Obama Says McCain-Palin Proposals Are Like Putting "Lipstick on a Pig"

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(LEBANON, Va.) Barack Obama used an analogy tonight as he explained why the McCain-Palin campaign doesn't represent change, setting off supporters of Sarah Palin, who suggested Obama was being sexist.

He started out with his standard stump: "John McCain says he's about change too and so I guess his whole angle is 'watch out George Bush - except for economic policy, health care policy, tax policy, education, policy, foreign policy and Karl Rove style politics – we're really gonna shake things up in Washington.' That's not change."

But then Obama interjected a little humor into his argument, "That's just calling something the same thing, something different. But you know you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig."

And as the crowd laughed, he added, "You can you can, wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change, it's still going to stink after 8 years. We've had enough of the same old thing."

Just moments after the comments, the Republicans held their first ever "Truth Squad" call to condemn the remarks.

Former Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift, interpreted Obama's remarks to mean that he called Palin a "pig" and McCain an "old fish."

When pressed on why she assumed that Obama was comparing Palin to a pig, Swift referred to Palin's "pit bull in lipstick" joke at the convention. She added, "as far as I know she is the only candidate that wears lipstick" and this "seems like a very gendered remark."

Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs responded, "Please. That's ridiculous."

82 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment

See all 82 Comments


by jgdem September 10, 2008 11:42 PM EDT: Due Dilligence...John McCain calling Hillary a Pig:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR8IhMMhe8w; Reply to this comment


by tarafff September 10, 2008 5:36 PM EDT: Let''s remind Sarah Palin about her criticism of Hillary Clinton about whining during her campaign and that she needed to get a thicker skin if she was going to be running for office. see the attached u-tube.

http://thelastreporter.wordpress.com/2008/09/04/video-palin-criticized-hillary-of-whining-about-media/; Reply to this comment


by matericia September 10, 2008 3:53 PM EDT: Maine''s Former Governor Jane Swift''s ''keen sense of civic responsibility'' was not evident yesterday. As a spokeswoman the self proclaimed "Truth Squad", she dares to take umbrage at the Washington phrase ''lipstick on a pig'' used by presidential candidate Barack Obama about John McCain as a personal insult to Sarah Palin. The whale blubber that is in lipstick is not the point. The point is these Republican women are willing to play the gender card. Please, ladies, lets keep cosmetics out of it.
"Truth, Women and Naked Ambition in Politics"
Boo!

From Philadelphia Mother of 7
Eldest a decorated and disabled USMC Sergeant; Reply to this comment


by akhajawall September 10, 2008 2:00 PM EDT: Dear concerned citizens of America and mass media of the U.S.A.

As a concerned disabled American Veteran and American citizen, I consider it my duty and responsibility to address the following critical issues facing the voters of our Greatgrand nation, the United States of America [USA].

The citizens of the United States of America [USA] have the ultimate power and responsibility to elect the Right Ticket with the right joint "temperament, judgement, and statesmanship" to lead our nation as well as change our nation''s present and future moral, political, economic, educational, health care, energy, military, and foundational soul.
In my firm professional, personal, and political opinion, the media should help the common voter to explore and discuss the following attributes of the present Republican and Democratic presidential slates:
1. Does the joint ticket have a calm, cool, and collected " temper and impulse" [Presidential Temperament]?

PS: It is true. This nation will not buy into the kitchen sink strategy. We are getting deeper into internal and external holes through these attacks and the world is laughing at us as they enjoy our partisan Pitt Bull wounds. I am sure the collective deceptive measures of the GOP, RNC, FOX, RUSH, ROVE, McCain, and his surrogates will fail to deprive American voters of their deserved leadership. Media stop cultural divide and wars.; Reply to this comment


by ssto1946 September 10, 2008 1:06 PM EDT: I''m a Hillary supporter, but I will not vote for G.I.John. No way, No McCain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by hillarydem September 10, 2008 1:03 PM EDT: Nobama said it because he forget to put his requisite number of UMMMMS and stammers in his statement, resulting in foot in mouth syndrome. By the way, McCain used the same phrase referring to Hillary''s health plan, not her personally. Big diff. Nobama shouldn''t worry, however. He''s the teflon candidate and his cronies at NBC, MSNBC and KOS will swiftly sweep this under the rug, just like they did with his associations with Ayres, Wright, Rescko, ad nauseum. McCain 2008, Hillary 2012.; Reply to this comment


by ssto1946 September 10, 2008 12:56 PM EDT: Why is it that the Republicans seem to think they are the only ones allowed to smear an opposing candidate? They seem to think that they can say what they want, but not let anyone else have that right. I am sick to death of their diry politics. What is really bad, is that the media have taken it all to a new level by devoting all their time to G.I. John and Annie Oaklie.; Reply to this comment


by jackiean1 September 10, 2008 12:39 PM EDT: Pants on fire Obama

"promised to run a different kind of campaign..."
http://www.barackobama.com/2007/07/20/obama_runs_a_different_kind_of.php; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 September 10, 2008 12:39 PM EDT: George Bush has diverted $Billions of Dollars to these Private Sector entities displacing the wealth from the American Working Class that has seen their lifestyle depleted.

What do you call someone that has a full belly, a full plate, and continues to demand more?
With, or without Lipstick, a PIG IS STILL A PIG!

Americans need to vote smart and vote the Repiglican Party out of office.; Reply to this comment


by michellegoff September 10, 2008 12:35 PM EDT: So have the Republicans forgot that "all is fair in love and war?" If they can''t handle the battle then maybe they should move out. Obama is right on track. McCain isn''t saying anything different. He isn''t about change. He''s about preserving HIS way of life. Obama is for America''s way of life! And if Obama needs to use a catchy phrase to get his point across- that it doesn''t matter how often McCain says he''s about change because he really isn''t- then by all means Obama!; Reply to this comment