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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2008 > September > 10 > Entry
Pigs, Pitbulls and Politicos
Barack Obama was talking the other day about how John McCain’s policies haven’t changed. He said putting lipstick on a pig doesn’t change the pig’s species. Some Republicans immediately took offense. They denounced the alleged slur against Sarah Palin, who had famously said that the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is lipstick.
The Obama people deny that he was talking about her. They point out that he was making the point about pigs long before anybody ever heard of Sarah Palin, which turns out to be true. John McCain uses the line, too.
The question now is, do any sophisticated people really believe that Barack Obama is the sort of low-life who would go to “pig” language about a woman, who would get so personal, so ugly?
Obama says they’re just pretending to believe it, just, in effect. lying.
The alternative explanation is that have gotten so caught up in this politics stuff that all their reasoning mechanisms have shut down, and they are now simply crazed with blind, ignorant hatred.
In the context of the rules of politics, Obama gives them the benefit of the doubt.
Permalink | Comments (21) | Post your comment | Categories: National politics
Comments
By mwm
September 10, 2008 7:06 PM | Link to this
The republicans will use fake outrage to go along with their fake plans to help americans and their fake vision of the future. It is quite apparent from their fake “outrage” that the republicans are weak kneed and have no balls. Besides, Palin called herself a dog.By michelle
September 10, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this
I don’t think even Obama would stoop that low , however I do think he intended to cause controversy knowing full well the republicans would jump all over that comment, given last weeks Palin comparison to a hockey mom and a pitbull. C’monBy Philman
September 10, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
If you see it on utube and how the audience snickers you know they knew just what he ment, its the low life scum sucking liberals that go crazy over the most benign reasons. rember Trent Lott just trying to make a 100 year old man feel good, the liberals went berserk.how do you think the lefties would react to Sarah if she used the old saying ( thats the pot calling the kettle black0 refering to Obama, Jesse Jackass & Al not so sharpton would be screaming for her to step down from the race, for being so insensitive.By Dave
September 10, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this
Is it a legacy of Vietnam? Al Gore served as a journalist in Vietnam, returned to a career of public service and ran a poor presidential campaign. John Kerry served in Vietnam and is a decorated hero. He returned to a career of public service and ran a poor presidential campaign. Dan Quail avoids Vietnam and wins the VP. George W. avoids Vietnam and win the presidency twice. And now comes John McCain. Another decorated war hero with many years of public service and accomplishments. Yet his campaign ducks the issues. Instead, it’s just “Vote for me or we’ll whine”.By Glus
September 11, 2008 7:32 AM | Link to this
Dear Democrats, Reign in the lefties. It’s time you told the progressives to stop being so awful. Especially to Sarah Palin. It’s like they have nothing else to do but call people names and insult their choices. Where’s the tolerance you preach? I’m wondering, is this some kind of bizarre revenge on the popular girl who rejected them in junior high manifesting itself? How low do Obama’s poll numbers need to drop before they realize that, just like junior high, taunting the “it” girl to get a reaction doesn’t work. They are hurting the man you want to elect and reversing all of his efforts up until this point. Do Senator Obama a favor: tell them to shut down their laptops and head to anger management for the next two months. Get off defense. In politics, when you’re explaining, you’re losing. The only thing we’ve heard out of the Obama camp since Denver are excuses on why your candidate didn’t get a bigger bounce after your convention, why the polls are wrong, and why Barack has more experience than Sarah Palin. Senator Obama: you should not be comparing yourself (the top of the ticket) to Palin (the bottom of the Republican ticket). It looks bad.By Mary
September 11, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this
Actually, I got a little chuckle from the “lipstick on a pig” comments and reactions. When you are billed as a Miss Goody two-shoes, you have to be humbled from time to time in our world of celebrity politics with little substance. Right now, I am inclined to not vote for either ticket. Ron Paul and Ralph Nader also recommended that and gave their take on the campaign and the two party system yesterday on CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. It is difficult to pick the lesser of two evils in this race. I will probably be undecided until I have to cast my vote.By irish
September 11, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
I think obama didn’t mean it, but should have figured it out by the crowds reaction. Then the R’s figured they could have their own “maccaca” moment and let the D’s taste a little of their own medicine.By IndependentOne
September 11, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
As a female executive, I would comment that a woman who wants to portray herself as a pitbull in lipstick better be ready to be called a dog! I support women - but this silliness about I am just a down home ebay’r selling an aircraft on line -when its just not true - and claiming to have given Congress a no on a project she supported AND kept the money for - is that no? - I’m disgusted. I worked too hard for my credibility to watch a slick trick trying to claim credibility with a first speech like the one she gave! Poor example. Many have worked hard to be respected for their credentials. Find one of them.By Dana
September 11, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this
The connotation was there, the crowd sure went off thinking he was speaking about Sara Palin. He could have, at that moment, clarified his statement, but he did not..they went on thinking he was referring to Sara Palin. The problem is the gaffs occur quite regularly when Barak is taken off the teleprompter. He does not speak well in situations where he is not on a teleprompter. With that being said, the pit pull comment by Sara Palin was given in a context that was specific to her, using it was poor judgment to be sure by Barak. I don’t know if he actually meant it as a shot across her bow or not, it was a very poor choice of wording, again by Barak. If the right had made such a comment, like what has happened with other conservatives the left would have jumped in it like a tick on a dog. Let us not be beguiled that the media is/has been leaning to the left with their drooling and prolific slobbering over the democratic candidate. So let us get real, it is not going to make or break the election but it does clearly show his choice of words again comes back to bite him. That is not the lexicon of a person that is ready to head this United Sates of America.By Mary
