow. Thoses dupes are but a tool of Obama's plan for the presidency to complete him.

Please...the woman almost won a beauty contest. No one is going to call her a pig! He was obviously talking about the republican campaign getting "prettied-up" by putting on the lipstick of "change."

Oh, for heaven sakes Jane, you of all people should know what is sexist. Your own party threw you under the bus and we all watched in horror. Please don't be disingenuous about this just to reestablish yourself with party leaders. It makes you look pathetic.

Typical Republican spinning and missing the point. The Repub party is showing their desparation. Anyone with half a brain gets the analogy and knows Obama wasn't talking about Palin specifically rather the silly claim that Mc Cain/Palin team will reform washington.

He's not calling HER a pig. He's referring to the McCain/Palin politics. NARAL America sent out a mass email the day after Palin's RNC speech, where she in fact started the "lipstick on a pitbull" thing. Her speech writers should have thought a little harder about opening up that can of worms, if you ask me.

With friends like Swift, who needs enemies? As I remember, she used her power with the same sense of entitlement that allowed Palin to retaliate against those who didn't fire her ex-brother-in-law. No Obama wasn't referring to her, and it cheapens all women when we shriek and rail against imagined (and created) slights.

This is an old saying, I think the McCain camp is grasping at straws on this one.

Obviously an "old expression" and one that I agree with whole heartedly. If Palin is that sensitive about campaigning perhaps she should go back to Alaska and raise her family.

Ummmm....really? They're making a big deal about this? Amazing. Lipstick on a pig is an odd colloquialism that has been used for ages. I don't think Ms. Palin has the copyright on using the word lipstick in political venues.

Amazing to me that the Republicans can take this and make it all about sexism when for so long they were giving the Dems flack about playing the race card with Obama. The party is ripe with hypocrisy and moments like this make it crystal clear.

I know it's awkward, but Jane Swift is not the "former Massachusetts governor."

Perhaps you call her that as shorthand, but legally and constitutionally she was the "acting governor." She was never the "governor."

Please - McCain said the same thing last year....let's call a spade a spade...or a pig a pig...

It's the same comment John McCain used against Hillary. Who complained then?? Please don't tell me there is liberal media bias. All the media in this country is owned by millionaires and corporations who will benefit greatly if McCain makes Bush's tax cuts permanent, which he will do. I'm embarrassed for John McCain. He's not a maverick. He's a broken shell of a man who waited patiently since 2000 for his turn and did what he was told, even picking Cheney's relative for the VP spot. Bush's people kept their word as long as he played their game, read their speeches, and voted with Bush and that is how John McCain sold his meager soul.

Here's a better response from Obama. "Stop whining. If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. This campaign will be tough, and if McCain and Palin are so damn sensitive about perceived slights, maybe the jobs they seek are just too tough for them. Putin, Bin Laden, and others are going to be very mean and crying about it is not going to solve the problems we face in foreign policy. I think its time the Republicans learned to toughen up a bit."

This is an old saying, I think the McCain camp is grasping at straws on this one.

What a stupid "controversy."

Hey Jane, I think you still owe the state money for all your helicopter rides.

Considering McCain used the exact same "lipstick on a pig" analogy a few weeks ago, before Palin was announced, I find this to be nothing more than the Republicans grasping at straws and trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill.

If McCain was a 3 year old we would call this whining and ignore it.

Here's an apology: I'm sorry Mrs. Palin, you are a wingnut novelty that has been made famous due to John McCain's long history of shooting from the hip. The country is done with gun slingers in the White House.

We've been here before, courtesy of Karl Rove and the nasty Republican tactics fo the last two elections. So none of this should surprise or shock anyone. Identity politics, social wedge issues, and a preoccupation with the superficial. These are the tools of the trade now and, unfortunately, the media plays along. So far, so good for the McCain camp. It's up to voters, particularly independent women, to see through this nonsense and to hold the Republican party accountable for its failed policies on election day. Sadly, I'm beginning to worry that it's working because we're talking about pigs and lipstick instead of issues.

This is rediculous. First, Sarah Palin's comment about hockey Mom's being pitt bulls wtih lip stick was one she elected to make and is an obvious reach out to female voters. She introduced it, not the democrats who are well within their rights to use the comment in their favor now. Second, if Swift thinks that Obama was calling Palin a pig, she is flat out a stupid person. Jane should know that thanks to her ineptitude as :acting govenor", many people now pay more attention to who is second in command. If she doesn't like that comment, she can fly out here and debate...oh wait...she only flys from Williamstown to Boston if the tax payers are picking up the helicopter tab.

Here's a better response from Obama. "Stop whining. If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. This campaign will be tough, and if McCain and Palin are so damn sensitive about perceived slights, maybe the jobs they seek are just too tough for them. Putin, Bin Laden, and others are going to be very mean and crying about it is not going to solve the problems we face in foreign policy. I think its time the Republicans learned to toughen up a bit."

The first comment in this thread is absolutely 100% correct. This is an old adage used all the time by public officials including John McCain not too long ago. This is the media spinning a web of confusion for news consumers again. The choice in the campaign is between progress, moving forward, and fixing government or doing the same old thing over again and expecting different results. Obama/Biden for change and for progress.

Senator Obama, just because "everybody" says it doesn't make it any less offensive.

Good One, Obama! If the right wing can't stand the heat, they shouldn't have set the kitchen on fire!

Here's a better response from Obama. "Stop whining. If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. This campaign will be tough, and if McCain and Palin are so damn sensitive about perceived slights, maybe the jobs they seek are just too tough for them. Putin, Bin Laden, and others are going to be very mean and crying about it is not going to solve the problems we face in foreign policy. I think its time the Republicans learned to toughen up a bit."

Jane Swift.....incredible how she has the nerve to critize anyone.

It is a common comment but the context he used it in was a purposeful attack on her. Obama is a sexist pig. JOURNALISTS=SEXIST for defending this piece of trash. I am discusted by the left wing media hate machine. You misogynistic morons are history.

Women are sick of this treatment and will not put up with it anymore. Palin is coming and she is going to sweep all of you idiots into oblivion.

And to all of you women supporting this sexist moron, how can you live with yourselves? I can understand not agreeing with Palin, that is your choice. But to vote for Obama's sexist hate machine you really have to dislike yourself and all women. If you can't vote for Palin then dont' vote at all.

LIBERAL=SEXIST

Jane Swift we hardly new ye...now go back into hiding and stop making a fool of yourself with absurd comments and your pretend "truth squad" nonsense.

Good One, Obama! If the right wing can't stand the heat, they shouldn't have set the fire!

Please.

Anyone ever heard of a colloquialism? The context was Obama talking about McCain's putting a nice sounding spin on the same ol' Bush policies. Look it up. It had nothing to do with Palin.

Can we have some real talk about real issues? The economy? The conflict in the middle east, perhaps?

Next Up: "Stuffed shirt" will be taken to unfairly treat those that have elected breast augmentation.

Swift should let Palin ask for an apology. What an idiotic comment / request. If sexism is going to be a part of the GOP play book, I am going to write in Ron Paul.

I was offended by the comment.

Would you like it if someone made that comment about your wife, daughter, sister or mother?

Isn't the reason we supported Obama because he was suppose to be above these kinds of comments?

Did Palin apologize for the "political organizer" comment, which was code word for "uppity n***r"? I did not think so.
Posted by Jerry Port

THAT WAS A RACIST REMARK?? SO ALL ORGANIZERS ARE BLACK???

So its okay for McCain to use the phrase "A Pig With Lipstick" when he is talking about hillary clintons healthcare plan. And its okay when McCain in 1998 said "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? because her father is Janet Reno" Which is insulting two women.

But not cool for Obama to say it.

Politics As Usual

Kudos to Obama. The radical right wing GOP set a fire, now they're running around trying to pretend that they can't stand the heat!

"You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
McCain/Palin get over it. It is no big deal.

Are we really reduced to arguing over these words when we have SERIOUS issues facing us as a country? We are losing ground to other countries on global leadership, economies, respect.

I have decided we are no longer going to be America the Superpower, but America the Used to Be. Our grandchildren will be told stories of when America was great while reading about the technological greatness of China, Russia, India, Dubai and others.

So I guess the difference between Sarah Palin and Barack Obama is that Barack's lipstick smears.

Obama should apologize to the pig. They don't deserve to get lumped in with McShame and Failin'.

How about neither? In the past McCain used the phrase himself, as did Dick Cheney. And I'm positive Palin has no copyright on the word "lipstick."

It's a common figure of speech, for the Love of Larry! McCain's economic adviser, Phil Gramm, has twice called Americans "a nation of whiners." Those good swift-boating folks should know. Collectively, they constitute the vintage whine of the Century, eager to dish out the sludge and even more eager to cry tears of outrage when they perceive unintended slights from the other side.

