LEBANON, Va - Democrat Barack Obama enjoys poking fun at his Republican opponents and their claims to being “agents of change.”
But Obama’s comments at a town-hall meeting in southwestern Virginia may have been misinte
rpreted by the audience.
“You can put lipstick on a pig. It’s still a pig,” he said as the crowd cheered and yelled and eventually got to their feet.
“You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change. It’s still gonna stink.”
“We’ve had enough of the same old thing.”
The audience, which had a particularly strong reaction whenever Obama mentioned Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, appeared to enjoy the “lipstick” comment the most.
When Palin gave her acceptance speech at the Republican convention in St. Paul she joked about being a hockey mom, saying the only difference between a pitbull and a hockey mom was lipstick.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo credit: Reuters/Rebecca Cook. Obama greets audience during campaign stop in Flint, Michigan, Sept. 8, 2008.
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Lipstick on a pig is a common expression, just like wolf in sheeps clothing, designed to fool the buyer (in this case the voter). Obama is telling the voting public to be aware and stick to the issues, not to be gullible. How often do we have to be hit on the head before we realize we are being fooled once again by stinky Rove politics! Personally, as a woman, wife, mother, grandmother, I hated Sarah Palin saying we are pitbulls with lipstick — she can wear that moniker if she wants but I don’t appreciate it at all. And, I can never cross the threshhold which would accept her as a VP or President. Open up your eyes and minds.
- Posted by Jill[...] As he has been doing since the Democratic primaries, Senator Obama compared that to “putting lipstick on a pig.” The crowd reacted [...]
- Posted by Pigs and Lipstick in Virginia « NotionsCapital[...] at his Republican opponents. In comments delivered at a town-hall meeting in Lebanon, VA, he said: “You can put lipstick on a pig. It’s still a [...]
- Posted by What goes around… « NObama - Not Now, Not EverGee…how Obama speaks to people is an issue. For someone so educated, he’s a fool. He is dancing to the republican tune. If he doesn’t get control of his emotions, he’s done. Then I guess it will be Hilary’s turn in four years.
I am speaking as a fellow democrate, he has not shown the maturity for the job and I will NOT be voting for him.
- Posted by DoreneI AM SO SICK OF EVERYONE BEING TOO TOUCHY! THIS IS WHAT’S WRONG WITH OUR “PC” SOCIETY TODAY!!!!!Get over it and get down to issues at hand…
- Posted by bdelaneyThis “controversy” goes to show how un-educated, and gullible the American people are. In no way at all did the statement imply that Palin was a pig, nor was it a deragatory comment.
That’s the Right Wing Media spinning a statement to breed hatred and resentment towards the Obama campaign.
A Pig in lipstick is the conservative agenda (Pig), wrapped up in a fresh look (Palin/Lipstick}. The comment made is to say “No matter who they bring in, it’s the same old tired agenda” but it was skewed to portray a personal attack when it wasn’t.
The reason everyone can deduce that it was not a personal attack on Palin is by the comment that followed. Taking a fish wrapped in paper and calling it change and it will still stink. It’s the same statement basically just with a different alliteration.
The scary part about everything is that McCain/Palin will more than likely win. As we’ve seen in the past, even if massive numbers of voters come out and vote for Obama, the GoP will find an underhanded way to win the election anyways.
- Posted by DaveSarah Palin refers to Obama as “Sambo” and calls Hillary the “B” word. And Obama uses an innocent and commonly used phrased and is attacked.
McCain owes American women an apology for making such a paronizing VP pick!
- Posted by Susan‘Pig in a poke’ or ‘lipstick on a pig’ are both time worn expressions by persons with high feeling talking about something. Certainly we can’t blame Obama for having high feelings about something John McCain said that Barack Obama took as flagrant coverup of something that was important politically. Obama was not going to let McCain get away with it and used an expression that all of us over 30 years of age must have heard at one time or another in our life. Sarah Palin in a rather poor metaphor compared herself hockeymom to a pit bull, and the criteria for the difference between the two was that the hockymom wore lipstick. This is the origin of the cause of all the furor. The whole thing reeks of spinned low ball politcal accusation.
- Posted by Evelyn Hany smart person knows that obama was not refrencing palin, and i think its said that the republicans have to realie on her for popularity and try to play the sexist card all the time, he is not sexist he is the father of two beautiful girls and a strong supportive husband, his refrence was about change palin/mccain try to ride on obama’s coatails of the change movement when all they offer is the same things, we already had bush in office for 2 terms we def. do not need another 4 yrs of it
- Posted by TaycObama’s joke was no more offensive than saying “your momma wears army boots!” No wonder the audience gave a standing ovation.
The religious nuts have had their turn at running the country into the ground. Indeed the time has come to try something new - like an intellegent President. Sorry McCain, that Obama guy is way, way smarter than you.
- Posted by PaulMcCain and Sarah Palin want to say anything to Obama. And not expect for him to respond. He has been a gentlemen long enough. If you could dish it, as the same time you must except it. And they need to stop saying this is an insult to a women. that is just to get women upset. Dont forget she’s in the big league now. not the minors. Obama should of been said something, when they said the first wise smart remark to him.
- Posted by caroltypical democrate statement about the lipstick, snide little zingers they can say were misinterpreted. It shows their true colors, can’t even own up to their own statements. No wonder the polls actually do show McCain/Pallin (or Pallin/McCain) ahead and growing the lead. Keep it up Obamanites, have to keep this same scrutinization away from Obama & Bidden.
