Conffederate
Confederate

September 10, 2008

BBQ'd

Ouch. From the McCain campaign.

I can't read Barack Obama's mind.

I can't tell you with certainty whether his use of the time-worn phrase "you can't put lipstick on a pig" was an innocent use of the phrase as it has traditionally been used, or if it was a not-so-subtle slap at Gov. Sarah Palin.

I can tell you that using such a loaded phrase, when so many Democrats are still furious at Obama's perceived disrespect towards Hillary Clinton (especially considering his previous incidents of sexism, such as when he dismissively addresses a reporter as "sweetie"), is the work of someone who is either a neophyte, or who has a political deathwish.

He may have thought he was being coy with his "pig" comment, but if he keeps generating controversial statements that can reasonably be interpreted as a personal attack, it's his campaign that is going to get cooked.

Update: CBS forced YouTube to remove the McCain ad linked above,but it can still be seen here.

Posted by Confederate Yankee at September 10, 2008 07:19 AM
Comments

I honestly don't think he meant to make that connection. At least I don't think it was in the front of his mind. Somewhere in the deep dark backwaters though, his mind threw that out his mouth as a funny.
The man should not be allowed off leash (teleprompter).
I'm also not sure McCain is doing the right thing to run an ad on this. Eventually, Obama is going to look like a sympathetic character for being taken down so many times...even if he deserves it.

Posted by: iamnot at September 10, 2008 08:52 AM

"this is not the pig I used to know"....

Posted by: Conservative CBU at September 10, 2008 09:37 AM

Obama is a cad

Posted by: Neo at September 10, 2008 09:45 AM

I don't think this is an issue for Sarah Barracuda. She will take it in stride and not fall apart over this comment. She knows how to play the Big Boy games. Now what if the McCain/Palin campaign used the time-worn phrase "If you give them enough rope, they will hang themselves"? Where would they go with that one? It certainly applies on the one hand, but Oh, the racial conotations! I know they wouldn't go there but why should Obama go where he went? This guy needs a filter on his brain.

Posted by: Razorgirl at September 10, 2008 09:50 AM

I'm all for hitting back and hitting back hard, but I kind of thing McCain should leave this one alone. Let Obama keep making these kinds of statements and let people draw their own conclusions. They will draw the same conclusions McCain wants them too but by not having the campaign officially respond, he can stay above the fray.

Plus we really don't want to fall into the identity-politics trap.

Posted by: t.ferg at September 10, 2008 09:50 AM

Link to video no longer valid.

Posted by: JT at September 10, 2008 03:03 PM

If you do follow the link to see the vid, watch his left hand as he hits the lipstick line. He will 'wipe' his brow and as he does he flips the bird, albeit disguised.

Posted by: sharpshooter at September 11, 2008 03:42 AM