Let's talk about issues: the national debt, the rising wealth gap, the cost of food and education, our status among nations, etc. Let's not make this election about lipstick, even though Sarah Palin first brought the matter up.

Please...the woman almost won a beauty contest. No one is going to call her a pig! He was obviously talking about the republican campaign getting "prettied-up" by putting on the lipstick of "change."

REALLY? SO WHEN HE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED UP THE PIG COMMENT WITH A DIG ABOUT WRAPPING OLD FISH, HE WASN'T REFERRING TO MCCAIN?

re #7, you echo the comments reported this morning of New York's governor, who, as it happens, is also black (although I would have thought he'd be color blind, being blind and all....). To both of you, thanks for decrypting the code for me and everyone else who had not made the connection (irony intended).

While McCain's comment was ORIGINAL, and could only reasonably be interpreted in its context as directly pertaining to characterization of the issue over which he and Clinton disagreed (and not as an ad hominem attack on Clinton), Obama's comment, by contrast, was calculated and DERIVATIVE, coming hard on the heals of Palin's pit-bull-in-lipstick schtick. Despite his campaign manager's protestations to the contrary, Obama's comment was indeed a gender-specific attack -- in the spirit in which it was intended. I am not a supporter of either candidate, by I interpreted Obama's comment in no other way, and I think Swift was probably correct to denounce it.

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. Republican strategy and tactics are getting old and boring. We are gonna lose to dems because of this. Lets grow up and stick to facts. C'mon....Thanks!

So McCain says the EXACT quote about Hillary, and does he apologize? Of course not.

And....McCain actually called Mitt Romney a pig too - once again, double standards for the Rebuplicans.

McCain's hoping to win just by calling Sexism against Palin on every issue....Any self-respecting Woman would know better then to believe the Palin hype...and this lays bare what she is there for. So McCain can take any attack and call it sexist...this is exactly what Obama wanted to expose...pure genius Obama...pure genius!

It's wonderful when we can get a break from hearing what the candidates have to say about the war in Iraq, the economy, gas prices, global warming and any of the many other issues that actually matter, and instead discuss a figure of speech that's been around just about forever.

Oooh, I said "figure". That's likely a veiled insult to the woman in the race, saying she's fat. And I said "forever", which is evidently an attack on John McCain's age. I'm guessing I also somehow offended the Obama camp, too.

So McCain says the EXACT quote about Hillary, and does he apologize? Of course not.

And....McCain actually called Mitt Romney a pig too - once again, double standards for the Republicans.

We all know what is going on with the "lipstickgate". Palin starts her meteoric rise with her famous difference between "Hockey Mom and a Pit Bull is Lipstick" analogy and one week later Obama "innocently" uses and old idiom about putting lipstick on a pig, coincidence I think not. Obama never used the phrase during the last 19 months of campaigning, why now? Obama thought he was being clever and it blew up in his face. Like it or not Dems the more Obama gets nervous and speaks off the cuff a different less eloquent candidate emerges.

The Real Obama is what we are beginning to see and it is not uplifting, poetic or charismatic, he is this camgaign's train wreck.

Seriously...Jane Swift trying to make a claim on poliltical "ethics" and embracing the virtues of the higher road and truthfulness by reading into a comment as innocuous as this? This is a clear testament as to why she didn't last in politics, and why she was absolutely worthless for the limited time she did serve the Commonwealth (I use the term "serve" VERY loosely).

Obama's comments were clearly stating the obvious; the McCain campaign is simply trying to "dress up" worn and ineffectual tactics and policies, but at the end of the day there's only so much primping you can do to put a sheen on a tarnished policy record. There, I'm sure Jane would try to make a connection that my comment is still derrogatory because the word "dress" was in there and there's only one woman in the campaign so it MUST be directed at Palin. Right, because her pea-sized brain isn't able to comprehend a figure of speech vs. taking things too literally.

Alright then, fine, I'll just make it derrogatory now: JANE...GET BACK IN THE KITCHEN YOU BLOATED, BUBBLE BUTTED IDIOT AND MAKE ME A CHICKEN POT PIE!!!!

The last two elections were nothing more than Republican Smear Campaigns.
Now they complain. McCain had my respect and possible vote, until he caved into his party and nominated here. It is now obvious, MaCain is the Lipstick on the Republican Pig.

Jane Swift is the most useless and ineffective MA politician of all time.

I had the distinct pleasure of interning in the Governor’s office during her rein of terror and I remember distinctly how she told us about her days of interning and how she was “boy crazy” and nothing about what it was like to be Governor.

Figures she would be the leader of the “truth squad” supporting a women who has the intellect of a cantaloupe. Although, I do give Palin credit for perusing that difficult BA in Journalism. It must have been very trying transferring five times in six years: Hawaii Pacific University, North Idaho College, University of Idaho, Matanuska-Susitna College, University of Idaho again.

Idiocracy has begun.

If Hockey Mom's and Pit Bulls are so tough, why is Palin afraid to answer questions from the press--or even from the public at campaign stops? She's only tough when she's spouting scripted rhetoric and it is becoming painfully obvious she is not trusted by her own party to stand on her own 2 feet.

Whew! Thank the lord all the serious issue facing America have been solved so we can debate this inane drivel! Pass the popcorn.

This has Karl Rove's name all over it.

The GOP has nothing, and they know it. The only thing that will fly is false outrage, and a manufactured "slight" against no one.

The media, of course, laps this all up in the name of ratings, and the party faithful, most of which are hardly smart enough to walk upright and use simple hand tools, fall into lockstep behind it.

Next week, Obama will mention the chickens coming home to roost, which will be seen as a knock against Gov. Palin’s small-town upbringing and Alaska’s “self-reliant” people that raise their own chickens.

It does not matter what he said or didn’t say.
He is a MUSLEM; he even said by chance that he has MUSLEM FAITH.
He hates WHITES and JUWES!

So its okay for McCain to use the phrase "A Pig With Lipstick" when he is talking about hillary clintons healthcare plan. And its okay when McCain in 1998 said "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? because her father is Janet Reno" Which is insulting two women.

But not cool for Obama to say it.

Politics As Usual

To Poster named ED
I agree 100% with you. He also tried to make fun of her for moose hunting. All in the same speech. I heard it on ABC last night. He did the same thing to Hillary calling her Annie Oakley. He can do what he wants say what he wants and gets away with it. The media has allowed this for some time. He also has shown these past few weeks that when the spotlight isn't on him and him alone, he gets pi$$y. True colors starting to show!!
I don't know which news shows some of these people are watching but they have never been on board with John McCain. They all but ruled him out and Nobama was their star. Now that the majority of the population has turned in favor of McCain they are all beside themselves. Realizing now their biased opinions are showing. Democrats are beside themselves too, that's why Nobama sent teams of attorneys and had his 300 or so advisors go to Alaska.

Well, the McCain campaign can't run on substance, so they have to run on this sort of thing. And they know they can count on the so-called "liberal media" to play along.

Obama's comment was a clear slam at McCain's policies, and McCain chose to hid behind Palin. Lame.

Everyone knows that Obama is best suited for teleprompters and well-rehearsed speeches. When he tries to speak off the cuff or in a town hall setting then what comes out sounds elitist, speaking down to people, snobbish, and condescending. He just can't help it.

Advice to Obama's handlers - don't let him loose!! Stick a teleprompter in front of him! He will sink the Dems' chances on his very own.

No one cares what Jane Swift has to say. We're trying to forget her time as "acting" Governor of this state. She is/was an embarrassment. Give her a one way helicopter ride to Alaska, please.

Dear Republicans, why aren't we talking about the ISSUES? Your candidates aren't talking about them and neither are you.

Stupid people- The bottom line is that the "lipstick" word was just coined recently by Palin. Obama used poor judgment in using that phrase. I'm sure he didn't mean to call Palin a pig, but it didn't sound good. It's just bad judgment. He could have used another phrase. He is so stupid. It's incredible. But I don't mind his stupidity, and everyone else campaigning for him, because they are helping to put McCain in office.

So word to all you libs out there: Keep it up! Thanks for the double digit lead!!

Obama's "lipstick on a Pig" comment could be his "tar baby". We all know that they are both idioms from the lexicon of our language, so I guess it OK..

McCain/Palin '08 We're on a road/bridge to nowhere

Obama bin Biden We'll smoke him out of hiding

Two politicians no real solutions

What do you do?

What - Do - You - Do?