September 11, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
Glus, we are supposed to be electing the president and vice president, not the “it” girl. Time to grow up.By whocalled
September 11, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
Never try to put lipstick on a pig. It wastes your time, and it annoys the pigBy Jen
September 11, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
All this ‘sexism’ talk from the McCain camp is just ridiculous. I really feel like McCain will do or say anything to get my vote, and he thinks I am not smart enough to see through it. I’m independent, and I have made up my mind this week after McCain’s ploys and hateful ads to vote for Obama. McCain has crossed the line in my opinion.By fedup
September 11, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
No one thought he was talking about Palin. If one actually listened to Obama’s speech they would CLEARLY see that. The Republicans just needed a “look over here” moment due to all of the skeletons coming out of Palin’s closet. Why wouldn’t someone want to vote for a VP being investigated for ethics violations?By Raoul
September 11, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this
It’s pretty clear that Sarah Palin is really getting under the skin of Obama supporters. It’s amusing that McCain’s ads are testing Obama and his camp is getting a little wobbly. I am amazed that so many want to make the point that McCain won’t talk issues. Let me help all of you understand what he wants to do in leading our country: win the war on terror, reduce the size of government, eliminate pork barrel spending, cut taxes, stop the madness of bailing out failed institutions like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, defend our country, reduce the defecit, make us more reliant on our own energy, foster self-reliance vs. reliance on big government, protect the sanctity of life, make corporations and big government agencies answer for misconduct, create new markets for alternative energy, and eliminate partisanship from the political dialogue. Are you still confused about what he stands for?By mwm
September 11, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this
What is clear is the fact that McCain will not discuss the issues. Talking points don’t count. They were the same talking points used by Bush. And, we all know what a failure Bush has been. McCain has chosen to hide behind a woman’s skirt and be less than a man. That’s his trip. It makes the republicans look like a bunch of woosies.By enough
September 11, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this
No Palin isn’t getting under my skin. I can see right through her and McCain. What I see isn’t good. Some people are saying that McCain wants to get to the issues, but it wasn’t the Obama camp that brought up this fluff. McCain is running his campaign the same way the Bush did his with smoke, mirrors, and lies. If McCain wants to try and protect citizens from corporations then why are most of his campaign managers lobbyist? Pull back the curtain and see the dirt!By Raoul
September 12, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
Try to look past your hatred, and let’s see if Bush ran on smoke, mirrors, and lies. Name any President in modern history that achieved more campaign planks than Bush. His platform was; cut taxes, reform education, expand prescription drug benefits for seniors, select conservative judges for the Supreme Court, reform social security, and re-build our military. He accomplished nearly all despite 9/11, Katrina, the housing crisis, and fighting 2 wars (one of which he started with the support of Democrats). This is not an edorsement of those policies, just a gut check to dispute claims that his campaign was ‘smoke, mirrors, and lies’. The political discourse in this country is rapidly descending into hate, smear, and lies, but it is not so much from our politicians as it is from the American public and their refusal to see things as they are. Both sides are now engaged in open civil war, and truth is the casualty. If you want to look behind curtains, do it with both candidates, not just the ones you don’t like. What has Obama stood for, and what accomplishments has he to claim? There are troubling issues behind his curtain. If he supports change, why pick Joe Biden? Not a bad guy, but not exactly a proponent of change in DC. We need to elevate our discovery to a higher level than what kind of mother Sarah Palin is, or who runs their campaigns. We have an exciting group of candidates to choose from. Let’s not call names and distort facts. Let the best team win.By KathyF
September 12, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
The argument that Obama was referring to Palin in the “pig” half of that statement just doesn’t make logical sense. Are conservatives so giddy about spreading the idea of “mean, scary liberals” that they decide logic is worthless? Is that the kind of administration you want? The logic-less gang? Use your minds, people!By mwm
September 12, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
McCain has chosen to use Bush tactics. And, will continue the Bush lie and fear based ideology. Palin has found all her foreign policy experience via long sessions with wikipedia. If McCain has to hide behind a woman, and use made up controversies, then he will be worthless as a president. By Bush cutting taxes for the rich, he has put our national deficit to astronomical levels. And, has caused a reduction of the middle class. Bush started a war based upon lies and propaganda; which he and his texas mafia used. The “drug benefit plan” did benefit his lobbyist buddies. Bush tried to privatize social security, at a time when people were losing their retirement benefits. Enron included… Another donator to Bush. Our military was depleated by the war in Iraq; A lie based war. What McCain has done with his use of Palin as the “victim” has energized the Obama supporters who see a coward in McCain. So sad, since McCain is a veteran. The garbage that now exists within the republican party is not the same republican party of the past. They could care less about the american public. And prefer power to being public servants. And yes, elected officials work for the american public. There were great republicans in the past, Ike, Reagan, Goldwater and others. If they saw what has happened to their party, they would be sick.By Jim
September 17, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
The republicans cry foul over nothing yet run the most dirty campaign in recent history. On top of it, the put an unqualified “Caribou Barbie” on the ticket as a political gimmick. It’s insulting to my intelligence.By Martha Baker
September 17, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
Yes,public discourse has descended like an avalanche into the depths of hatefilled diatribes. Never would most people spew such ugly invectives before another persons face!We hide behind the veil of the email.Such bravehearts and blowhards are we!! h, and the Golden Rule? Fuhgeddboutit!!