NEW YORK - As controversy surrounded Barack Obama’s comments about putting lipstick on a pig, the Democratic presidential hopeful found himself joking about the whole idea of putting makeup on an animal. 
In an appearance on “The Late Show With David Letterman”, after 24 hours of back-and-forth over Obama’s use of the “lipstick” analogy, Obama found time to laugh.
“Have you ever actually put lipstick on a pig?” Letterman asked.
“The answer would be no,” Obama replied with a laugh. “But I think it might be fun to try.”
Obama said it was “silly season” in politics and noted that the saying “you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig” is a common saying and it means that if you have a bad idea you can’t just dress it up and make it better.
“In this case I was talking about John McCain’s economic plans. That just calling them ‘change’, calling them something different doesnt’ make it better,” the Illinois senator said. “Hence, ‘lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig.’”
“It’s a common expression, at least in Illinois,” he said. “I don’t know about New York City. I don’t know what you put lipstick on here.”
Obama said he was not calling McCain’s running-mate Sarah Palin a pig and was not referring to her at all.
“Keep in mind, that had I meant it this way, she would have been the lipstick, you see,” he said. “The failed policies of John McCain would be the pig — following the logic of this illogical situation.”
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
- File photo credit: Reuters/Keith Bedford (Obama arrives at the Letterman show in 2007)
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To North Carolina Tarheel: The Code word for you is Bigot.
And that’s okay,vote your heart. Just a reminder Romney, Huckabee and other Republicans had some unplesant things to say about Mccain. In fact it got ugly between Huckabee and Mccain. When Mccain won the Republican Nomination they all got behind him with their support. Airhead tarheel: Remember Hillary lost with that logic.Anyway she is 100% behind Barack now. Go out and listen to her and Bill when they come to your state.
Its sounds like you already had your mind made up (closet bigot). Then you searched for reasons to back your position no matter how illogical they were. We don’t want your vote you’re part of our shameful past
- Posted by dannyhiltonRepublicans are performing acrobatics as they attempt to distance themselves from themselves. According to Romney at the convention, the way to fix government is to turn it over to conservatives.
HELLO!! ? Has Romney not noticed that conservatives have been in charge of Washington for a long time? They have, but they did not want to act like conservatives. During that time “conservatives” changed budget surpluses into huge deficits, caution in foreign affairs gave way to invasion of Iraq (a country who had not threatened the US), “lean and efficient” government compounded the Katrina tragedy, and government “got out of our way” (well, actually not of “OUR” way - it’s still trying to insinuate itself into our bedrooms - but it DID get out of the way of Bear Stearns crooks and rapacious oil executives), enabling the financial fiascos.
During these “conservative years” conservatism lost its honor, as the goal (staying in power) justified the means (the politics of wedge issues, fear, lies and deception). If Romney still wants “real conservatives” in charge, he should tell the REPUBLICANS how badly they misled the nation.
P.S. Now McCain returns with the promise his gov’t will “get out of the way”, and thereby enable big business to play for keeps- and make the taxpayer pay when they fail. (who said Republicans can’t act like socialists? they can, when it’s in order to bail out their fat cats).
- Posted by ehudmosMcCain has become quite the politician since he got his party’s nomination… he has proven time and again that his strategy for winning is based on personal attacks and distracting people from the main issues
- Posted by media kingdomSince when did working your ass off to get into Harvard become a BAD THING??? Since when did serving your community become a BAD THING? Since when did teaching students become a BAD THING? When did the same comment that McCain made regarding Hilary’s healthcare policy become a BAD THING? When the Republican said so. I would rather have a president who wants to help people rather than a president whose ideals are subject to the fake HOLIER THAN THOU FANATICS!!!
- Posted by AlidaLet’s put an end to the media nonsense already. Important issues are at stake. All you evangelical consevatives, vote for your candidates; they won’t win anyway. Fortunately, there are enough younger people who are informed and get it. Older Americans have messed up our country long enough.
- Posted by JoyceEverything is ’sexist’ with Palin. Give us a break.
I love that Mr Obama has taken the high road during this election — up to this point.
But it is now time to break out the big, nasty guns and level them at this mealy mouthed, cheats-on-the-wife playboy, Washington beltway insider, runs with the lobbyist elite establishment, attack ad approving, needs a democrat (Lieberman) to correct his mis-statements, over the hill, Senator McCain.
Barack - no more Mr Nice guy if you please.
We as a country have a chance to turn our backs on the go-it-alone, cowboy, shoot-from-the-hip policies of the last eight years, but we sure as hell will not turn this page in history by voting in the same party that got us into this economic and foreign policy mess.