Everyone knows this old saying. This is ridiculus. Do you really, really think that any politician would directly call another a pig in a speech? Regardless of gender.
And Ed "saying the claws are coming out" is not gender specific, in my opinion."Its like saying "the gloves are coming off". This oversensitivity makes women look like a bunch of crybabies, not what your should be selling if you are trying to get elected by choosing a woman vp. Mc Cain/ Palin know rightly this was not an insult to the her directly, and they should have more sense than to suggest otherwise.

This whole issue is stupid, petty, and designed to grab headlines.
This whole issue is an attempt to grab headlines on the "pig issue and divert attention from the real headlines....how bad our economy is and how much worse it is getting.
For years we have focus on Iraq and Guantanamo and Waterboarding and Blackwater. Meanwhile the simmering real estate catastrophy, the growing trade imbalance, the budget deficit, the falling american went largely unnoticed.
Now the entire financial system seems on the verge of collapse. Bank failures, people lining up to get their money, government bailouts of failing private financial institutions, rising inflation, people abandoning their homes...this country is in deep deep doo doo
And what to the politicians want to talk about......lipstick on a pig.

If things are this bad and the comment about pigs is the major issue you are concerned with...you don't deserve to serve in the whitehouse.

And YOU know who I'm talking about

When Governor Palin made her comment comparing herself to a pit bull, she did not say it to draw attention to her resembling a pit bull, ....or did she?

The GOP's reaction by playing the gender card and releasing a swift goading ad campaign only confuses me more. Was the GOP ad released in defense of pigs, pit bulls, Governor Palin or all three?

Karl Rove lives and his political ploy, divert and defeat, is in game again.

I think we have had enough of Bush, Rove, and the GOP. Let's get serious and devote time to solving our country's real problems.

Jane Swift??? Speaking of lipstick on a pig....

When Governor Palin made her comment comparing herself to a pit bull, she did not say it to draw attention to her resembling a pit bull, ....or did she?

The GOP's reaction by playing the gender card and releasing a swift goading ad campaign only confuses me more. Was the GOP ad released in defense of pigs, pit bulls, Governor Palin or all three?

Karl Rove lives and his political ploy, divert and defeat, is in game again.

I think we have had enough of Bush, Rove, and the GOP. Let's get serious and devote time to solving our country's real problems.

The more Obama talks the better it's looking for McCain/Palin. How negative can he and Biden get? They are gettting very desperate...so is the media.

Obama is made to look silly each and every day. It is an astonishing that Democrats have put this Freshman Senator - in the senate for 143 days before he announced - forward as a presidential candidate. Go back to "Community Organizing" . His community needs one since the number of deaths in his former district was 125 over the summer - which is MORE than Iraq.
He has surrounded himself with Socialists, radicals and bigots most of his life- that's all fact my fellow Americans. We don't need his kind of Change for America. McCain/Palin in a landslide. Country First. God Bless America.

Barack Obama said Wednesday 'enough is enough' when it comes to the McCain campaign's claim his recent 'lipstick' comment was a sexist attack leveled at GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin.

"Spare me the phony outrage. Spare me the phony knee talk about change," Obama said at the beginning of an education event in Virginia. "We have real problems in this country right now. The American people are looking to us for answers, not distractions, not diversions, not manipulations. They want real answers to the real problems we are facing."

Two politicians no real solutions......What do you do? What - Do - You - Do?
McCain Palin '08...We're on a road/bridge to nowhere
Obama bin Biden...We can smoke him out of hiding

She's a pig, Obama's a Muslim, McCain's bitter and demented, Biden's a Washington insider.......we're boned......as usual.

Unless the McCain/Palin camp is in fact claiming that Palin is a pig, nobody else is. If the GOP plan is to continue to say one thing then either say something completely opposite or blast the democrats for saying the exact same thing later, then I guess we know what their own views, positions, and words are worth.

When Governor Palin made her comment comparing herself to a pit bull, she did not say it to draw attention to her resembling a pit bull, ....or did she?

The GOP's reaction by playing the gender card and releasing a swift goading ad campaign only confuses me more. Was the GOP ad released in defense of pigs, pit bulls, Governor Palin or all three?

Karl Rove lives and his political ploy, divert and defeat, is in game again.

I think we have had enough of Bush, Rove, and the GOP. Let's get serious and devote time to solving our country's real problems.

Last weekend, Obama was in Pennsylvania at a rally and referred to Penn State's football team as the "Nittally Lions"..ouch. Barack -it's the Nittany Lions!

Does this remind anyone of Kerry's "Manny Ortez" comment on national TV at the Red Sox game? John it's Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz...they are 2 different people.

What Obama needs to do is call McCain out. Pull the surrogates off of the viscous cable news cycle and ask John McCain to state flat out whether he thinks he (Obama) is sexist. He needs to ask on a national scene, maybe a press conference why McCain is focusing on wedge issues and cutting off access to the press.

Or maybe he should bring back McCain's "Hot chicks dig Obama" ad which truly was a sexist ad. Ask why John McCain thinks women are so stupid they vote not with their pocket books in these tough economic times but based on looks. American women are smarter than that. This would be a strong counter punch.

Oh sure "It's an old saying." Please!!! The audiance knew BHO was referring to Palin. And, for Obama, the "master" of public speaking, and this "great Ivy League elite thinker", to be "surprised" now that anyone would think he WASN'T referring to Palin is disingenuous.

What problem does "the Chosen One" have with women anyway? Remember the snide comment he made to Hillary about her being "likable enough"?

Then again, it's probably just the stress getting to him....seeing how he's dropping in the polls.

Mitch and Ed are obviously buying the same old republican scam. They can't offer anything of substance so just use lies and halve truths. Was it is sexist when Obama used the same phrase against President Bush last year? Was it sexist when McCain used it against Hilary Clinton's healthcare policy last year? I think not and their claiming sexism now is just wanting to have their cake and eat it too. It seems to me the republicans put Palin in the race for these reasons....say we are great for having a woman on the ticket...but hands off, because she is a woman. That is true sexism.

I'm not 100% sure Obama was referrign to Paline when he said teh lipstick/pig comment. But I am sure that the crowd behind him (at least) did. You could tell by their enthusiastic laughter as soon as he said the word lipstick. It's hard to believe that for all this looong campiagn, the word lipstick was never used till last weds. night - and now both Obama and Biden use it when 'referring to something else'. Count me as skeptical.

Didn't McSame offer his wife as a topless dancer not 4 weeks ago? Where are the calls of sexism on that? Even if he didn't know it was sexist, using women in beauty contests sure is sexist.. RIGHT? RIGHT? Where's the RIGHT's defense of women in terms of exploitation? Oh RIGHT, it doesn't exist.

Hypocrites!

What’s the difference between a snippy, annoying little Chihuahua and Sarah Palin? NOTHING. What’s the difference between Sarah Palin and every other deceptive, lying Repug on the planet? NOTHING.
Of course, the McBush people pull the (centuries old) expression out of context and claim it is aimed at the lipstick wearing pit bull. Listen to the rest of the speech. For an entire minute before that statement, Obama says McBush’s name about 5 times. Sarah goes unmentioned. :-(((. What’s the matter, Sarah? Feeling left out? Obama is talking about McBush’s promise to change Washington and his idol’s (and role model’s) politics-as-usual. Then without ever mentioning Her Pit Bullness’s name, compares McBush’s promise to change what he has been rubber stamping for almost 8 years to putting lipstick on a pig. And Janey, I don’t think the statute of limitations on misappropriating public funds has run out. We can still sue you to recover what you stole from us. Helicopter rides don’t come cheap. Nor do State House babysitters. If Obama says something about making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, will that be a sexist comment about Her Pit Bullness’s pocketbook? Don’t the Repugs ever want to be honest? Even just once to see what it feels like?

#9. ABSOLUTELY Correct, the media has given him a pass, I was insulted and she should be also.

Hahaha! Obama knows that Rove's new lapdog, John MCain, is NOT an agent of change. That is putting lipstick on a Hog.

If it walks like a Duck and Quacks like a Duck. It must be a Duck. Look at MCcain's lobbiest and Rove trained henchmen. Ducks in a row!

Democrats say their guy is experience plus substance
Republicans say their guy is experience plus substance

Democrats say the other guy is not right for the job
Republicans say the other guys is not right for the job

According to all the adds and name calling you both suck.

I don't know who I hate more!

Maybe it's just because I'm getting old, but that saying is very well known. Does Sarah Palin get the exclusive on the word lipstick now? WTH is this world coming to anyway? People really can't be this dumb, can they? You mean all these people getting mad about this have never heard this saying before? Give me a break!

As I've mentioned before, hit 'em where they (the Repubs) don't have answers, which is anything regarding their policies about healthcare, the ecomony, foreign relations, education, etc. Also, didn't Palin describe herself as a lipstick-wearing-hockey-mom-pitbull-type of person?