- Posted by GregI don’t remember Hilary making any mention about lipstick. Sarah did one week ago…
- Posted by DoreneHe could have used the stinky fish analogy and and left the lipstick joke out and been fine. He thought he was being cute. Not cute. He had every chance to redeem himself with the public by simply saying, “I did not mean to offend anyone by using that analogy. I have the upmost respect not only for Gov Palin, but all women. If someone was offended then I opoligize, I think what was important about my comment that I feel was taken out of context was…..(go into the rest of his speeh). This would have come across so much better and taken the sting out of things. But instead he had to twist and turn. Bad form, just appologize, Be the bigger man…
He needs to adress the ISSUES of the US Citizens. NOT make personal attacks on the U.S. Citizens, which Sara Palin is. The US Citizens want a President FOR the people, not AGAINST the people.
- Posted by EvelynThe McCain campaign is trying to put lipstick on a pig - he pig being their idealess, issueless campaign of a repeat of the failures of the Bush Administration. Americans are not that stupid.
Preisdent Obama - start getting used to the idea
- Posted by douglasdaoThis says it all:
http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/ 09/apology_not_accepted.html
The last line is the best line: “Talk about putting lipstick on a pig.”
Wow, a week is a long time in politics.
–
Kevin B
I’m saying it now: President Barack H. Obama, Jr., 2009 - 2017
- Posted by KbObama is finished he’s self destructing and its hilarious. Democrats laughed at Bush because he couldn’t speak clearly. Well we roll with laughter everytime Obama has to speak without a teleprompter. If he doesn’t know the answer he starts rambling diatribes about Bush, or the Republicans instead of answering a question. He can’t do it he needs something in front of him to read as he speaks. Watch him on Youtube stammer and stutter when OReilly puts him on the spot on the success of the Iraq Surge. Then do a search on Youtube.com for “Re: Obama Admits Muslim Faith” the video is 1:59 long. This one is even better Obama says “my Muslim faith” to George Stephenopolus who corrects him and says “you mean your Christian faith”. Barrack does not even realize what he has said. Before you start saying I’m racist or anti-Muslim thats not the point. Obama ran this campaign from the start professing that he is a Christian. I know he was raised as a child with the Muslim faith. I don’t have a problem with that issue. The issue I have a problem with is he LIED about his real religion from the start of the campaign. This man won’t wear a flag lapel, never served a day in uniform, will not place his hand on his heart during flag ceremonies. Yet he professes he loves our country? If Obama wins our enemies will be literally dancing in the streets of Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and every radical Muslim countries intent on destroying the USA. I’m not keen on McCain either but at least I know the man has honor, respect for our flag, and a history of working with both sides of the political aisle both Democrats and Republicans. Even Biden and Hillary Clinton gush about their relationship with McCain before becoming Obama election lackeys. McCain will win in a landslide on Nov. 4th. Why am I so sure of this? Its called the “Tom Brady effect” back in 1982. Brady the African-American(Black)mayor of Los Angeles ran for California governership. Polls taken showed him having a big lead over his rival who just happened to be Caucasian(White)man. People of all colors specially white Democrats professed their support of Brady. Well election day came and Brady lost the election after big poll leads. How did this happen? its simple! Do the racial math here Blacks makeup only 11% of the total population of the US. These people are Obama’s most loyal supporters at 92%. The other 89% are up for grabs this includes Asians, Hispanics, etc. and the biggest chunk of voters are Caucasians(Whites). Many of whom will not vote for Obama purely because he is black. November 5th will be Black Wednesday for the left wing biased media and Democrats after McCain and Palin kick them to the curb. Anyways good luck and GOD BLESS AMERICA HOME OF THE FREE!
- Posted by ShaunJuanAll of you who are so offended, do you remember when John McCain used this phrase against Hillary Clinton? Can you say HYPOCRITE?
- Posted by Peggy SemmlerThis is most amusing, sitting on the sidelines thousands of miles away, I realize why America is where it is today…. I am not a proud American….. I cannot believe as such a wealthy country you people are so ignorant. I refuse to put myself in this category. before you all start to holler at Obama for his comment about a woman who calls herself a dog, google the “lipstick on a pig” and you fools would realize that this is an old old saying, and so very appropriate to his theme. And why is it that you guys spend so much time on non-issues. Serves you right for being where you are now… going down down down, and without some serious CHANGE you will not be the superpowers you “think” you are in the next 10 years. i suggest all you nitwits spend more time questioning all your potential leaders both of them on policies that will affect you and not rhetorical issues. This a a campaign, so why not do everything legal. So you guys really think that Obama did not know what he was saying and did not anticipate how you would react??? Give me a break……
- Posted by VanessaWhat really is important? DO you even know, or think you know? Americans should stop fighting rhetoric and start fighting the deep rooted segregation,, racism, there are hungry and homeless people out there, do something for your veterans, take care of your sick, stop trying to play god,man i do realize that half of the Americans i meet are so ignorant, and live in a cloud that they really just don’t get it. I live in a so called developing country( 3rd world at that) but it is so much better here and i really do not wish to come back home, until, we get it and start to realize we are killing ourselves and our world and really DO NOT care about that: we care about a pig with lipstick.
Vanessa Browne
Uhh…do you think the Democrats feel they have now bought a “pig in a poke”…lol. Maybe he’ll still win those “57 states”….
Wow is there any party better then the Democtats at stealing defeat from victory better then anyone. His cute little statement is not playing well anywhere except on the Kos.
- Posted by Chris