Why would normally coherent people want to hand the Republican party another four years?!? God help us…
Barack Obama may not be perfect but he sure as hell will be a great improvement over McCain. He is the classic American (maybe ONLY in America) success story. He brought HIMSELF to this place in history — not his Dad, his connections, or is birth family. He has seen how people in the third world really live. He has show that he will put the needs of people around him over his own. He has the proven ability to motivate otherwise “regular folks” to take on larger and more powerful people. Please, America, don’t lose this opportunity! This country CAN be great once again if we just break out of our self-imposed prison of idiocy.
- Posted by Rob CIf there ever was an election the Democrats should win, it was this one. And look who they put all they faith in, and now look at the polls. It astounds me really. Obama/Biden is the best ticket they can put forward? Unbelieveable. Obama as someone’s VP would have been so much more solid and protected (as Palin is). Even Hillary as the nominee would have been less risky for the Dem’s. It really is an embarassing party, and the way they talk about other fellow Americans (Hillary supporters and Republicans) is shameful. How can any true American express such disrespect for fellow citizens, regardless of their political leanings?
My vote will be for McCain/Palin, simply because I cannot overlook 20 years of association with a hateful church. And I don’t understand who can forgive that fact.
- Posted by PaulTimothy Morton wrote: “If you think Obama was being sexist re: the pig remark, then the joke is on you.
The sexism is in YOUR mind. That’s YOUR interpretation….”
Timothy. That is the point - perception. Regardless what you individually believe is relevant to you, not to others. Each person perceives the comment either to be against Governor Palin or about no one. Their perception leads to which way a person will vote.
Oh, and my opinion? it was a sexist remark toward Governor Palin. His explanations what he was talking about or to whom after the fact, well I can do that too in almost any given situation. Carnac I am not. The man needs one of those walk around teleprompters, he definitely is not a man who can think on his feet and deliver a speech. He just isn’t any good at it and this speech definitely proved it.
- Posted by MorganLinda Hatfield wrote: “can only hope there resides in the women Rove is courting a glimmer of memory that he duped them before and now some have lost husbands, sons and fathers. I have more faith in the women of this country whether they shop at Walmart or Neimans, then many seem to. They want health care and jobs not a cheerleader in $700.00 glasses.”
First, when I wore glasses and I am middle class, my glasses were $650. Perhaps you haven’t looked around lately at the cost of prescription glasses.
Secondly, conduct your research on Governor Palin, or perhaps are you one of those women that Ann Coulter defines as being a jealous, dried up old hag? Governor Palin is change, she is what our country needs, not the same old good ole boy club that is obviously very intimidated by a no-nonsense women who isn’t afraid to confront them.
Governor Palin coming on the scene moved me from not voting this year, to voting for McCain.
- Posted by MorganSo much international attention. The world is truly watching and we are not exhibiting the characteristic of a country known as the leader of the free world. What happened to America
- Posted by RoschelleI would like to know why the McCain/Palin team thinks Palin is exempt from or above comment or is not fair game?
- Posted by pattypieOne can create the illusion of a sexist (or racist) remark in just about anything anyone says.
If we have all progressed and want “change,” then part of that change has to be in our society’s and our candidate’s interpretation of remarks.
A person running for office is 100% fair game, no matter what color, creed or sex. To behave otherwise puts us all back a century.
Things in this world are too messed up to be wasting time on semantics. If you can’t take the heat, Palin, then get the heck out. We have REAL WORK to do.
I like Jimmy Carter.
Just curious: why are Dems, especially those of us in the eastern part of the US called “elitist?” When did that happen? AS far as I have always known, there are WAY more right wing elitist types than lefties.
- Posted by SteveDoes going to college make you elitist? Has anyone else noticed that pretty much any more everyone goes to some kind of college?
I have an Master’s degree, but I fix my own car, do my own home repairs. So, I do blue-collar things but am an elitist due to my education?
People need to get real and ask EACH one of these candidates where they stand on issues, not Avon products.
Maybe Obama should embrace the situation and call Palin the Queen of Pork
- Posted by Sharonif you liked jimmy carter,you will love obama.
- Posted by richard healyobama is the anti-christ and that explains everything about his behavior…now and in the future…beware !
- Posted by richard healyI don’t know why people are getting upset. Look at the past few conventions that McCain spoke at. In three different conventions he said the exact same anology as Obama did. And i don’t understand what the big applaud for Palin is for, she is not an individual that should be in office. She can’t even control her own kids what makes u think she can control the USA. Her daughters have pictures of themselves holding Caption Morgan drinks and beer etc. She is just another two face idiot running for office.
- Posted by Aaron Coin