If she can't stand the heat, mabye she should get out of the kitchen......er, maybe that was "sexist," mentioning the kitchen. Seriously, though, wasn't McCain's pick of Palin sexist, thinking women will just flock to their campaign, just because Palin is a woman? Tell me that isn't sexist.

Yesterday, Missouri Rep. Russ Carnahan, appearing at a speech by Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden, said that Palin is “someone with zero experience in national government, zero experience in foreign affairs. There’s no way you can dress up that record, even with a lot of lipstick.”

Come on Democrats! Rise above it! You're trying to act cutesy with your lipstick analogies and it's backfiring big time. Dems don't do cutesy very well. It comes across as belittling and mean-spirited. We know what you're trying to say but you're not going to win this one on being cutesy.

Also, be a little more sensitive to how lipstick was branded by Gov Palin during her acceptance speech. Once she applied the word to help describe her it became off-limits in any other context. Love it or hate it, it's reality. Try talking to a marketing person in business to learn about branding and how much of an impact it can have on your campaign.

Isn't that like the "pot calling the kettle black"? Oh, that would be racist, wouldn't it!

I saw this and I can't possibly see how that could be considered a smear against somebody who isnt even mentioned! He's talking about POLICIES.

Makes me wonder if it is the republicans who have the sexism problem here - seems they are the ones who cannot hear the words " lipstick" and "pig" together without immediately thinking of "Sarah Palin".

McCain's reaching beyond his capability as he clutches at straws. Recently obvious, he's trying hijacking everything... from his own maverick mantle as a young(er) 64 year old, being sexist by playing protective overly-sensitive father, a game he initiated by partnering with a younger woman.., now by trying to hi-jack Obama's true message of change .. even his ads are now using the the same ..."more of the same" line.
He's "matured""beyond being able to have an original and issue related fresh idea... it's ridiculous to attempt to own any reference to lipstick as being Sarah Palin's and only Sarah Palin's sole identifier.
As the US burns, stop fiddling with the "lipstick" ...Act braver and smarter... talk about the real and crucial national issues.

Does anyone else think that the McCain campaign has some serious big brass ones by hiring someone named Swift(boat) to head up their "Truth Squad?" Do they have a vetting pprocess for ANYTHING?!?

Republicans are terrific at winning elections, too bad they're terrible at actually leading the country.

Who really cares what Jane Swift thinks? This isn't about her and she is desperately trying to be relevant. Just because she and Palin both exercised their wombs while in office doesn't make her an expert on everything related to Palin.

Swift and others are being terribly literal. "Lipstick on a pig" is a common expression, plain and simple. Was it unfortunate for Obama that Palin had just made that whole lipstick and pitbill analogy? Yes. Does Palin wear lipstick? yes. But does it mean that his comment was sexist or even ABOUT Palin? That's a stretch.

What Obama should have said was- 'You can put lipstick on a moose...'
Now THAT would have been an insult.

Palin referred to her self as a Pit Bull which is a very unstable vicious breed and attacks only children and the elderly. Which is what McCain/Palin is proposing with their welfare cuts and social security plans. Seldom ever hear of an attack pig with or without lip stick, so could not have been referring to Palin.

Obama's full quote, in context, according to the NY Times:

“John McCain says he’s about change, too — except for economic policy, health care policy, tax policy, education policy, foreign policy and Karl Rove-style politics,” Mr. Obama told his supporters here. “That’s just calling the same thing something different.”

With a laugh, he added: “You can put lipstick on a pig; it’s still a pig. You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change; it’s still going to stink after eight years."

Somebody please tell me how anyone buys this is a sexist comment about Sarah Palin.

This is an absolute joke. Look at the context of what Obama was saying - he wasn't even talking about PALIN!

I am simply stunned that Karl Rove politics, phony outrage and gutterball tactics are going to win yet another election for the Republicans. The stupidity and ability to vote against self-interest that the average American displays is absolutely mind-numbing. America just went through 8 of the worst economic years on record and our global standing is in the crapper thanks to these moronic Republicans in office and it looks like we have to get ready for at least another 4 years of the same.

Holy cow. I just can't believe how easily manipulated people are by this gutterball junk to vote against what is clearly their own self-interest. It honestly astonishes me. What a dirty business politics is.

If the Republicans get all bent out of shape over 'lipstick on a pig,' how are they going to stand up to Putin?

Playing the gender card in this clumsy fashion will surely backfire on McCain.

This is all funny. This election must have been about issues but looks like it has shrinked to just words. People, media waste the whole network in discussing the comments. Palin is not giving interview, media is not discussing about the 8000 soldiers coming back from Iraq, they have no issue related to Fannie and Fraddie. Its all crazy and words words and words.....no insight how replublicans or democrats are going to do reforms no detail plans. Instead, just pointing fingers- who is who.

One thing IS true and that is that people calling themselves a "truth squad" are always LYING.

I think Obama is right on the mark. I mean what else can the GOP do but put lipstick on a pig? I think McCain’s VP is a desperate attempt to repackage the Republican "Brand" in a new maverick mythology, which by all stretches of the imagination is entirely chimerical.

I think it will be difficult for Republicans to make any substantial arguments against affirmative action after this pick. Affirmative action not for individual uplift but as desperate political maneuvering is a cynical betrayal of principals to gain power.

One question - and please answer honestly:

Were Palin a man, would McCain have picked her? Point made.

...and now John McCain only wants to talk about Palin.

Why? Skepticism isn't sexism.....

Do you love how the McCain campaign is exploiting women by his VP pick?

It seems to be working and it is a sign of how gullible people are.

Before Palin, McCain was a no go for women. So the McCain campaign picks a woman with just about the same opinions and record as McCain, and women start falling in line? MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

What does that say about American women?

liberals are funny

Why is the press behaving as if they have never heard of the idiom before? I did not think it was offensive at all. And as a working mom, working parent for that matter, I am tired of hearing the Republicans complaining about gender bias.

Agree with POST #46. Absolutely. This is "deflect the attention to a made up controversy because we're bankrupt of REAL ideas and leadership" politics played by McCain and his lip-sticked running mate.

How ridiculous.

It's obvious Obama wasn't referring to her. McCain has used the same terminology, and it was broadcast last night on network TV. The clip was from MAY of this year.

Good grief. This is low even for the lowest bottom feeder of all, Karl Rove...who we KNOW is a big part of the McCain campaign behind the scenes.

Can we TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES, PLEASE!!!!!!!??????!!!!!?????

I think Obama should be the one thinking about what he wants to do if he wins instead of putting down the other party... Why did he even say that? To say the least, whoever thought that pig comment was a good idea, should be thrown to the wolves, and if it was his idea that was a bad move and he's going to pay for it in the long run.

Love how the Globe gives us two choices: smear or gender politics. How about a third: b.s.? I think we'll have to endure two or three more Hockey Mom news cycles before the press gets bored and maybe starts doing its job.

I think Obama should be the one thinking about what he wants to do if he wins instead of putting down the other party... Why did he even say that? To say the least, whoever thought that pig comment was a good idea, should be thrown to the wolves, and if it was his idea that was a bad move and he's going to pay for it in the long run.

Oh come on, Jane Swift isn't all that bad - after all, she never hunted from the state helicopter!

Sarah Palin and the GOP are using sexism as a weapon. While there have been some blatant sexist attacks against her (like the photoshopped images making their way around the internet), the gender card has been used and abused time and time again to keep the media from asking her hard questions. It's too bad, since I was giving serious consideration to voting Republican for the first time in my life.

Bad day for the Dems yesterday. Obama's "lipstick on a pig" comment coming only a week after Palin's famous "lipstick" quote. And in the next sentence referred to "an old fish."

This was on the same day that Joe Biden told a paraplegic to "STAND UP AND LET 'EM SEE YOU!" Morons!

so if I say "I like your wife's lipstick" and then someone utters that "saying", you would not be offended, right?

are you kidding me?? mccain exploiting women?? give me a break. and to all those who comment "quit whining" , wasn't it just last week all the dems were bent out of shape about some little known rep. using the word "uppity"?? those in glass houses....
i mean, it the dems get all bent out of shape over "uppity" how are they going to stand up to Putin??

I do not understand why the press is clearly falling in for the Karl Rvoe tactics again. The idiom is a common one; maybe if Republicans could relate to all that is common in America, they would know this one.

If Obama is allowed to call Palen a pig, I think it's time for McCain to start calling Obama a MONKEY.

Democrats like to play the gender card...as long as it works in their favor. It's amazing how quickly they forgot about Hillary.

It was just a matter of time for John McCain to get down there with his predecessor’s advice and muck it up...as usual. Though he wants to distance himself from the troth, the appetite is still plentiful. Perhaps now we are seeing that a McCain presidency will be no different than the Bush Debacle. Besides, shouldn’t Palin have issue with cosmetic testing on animals? Or is she a “Smear and Release” advocate?

This is the most distracted (and distractable) campaign I can remember. What a waste of time on these issues...

Palin is an unknown with a thin record as a public official, whose nomination was clearly designed to shake up the ELECTION, not so much to add weight to McCain's governing team. In addition she came out swinging for the fences with criticism, sarcasm and some stretching of her resume.

While I am impressed with the politics and audacity of the move... she deserves the "vetting" and questioning... not the least from the media but also from her own party. She might become your leader one day, do you really want another hard right-winger in charge?

You should also carefully question McCain's own judgement. He made a choice we'll all have to possibly live with.

That's not smear... I thought it was common sense.

It's a common phrase, used by many, used by McCain himself so please stop this nonsense. I've lost some respect for McCain - they jump on all this to avoid having Pallin speak on the issues.

Who the hell is Jane Swift and why dows anyone care what she says anyway? For anyone who has an axe to grind against women political candidates, they just got ammo for their argument. Lipstick, lip gloss....who gives a rats behind. Obama wasn't smearing anyone. This whole election campaign has turned into a big joke. If Palin can't take the heat, go home and bake cookies.

It was just a matter of time for John McCain to get down there with his predecessor’s advice and muck it up...as usual. Though he wants to distance himself from the troth, the appetite is still plentiful. Perhaps now we are seeing that a McCain presidency will be no different than the Bush Debacle. Besides, shouldn’t Palin have issue with cosmetic testing on animals? Or is she a “Smear and Release” advocate?

Jane Swift of Massachusetts?

Now there is Lipstick on a Pig!

Nonsense

Typical Republican strategy -

When you can't win on the issues - kill the other side with lies, fiction and fake outrage to distract.....

I am SOOOOOO sick of it....They simply can't stick to the issues and if Obama pulls a Kerry and tries to keep it a clean fight - he will get his clock cleaned....

The republicans need to be called out - and hard - on their political strategies....

This country needs leadership and the republicans again show their true colors. I just can't believe how many people are foolish enough to listen to it......It is a tremendous black eye on the citizens of this country...the world simply laughs at how foolish we look even engaging in this - - it keeps us from the REAL issues

Jane Swift - go back in your box - you stole from our pockets when you were in office and you were thrown out.....stay out unless you have something constructive to say - - and only after you paid us all back for the babysitting you charged us!!!

Who the hell is Jane Swift and why does anyone care what she says anyway? For anyone who has an axe to grind against women political candidates, they just got ammo for their argument. Lipstick, lip gloss....who gives a rats behind. Obama wasn't smearing anyone. This whole election campaign has turned into a big joke. If Palin can't take the heat, go home and bake cookies.

It was just a matter of time for John McCain to get down there with his predecessor’s advice and muck it up...as usual. Though he wants to distance himself from the troth, the appetite is still plentiful. Perhaps now we are seeing that a McCain presidency will be no different than the Bush Debacle. Besides, shouldn’t Palin have issue with cosmetic testing on animals? Or is she a “Smear and Release” advocate?

McCain knows his complaints about Obama's use of the same phrase McCain used for Hillary's health care plan is another cynical attempt to throw sand into the eyes of the electorate. Cynical like his attempt to steal the Change theme from Obama, cynical like appointing an airhead Christian fundamentalist as VP candidate, .. where is the McCain of 2000 - a so-called man of honor and dignity? He is now a puppet of the Rove/Limbaugh clique that with Cheney controlled the Bushies. The War Hero that hides behind a woman's skirts and throws sand in the eyes of the voters - McCain has made hollow the word Honor .

Classic politics. McCain is doing everything he can to keep Obama on his back foot, and its working. Obama camp jumping right in to vigorously defend, and thus extending the very news cycle McCain needs to to gain momentum. Whether Obama meant it or not, he needs to be more careful about feeding the beast.

REPUBLICANS – WORLD CHAMPION DOUBLE STANDARD BEARERS

Obama referring to McCain/Palin “changes” as “putting lipstick on a pig”;
McCain, less than a year ago, used the EXACT same saying to refer to Hillary Clinton’s health care plan – it wasn’t sexist then; it isn’t now – the Republicans sure are playing that gender card that they warned Hillary not to use…

Dick Morris, Republican strategist, accused Hillary of using the gender card in her campaign – she has to learn to play in the big leagues with the big boys; now he takes every opportunity to say the Democrats are being sexist in their comments/treatment of Palin – can’t have it both ways, Dickie boy.

Karl Rove said recently that Palin is well qualified – she has been governer for two years and was mayor of the “second largest” (sic) city in Alaska (pop.: approx. 9,000 – being generous); just a few weeks ago he said a potential Obama running mate, Kane, was inexperienced: he’d only been governor for 3 years (do your math, Karl) and mayor of a city of only 200,000 –these Republican idiots just keep giving it to us…

Bill “No-Spin” O’Reilly (oh, really?) lambasted Britney Spears’ sister and mother for teenage pregnancy scandal – called it disgusting and wondered where the mother was in all this… - now he lavishes praise on Palin and her courageous daughter – talk about hypocrisy – this guy needs to be put out of our misery.

The Republicans started talking about “choice” at their convention – make me laugh – they certainly weren’t talking about women’s choice or choices of same-sex couples – what a joke.

The Republicans have enthusiastically said this race is about personality not issues – weren’t they recently complaining that Obama was like a rock star personality??? – where DO they get off???

Republicans say “hands off” Palin’s family – meanwhile, they’ve been making personal issues the meat of their campaigns for the last 8 years – trying to tell us how we should all behave in the privacy of own lives.

It was just a matter of time for John McCain to get down there with his predecessor’s advice and muck it up...as usual. Though he wants to distance himself from the troth; his appetite is still plentiful. Perhaps now we are seeing that a McCain presidency will be no different than the Bush Debacle. Besides, shouldn’t Palin have issue with cosmetic testing on animals? Or is she a “Smear and Release” advocate?

The difference between and a pit-bull and this, particular hockey mom?....

.....A LEASH !!!

I want the 3 minutes back that it took me to read this post - I mean, REALLY? THIS is what it's coming down to? Men and women dying in Iraq and Afghanistan, people losing their homes, and fuel prices so high that a lot of people have to make the hard choice of eat or freeze this winter, and THIS is what we drum up as an issue???

McCain knows his complaints about Obama's use of the same phrase McCain used for Hillary's health care plan is another cynical attempt to throw sand into the eyes of the electorate. Cynical like his attempt to steal the Change theme from Obama, cynical like appointing an airhead Christian fundamentalist as VP candidate, .. where is the McCain of 2000 - a so-called man of honor and dignity? He is now a puppet of the Rove/Limbaugh clique that with Cheney controlled the Bushies. The War Hero that hides behind a woman's skirts and throws sand in the eyes of the voters - McCain has made hollow the word Honor .

Jerome Jackson ... comment #3 ... the only reason that this race is close is because the voters are dumber than ever before, and it looks like you're leading the charge. Nice going.

Jamie V wrote:
It's neither a smear or the gender card. He used an idiom that has been used a million times before. The media is just doing anything they can to make sure McCain is elected."

That's a good one. Mainstream media doing anything they can to get McCain elected. Isn't this the same media that hinted about Palin's youngest being her daughter's child? Or did we forget the bashing of two weeks ago? Love that selective memory, Jamie. Media trying to get McCain elected- that's the funniest thing I've heard in a while....

"I think Obama should be the one thinking about what he wants to do if he wins instead of putting down the other party... "

And it's OK for McCain/Palin to put him down...? Did you even hear the context the comment was made in?

Seriously ... why does it appear that so many have never witnessed a political camapaign before?
If you listen to the audio clip of his speech you can hear the audience react immediately to his comments; both on the "pig" and the "fish." The audience knew, or at least thought they knew, what that sentence refered to. Only Obama will ever know if it was indeed meant to insult Palin or not. However ... that is hardly the point here. He made a bad choice in selecting that imagery and wording and opened the door to being hammered for being a sexist! Again ... whether or not there is any truth to that is a question that only one person can answer, but for now, any complaints about being "taken off message" or "slandered" should not be directed toward McCain / Palin, but rather at Obama himself for opening the door to what will only hurt him in the eyes of those who do not care whether intent was there or not.

Pig or not, she called herself a dog who wears makeup.

Seriously ... why does it appear that so many have never witnessed a political camapaign before?
If you listen to the audio clip of his speech you can hear the audience react immediately to his comments; both on the "pig" and the "fish." The audience knew, or at least thought they knew, what that sentence refered to. Only Obama will ever know if it was indeed meant to insult Palin or not. However ... that is hardly the point here. He made a bad choice in selecting that imagery and wording and opened the door to being hammered for being a sexist! Again ... whether or not there is any truth to that is a question that only one person can answer, but for now, any complaints about being "taken off message" or "slandered" should not be directed toward McCain / Palin, but rather at Obama himself for opening the door to what will only hurt him in the eyes of those who do not care whether intent was there or not.

Stockbrokers who push a bad stock on gullible investors often say "let's try to put lipstick on this pig" among themselves of course....well, a bad stock is a bad stock and so a bad Presidential team is a bad Presidential team no matter how you many times you say "maverick" and lie to try to make it so but you really are owned by the oil companies and have lobbiests runnunig your campaign...or try to pretend you're a liberated woman, cry "victim" at every turn or when your against "freedom to choose" and all the other gains women have made...has anyone dared to ask Palin if she supports equal pay for equal work??

Chris wrote, quoting Obama:
"Spare me the phony outrage. Spare me the phony knee talk about change," Obama said at the beginning of an education event in Virginia. "We have real problems in this country right now. The American people are looking to us for answers, not distractions, not diversions, not manipulations. They want real answers to the real problems we are facing."

Okay, instead of asking the questions there, Chief, why don't you provide some answers instead of being a rhetorical blowhard? And no, inflating my tires is not a good solution for me. Where's the substance behind this "change" rhetoric?

To Jane Swift: The only thing that is more insignificant than your remarks was your leadership as Governor.

Just what brand of lipstik does John Sydney McCain III wear?

And for my buddy Karl Rove, hi Karl. Hows the contempt of congress hearings going? Are they keeping you busy or have they given you the fall off to run the republican campaign.

Don't forget to ask George Bush to write you a presidential pardon before he leaves office. Georgie is getting old and forgetful, and no matter who wins the election the next president won't pardon you like Scooter.

The GOP is so blatantly phony that it labels as “sexist” criticisms that aren’t even gender-specific?

Palin’s skin is so thin that she reacts to criticisms that weren’t even directed at her?

How presidential do these people seem to you?

We let them get away with garbage like this in 2000 and 2004.

What do you think of the results?

Sarah Palin is a pig, at the trough of the American taxpayer--review her Alaska record. Jane Swift was too, perhaps her she should put her helicopter on ebay...

And another thing. Is John McCain calling someone else sexist??? Never mind that the comment, placed back in context, could not in any way have been seen as directed at or meant to be about Palin. You know what is really sexist, demeaning and objectifying? Having a candidate for President pick a totally unqualified and dishonest running mate just because she is a women. He clearly thinks women are so shallow and stupid that we would vote for him just because he’s dragging an empty bra around with him.
You know what else is sexist, demeaning and objectifying? Beauty contests. Palin didn’t have any problem parading around in a bathing suit and high heels in front of a bunch of horny creeps who were trying to decide who had the best “jugs.” (I am a woman. So, yes, I can say that. And if you’re not, no, you can’t. Get over it.) And McCain didn’t have any problem telling a group of Hells Angels (who were revving up their idling bikes-just to get the energy/environmental issue looped in) that he encouraged his (second) wife to enter their "beauty" contest. If you have never seen clips of the HA’s “beauty” contest, go online and take a look. It is “Miss America Does Dallas” disgusting. The only thing missing is the pole. And many of the “contestants” have guns shoved in their crotches and nestled between their breasts. So you gun loving repugs will find it especially titillating. (Pun intended.)
Never mind that while McCain’s disabled wife was home taking care of his kids and ironing his shirts, he was out cruising the bars looking for her replacement. OINK, OINK. With lipstick or without, McCain is a sexist pig.

Well, if Palin compares herself to a pit bull, does that mean she has branded herself as a b*tch? If Obama wanted to talk about about the governor of Alaska, I'm sure he would have left no doubt as to his meaning. Actually, he did leave no doubt as to his meaning, it's just the screaming media of the Republicans that can't seem to get it.

Sarah Palin is a pig, at the trough of the American taxpayer. Examine her true record, not her empty rhetoric. Jane Swift is a pig too, she should have put her helicopter on ebay.

So, should we now go back over the campaign and start calling McCain a racist for his Britney Spears/Paris Hilton ad? Do we really want to go there? Because that's where all this is heading. Some people claim that particular ad was "dog whistling" or sending out a message that only a specific constituency will hear. By conflating Obama with white women in this ad, the message dog whistles out the notion that giving Obama the ultimate power (president) would give him "access" to all those white women.

Do we believe that? Do we want to go down this path? Do we want to use this election to parse out the politics of racism and gender? Because I don't.

I'm willing to cut Senator Obama some slack that he didn't mean his comment the way it's being interpreted. That said, it might have been a good idea for him to employ a little restraint and pick a different idiom to use. To me, that's not saying much about his ability to anticipate how what he says and does is going to be perceived by the media and the public. If he doesn't think a different perception is going to be assigned than what he really meant, he's being extremely naive...not the kind of person I want running the country.

And another thing. Is John McCain calling someone else sexist??? Never mind that the comment, placed back in context, could not in any way have been seen as directed at or meant to be about Palin. You know what is really sexist, demeaning and objectifying? Having a candidate for President pick a totally unqualified and dishonest running mate just because she is a women. He clearly thinks women are so shallow and stupid that we would vote for him just because he’s dragging an empty bra around with him.
You know what else is sexist, demeaning and objectifying? Beauty contests. Palin didn’t have any problem parading around in a bathing suit and high heels in front of a bunch of horny creeps who were trying to decide who had the best “jugs.” (I am a woman. So, yes, I can say that. And if you’re not, no, you can’t. Get over it.) And McCain didn’t have any problem telling a group of Hells Angels (who were revving up their idling bikes-just to get the energy/environmental issue looped in) that he encouraged his (second) wife to enter their "beauty" contest. If you have never seen clips of the HA’s “beauty” contest, go online and take a look. It is “Miss America Does Dallas” disgusting. The only thing missing is the pole. And many of the “contestants” have guns shoved in their crotches and nestled between their breasts. So you gun loving repugs will find it especially titillating. (Pun intended.)
Never mind that while McCain’s disabled wife was home taking care of his kids and ironing his shirts, he was out cruising the bars looking for her replacement. OINK, OINK. With lipstick or without, McCain is a sexist pig.

Preetty common expression, what if he said "you can draw a moustache on a pig"? It wasn't directed at Palin, even though she IS a pig, and so is Swift.

Just wanted to save you liberals some time and clear up some issues that my be causing stress and creating frustration:

• Your pregnant teens are bad, ours are virtuous.

• Your gay ministers are immoral, ours are loving.

• Your troop withdrawals are unpatriotic, ours represent victory.

• All of god's creations are sacred, except the planet, minorities, the media, and towelheads.

• When you lie, it's grounds for impeachment, when we do, it's policy.

• When you disrespect women, it's sexist, when we do, the natural order of things.

Jane Swift is a moron.

interesting that this same group of people saying "it's just a phrase" weren't singing this tune over Mitt Romney's use of "Tar Baby".

I was very disappointed when Obama said this....he is smarter than that and he knew what he was doing...this wasn't an accident. I worry it will cost him votes. I dont' want another Republican in the White House....but Obama can't go around making stupid remarks. I don't care how many other people have used the same remarks in the past...he needs to take the high road or at least if he puts on the gloves it should be with integrity. A bad day for his campaign

Swift's Premium was a load of nothing as Interim Governor (she was never elected), and now she is a load of double nothing. Truth Squad? Somebody needs to STFU.

If McCain/Palin find Obama's remark on their politics offensive, then they do not have the temperament and toughness to serve in the Oval Office.

Its pretty obvious that the comment has nothing to do with her. Anyone who looks at this objectively sees that. Unfortunately so many people are blind to facts and reality and have such a strong desire to support their "team" that they jump at any chance to put down the other side. Common sense has been thrown out the window in this media feeding frenzy the election has become.

Swift's Premium was a load of nothing as Interim Governor (she was never elected), and now she is a double load of double nothing. Truth Squad? Somebody needs to STFU.

I'm insulted that Sarah Palin insinuated the pitbulls are as mean and vicious as she is. Mine is such a gentle dog and is usually crated during the day while I'm at work. If elected, McCain will probably do the same thing to her because let's face it - he never thought she'd be the top-dog on the ticket and grabbing the spotlight from him.

Swift's Premium was a load of nothing as ACTING Governor (she was never elected), and now she is a double load of double nothing. Truth Squad? Somebody needs to STFU.

interesting that this same group of people saying "it's just a phrase" weren't singing this tune over Mitt Romney's use of "Tar Baby".

Swift's Premium was a pantload of nothing as ACTING Governor (she was never elected), and now she is a double load of double nothing. Truth Squad? Somebody needs to STFU.

After Obama said the lipstick pig thing he said a stinky old dead fish. So there's two on the ticket:

Lipstick Pig=Palin, and

Old stinky dead fish=McCain?

Why aren't the old folks out in pitchforks regarding the "old" comment?

Palin created this caricature so Obama had a license to some degree. If she is a self proclaimed pit bull she won't cower to what Obama said. Besides she's not a pig, look at her, she's totally gorgeous.

Swift's Premium was a pantload of nothing as ACTING Governor (she was never elected), and now she is a double load of double nothing. Truth Squad? Somebody needs to STFU.

Was McCain the stinky old fish? [from Victor Davis Hanson]

In all the furor over the Obama "pig" quote, commentators forgot to examine his entire attack:

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

"You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change. It's still gonna stink."

When read in the entire context you can see what he seems to mean with his dual animate male/female references and why he probably evoked two metaphors: most would think that Obama is talking about both on the ticket and his anger how each has expropriated his change motif.

So in that sense he appears both to insult the 72-year old McCain as the "old fish" that is still going to "stink", and to refer to Palin, who had famously evoked the metaphor of lipstick in a nationally televised address, as still the pig despite the lipstick.

The fact that he used two metaphors to attack the two, and used expressions referring both to age and Palin's recent use of "lipstick" don't seem to be accidents and that's why the cooing crowd got the old fish=McCain;lipsticked pig=Palin immediately.

I'll leave it to others to deconstruct the historical use of pig as a sexist term in the recent climate of generic attacks on Sarah Palin.

PS. The VP nominee was just announced and already Biden has called her "good looking" and now “a step back for women”; most know what he intended, but like most Bidenisms they come out wrongly and confirm a popular perception that he suffers from logorhhea and that there is a different standard of reference applied to Palin due to her sex.

Someone in the campaign has got to manage the ex tempore carelessness.

Swift's Premium was a pantload of nothing as ACTING Governor (she was never elected), and now she is a double load of double nothing. Truth Squad? Somebody needs to STFU.

JANE SWIFT IS A PIG WHEN SHE WEARS LIPSTICK ,SHE IS THE MOST CORRUPT PIECE OF CRAP IN MA. AND THATS SAYING ALOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TONS OF CORRUPT PIECE'S OF CRAP IN MA. POLITICS.

HOW CAN MCCAIN SERIUSLY COMPLAIN ABOUT "LIPSTICK ON A PIG" WHEN HE USED THE EXACT PHRASE SPECIFICALLY REFERENCING HILLARY AND HER HEALTHCARE PLAN???? THE IDIOTS WHO FALL FOR THIS PROPAGANDA ARE TRULY BRAIN-DEAD. AND THAT IS MOST OF THIS RIDICULOUS COUNTRY. HOW VERY SAD OUR SOCIETY IS....

This is a great job of conservatives turning the table on liberals, who have championed political correctness. Everyone knows this was a "innocent" comment, but it is an excellent dose of their own medicine.

There is no secret that people have rallied around Obama for who he is, not what he has done; he hasn't finished a full term in the Senate and has never had an executive responsibility. That's not a bad thing. Arguably he has an inate ability to lead; people want to follow him.

But you can't swim in this water of charisma and have any expectation of getting beyond the shallow end.

The proof is in this "news" story. We -- the voters, the media -- are eating this up when it should have been ignored if not laughed off. That's how bad of a job we do as a citizenry. We think our president is king, we have little understanding of our Consititution or government, we choose candidates based on "electability" (read: attractiveness). When a candidacy stoops down to our level, we act disgusted and say "Issues!" like that means something.

The Democrats chose the least-experienced candidate among the possibilities. Don't cry issues when your own party didn't care about issues. Obama can fill a stadium full of good feelings. McCain can't do that, and neither could Hillary, Edwards or Kerry. But all of them have far more of a record than he does, and can offer the public at least some idea of the kind of president he or she would be based on that record.

HE needs to apologize? What a load of bull.
Why are the Dems so scared of her? Biden was saying "Ooooh, what a good line!" when she made that comment about governor being like a community activist with "actual responsibilities." Why didn't he denounce her for such an insensitive comment and demand an apology, especially to all community activists who have done far more good than she ever did as governor? Does she feel that way about pastors too, since that's who Obama was working with as community activist??

A male muslim calling a Christian woman a pig. He's despicable.

@ Zesty

I love how you idiot imbeciles are going to run this country into the ground.

Post #159 hits the nail on the head. Everyone, please read this. This is EXACTLY what has gone on in this country since Monica Gate. When the Dems do it, they're despicable. When the Republicans do it, it's perfectly fine and admirable.

Please.

We deserve what we get in this country. We really do.

Swift heading up a "truth squad"...lolololol..hahahahahahalololololhahahahalolol. I'm gonna pee my pants....lololololol

She does not get it that MCShame picked PALIN because she had a uterus...
That was blatently sexist...The king has no clothes on!

Swift...lololololololololololol

I am disappointed that Obama made this statement. He is smart and knows better, this was no accident. I hope he didn't offend a lot of people, as he did me. Not so much for the content of the statement, but rather that in putting on the gloves he is sinking to the low road. I don't want another republican administration, and I don't want my candidate making stupid comments such as the lipstick/pigs comment.

Obama's comments go right along with his "sweetie" comment and the sexes comments and campaign against Hillary Clinton. Only the republicans won't let him get away with it. Obama has a deep underlining issue with women... that is what I think.

An un-PC comment made by Obama bin Laden ? Say it ain't so !

Former MA Governor Fluffy is a mouthpiece for McCain's campaign? He should just cede the race now and avoid that mouthpiece (lipstick piece?) speaking for him on ANY issue.

Liberal media my foot. The media reflects the populace and is has just as many conservatives as it does liberals.

BTW, Jane Swift is, and always has been, a clown. Clowns are genderless, right? Or did I make a sexist comment? I'm sure the GOP could find a way to make it seem as such.

Neither candidate is willing to promote the only solution to save this nation and the world from destroying itself. The lipstick on the pig was meant about the past policies that Obama says will have four more year. It is the people complaining he insulted Governor Palin that are calling her the pig.

The solutions the candidates need to promote are found in the Divine-Way. Isaiah 2:4 says "They shall beat their swords into plowshares... and learn war no more."

Rebuilding the military, building alliances to fight other people's wars, enticing more people to enlist and prepare for war, and giving better benefits is not change. If we turned from our employment lifestyle that causes stress, pollution, disease, accidents, afflictions, wars and conflicts, we would not need universal health care, social services like welfare and pre-kindergarten child care.

Alliances would not be need if we turned from our lifestyle of building military weapons, manufacturing, processing, and transporting food, goods, and people around the world to creating a garden paradise that supplies our needs in our communities. God's plan is ours when we release the past polluting, bondage and stress producing lifestyle behind.

Barack Obama would be a charismatic leader who would make us prosper like Bill Clinton did; but we would still be working away from families, buying insurance, dealing with daily stress of child care, college tuition, sons in military, conflicts over abortion, marriages, and religion. There is no change in any present candidate. Another leader can still arise if we want one.

Is it okay to say it's the pot calling the kettle black?

Nothing more than crockadile tears (AGAIN..UGHH) from the republicans to distract all of from talking about the real issues and the fact that they (the republicans) are in fact NOT talking about any of them. If we don't stop this nonsense and pay attention we could have a hockey mom running the country...that is of course if something happens to mc cain which I understand it to be a 1 in 3 chance. SO GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR BUTTS AND START LOOKING AT THE ISSUES AND NOT THIS B.S. YOU WANNA PICK BASED ON PARTY ONLY GO AHEAD BUT STOP WHINING ABOUT POOR WHITTLE SARAH. SHE HEAD IN TOWARDS THE BOARDS WITHOUT EXPECTING TO GET CHECKED. HECK THATS WHAT THEY DID TO OBAMA UP UNTIL THEY PICKED PALIN. OH AND BTW, CAN WE MENTION HOW IT WAS STRATEGY THAT GOT HER WHERE SHE IS. DOES THAT BOTHER ANYONE?? MC CAIN DIDN'T PICK HER B/C SHE WAS GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY, IT WAS TO GET HIS OLD BUTT ELECTED. THANKS JOHNNY, FOR PUTTING YOUR COUNTRY FIRST AS YOU SAY.

The McCain campaign is disgusting. Anyone with half a brain knew he was talking about the McCain war/oil agenda. I watched the whole town hall meeting online. He never mentioned Palin and I have a feeling that the fake umbrage folks here know that as well.

Crow now while you can, McCainiacs. You'll be crying in your mommas' aprons just like McCain, the 'vaunted war hero' (sarcasm; I served so I earned this right and I'm not shameless like McCain, so I know that the real heroes never made it home) is hiding behind Sarah palin's skirts.

The republicans are acting like the democrats have in the past. This is not an issue. The whole "lipstick on a pig" comment has been used a million times before. In fact Edwards used it in the last election. So what. Come on Senator McCain, you're better than this. You don't need to resort to these tactics to get elected. Obama isn't stupid enough to call Palin a pig. Anybody who believes that is a fool. Let's stop putting words in people's mouths.

Now Jane Swift, on the other hand...

The republicans are acting like the democrats have in the past. This is not an issue. The whole "lipstick on a pig" comment has been used a million times before. In fact Edwards used it in the last election. So what. Come on Senator McCain, you're better than this. You don't need to resort to these tactics to get elected. Obama isn't stupid enough to call Palin a pig. Anybody who believes that is a fool. Let's stop putting words in people's mouths.

Now Jane Swift, on the other hand...

The Dumbocrats are in a panic hahahaha.
The shine is wearing off Obama. and everyone can see that he and his wife are RACISTS

"Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a "per diem" allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business."
"....She wrote some form of "Lodging -- own residence" or "Lodging -- Wasilla residence" more than 30 times at the same time she took a per diem, according to the reports. In two dozen undated amendments to the reports, the governor deleted the reference to staying in her home but still charged the per diem."

Lets see, She gets a free house in Juneau, and takes money from tax payers by chargeing per diem to stay in her own home in Wasilla. But leaves a town of about 5,400 $20 million dollars in debt when she was mayor, hmmm. What a hustle. No wonder half of Alaska is under investigation for corruption. What a hustle.

it makes me sick to think that an enemy of the Constitution and a RACIST like Obama is this close to being President.
be prepared to become North Mexico

The republicans are acting like the democrats have in the past. This is not an issue. The whole "lipstick on a pig" comment has been used a million times before. In fact Edwards used it in the last election. So what. Come on Senator McCain, you're better than this. You don't need to resort to these tactics to get elected. Obama isn't stupid enough to call Palin a pig. Anybody who believes that is a fool. Let's stop putting words in people's mouths.

Now Jane Swift, on the other hand...

What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick! Also, you can neuter a pit bull

What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick! Also, you can neuter a pit bull.

palin is a monster. the fact that this is going unnoticed is absolutely horrifying.

Obama is right. McCain has nothing to run on other than decades of Republican failure, so he's re hoping to create distractions until Nov 4. Will the media (e.g., the Globe) continue to enable him?

Interesting. ..about the Lipstick comment, messiah Obama is supposedly so eloquent, bright, nuanced, thoughtful, and he just had a "slip of the tougue" about the lipstick comment??? Can't have it both ways obama!! which is it? dumb-a-- or sexist? you pick!

Interesting. ..about the Lipstick comment, messiah Obama is supposedly so eloquent, bright, nuanced, thoughtful, and he just had a "slip of the tougue" about the lipstick comment??? Can't have it both ways obama!! which is it? dumb-a-- or sexist? you pick!

Why does ANYONE care what Jane Swift has to say? I think my opinion of her judgement was cemented when I heard that my tax dollars were being spent to pay for her to commute using a state helicopter. I heard her on NPR this morning talking about how she's leading the charge to "speak out" against the petty rumor mill; apparently she's starting by demanding that Obama apologize for using an idiom that's been around since the dawn of time. I guess any opportunity to get your name back in the news is reason enough for her to start the BS train up.

Barack - I feel your pain. Women should have a thicker skin. Somehow they think that being called a PIG is an insult. They even think you displayed bad temper. They are sooooo sensitive and judgmental - too much estrogen and just not enough testosterone, I suppose.
But when you referred to some of Bill Clinton’s comments as racist during the primaries, that was all right. Playing the race card in the cause of victory was dandy. And you played it so well, like Itzhak Perlman plays the violin - with great gusto and fortissimo. But I prefer that you not complain when others rightfully point out your poor choice of words about a female candidate. What will happen when the phone rings at 3 a.m. as Hillary warned us about you? Your poor choice of words, bad temper coupled with your inexperience can eradicate this planet.

The repugnant party is banking on the american public to be dumb as usual. They are getting their wish. Wouldn't it be refreshing to have our elected leaders respect us again. Just asking.

I believe Obama. He had know idea his reference to "lipstick on a pig" could ever be tied to Sarah Palin's famous "lipstick" joke. And he certainly had no idea his comment would insult the hockey moms who support Palin. However the cheers and laughter from his audience made clear they quickly and easily made the connection.
You see, it was an honest mistake. Obama's audience simply has a perverted since of humor...not Obama.

PeterG,

Get a grip. You and a bunch of people like you seem like "headline scanners". You seem to be stuck on some made up reality of your own making, one where Obama actualy said "Gov. Palin is a pig".

Somebody's not reading the whole story. Somebody's not watching all the videos. And that somebody is you.

Do everybody a favor and educate yourself before you step out of your front door in the morning.

I am a hockey mom and was extremely insulted with her comment during the RNC. Should I put together a formal organization, funded by taxpayers money (maybe my rep will get it earmarked for me), to form a "HOCKEY MOMS' TRUTH SQUAD" to squash the damage that she has caused all of us hockey moms! Won't anyone step up to defend us?

She opens the door with her very poor analogy and then shrieks about a comment. An analogy that has been part of political analogies for decades. (By the way, I think Obama knew exactly what he was doing, but who cares.)

Jane Swift, swiftly embarasses herself as soon as she steps into the political arena again.

As a hockey mom, mother of three sons (do I need to say I am a woman), and a registered republican who is pro life, I support the Obama/Biden ticket. This has become an embarassing version of some new reality show and I just want to turn it off. The rest of the world is laughing hysterically at all of us.

Lawyer from Mass:
Loved your statement! I want you to help with Obama's campaign....we "die hard democrats" need to pull together this November, and how. Our man has to be a little bit tougher on the campaign trail. As usual, the republicans are trying to use fear, intimidation and uncertainty in order to win. It worked in 2000 and 2004, and unfortunately, too many Americans can't see past the lipstick to see where our country is headed.

Waiting for McCain

I am waiting for McCain
Waiting for the man who challenged others to act well
Waiting for the man who believed that a life of honor
Was worth more than any office.

I am waiting for McCain
Waiting for the man who always said what he thought
Waiting for the man who could reach across the aisle
And banished lies to hell.

I am waiting for McCain
Waiting to hear him approve messages that are true
Waiting for him to state what he would do to fix the land
I cannot wait any longer.

I waited but McCain chose ignorance and platitudes
I waited but McCain chose to divide and not unite
I waited but McCain chose to place a zealot a heartbeat away
I waited but McCain chose 4 more years for his ambition

I will choose anew
I will choose someone who does not approve lies
I will choose someone who says what they will do
I will choose someone who understands where we are.

ha,ha...the wheels are coming off the Obama campaign. Not man enough to put Clinton on the ticket and win. Bub bye Barry.

This is the game of politics. I think Palin the Pig with a wig can defend herself. She doesn't need that old Geyser to defend herself against an inexperienced twit like Obama. I'm so sick of politicians.

Look at it this way people this is a boxing match inside the ring and the boxer that landed most punch determine the winner.And there is also another option to win the fight and is called the KNOCKOUT PUNCH.It looks to me that Mccain/Palin are connecting their punches very effectively to Obama/Biden and I can see knockout punches the Mccain/Palin side is ready to unload sometime sooner and it will definitely put Obama/Biden team on the canvass seconds before the bell rings.In the end both fighters agree they fought a good fight and conratulate each other.Can Obama/Biden deliver the knockout punch is anybodys quess it maybe or maybe not we will all find out in the end of the match.

Who needs Swift Boat when we have Swift, Jane?

I suspect McCain and the pitbull will win the election, because we Americans are by and large either too timorous, or too dumbed down to vote for a person as savvy as Obama. But we will have missed a very fine president, that's all I can say looking at it from Europe. Obama is the only hope for getting the country back into the global fray from a diplomatic standpoint. This fake spat engineered by the GOP lemmings shows that he has the coolheadedness under fire needed to conduct business. Another four years of neocon failure, and America will become an irrelevant nuisance on the world stage. Europhobes, down! In Europe, people are upset about it, because for them America was always a great nation, even if they criticized it. Being critical is part of the history here.

I think that Barack is the pig, in this case. I wonder what shade of lipstick he wears.

This is awesome!
Remember everyone, Bush won this decade.....twice!

1-20-2009 McCain!

If Obama used the words without the intent to smear, then he is insensitive to the current context of the presidential race. If he does intend to smear, then he is sexist and a pig. I believe the second scenario is true. But even if the first scenario is true, and only he knows it, he is still a pig.