An Obama campaign spokeswoman opened today's Morning Joe with an aggressive defense of his lipstick line, arguing that Obama was being criticized "for saying something that John McCain has said before, that Barack Obama frequently says about 'you can dress something up.' He was talking about the Republican change argument."
A bit later, bolstering her argument, the spokeswoman described the conference call the McCain campaign arranged to respond to Obama's line. She pointed out that all the reporters asking questions on the call were women, and that all of them asked McCain representative Jane Swift "are you serious?" in alleging that Obama was alluding to Palin.
Concluding, the Obama spokeswoman argued that if read in context, "he's not talking about Sarah Palin." Oh, wait. That wasn't an Obama spokeswoman. It was Andrea Mitchell, sitting in for Mika Brzezinski.
View video here.
Check out the video and note Andrea's impatient body language as she waited to get off her lines, which she ticked off on her fingers like a good defense lawyer addressing the jury [see screencap].
Joe Scarborough was equally emphatic in letting Obama off the hook. Joe definitively declared that in talking about lipstick on a pig, "I'm sure Barack Obama wasn't thinking about" Sarah Palin's convention speech line about lipstick being the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom.
Mitchell unintentionally undercut her own argument a bit later, when she chose to read from Maureen Dowd's column of this morning. Mitchell and Joe made very clear that the column was written before Lipstick-gate. It contained this line about Palin: "She's already shown that she can shoot the pig, put lipstick on it, bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan."
So lipstick was very much in the air. Obama knew darn well what he was saying. So did the people in his audience, who leapt to their feet, laughing and cheering, at the line. But, defending Obama, Mitchell and Scarborough were determined to deny the obvious.
Note: what does it say about the MSM as a whole that, as Mitchell reported, every reporter on the McCain conference call dismissed the notion that Obama was speaking about Palin?
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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don't think it is a bad as
September 10, 2008 - 06:59 ET by athoughtor2don't think it is a bad as mccain and co are saying. it's bad but....if Obama said that before Palin had her lipstick pit bull comment than no harm, but he didn't so....It's a political opportunity...
The quote people should be focusing in on is that made by Biden....If Palin beomes VP it's a step back for women...due to the policies of McCain/Palin. Not sure how a women becoming a VP is a step back for women, but leave it to Joe
Yeah ...
September 10, 2008 - 07:44 ET by 10ksnookerI asked a couple of women who are now supporting Palin, and they saw Obama in the video and was incesnsed ... It sure was clear to them what Obama meant and who he was talking about. The problem for Obama is it has been all Palin all the time for the last two weeks -- The inference, intended or not, was automatic.
To say the least, it is rude and curde, not Presidential, and shows Obama's character is coming up short. Samething with the ORielly shout-a-thon, showed Obama is just a Chicago thug politician, not Presidential. Has anyone else seen any of the other Presidetial candidates act like this ??
"Obama knew darn well what he was saying."
September 10, 2008 - 09:56 ET by Ten7sAs Mark said in his diary,"Obama knew darn well what he was saying. So did the people in his audience, who leapt to their feet, laughing and cheering, at the line."
Exactly! Obama's still seething from Sarah's speech, where she politely and humorously disarmed him while charming the country. He should have accepted it and moved on, but b/c of his HUMONGOUS ego he just can't help himself.
Enough is enough
September 10, 2008 - 14:16 ET by ChuckM from PAIt was a remark that has been used for years. It was NOT an attack on Palin. Pick your battles better, this one is nothing.
It was a dumb thing to say...
September 10, 2008 - 07:03 ET by smartestmaninamericaIf McCain had said:
"Obama is a slave to his ambition"
"I whipped Obama in the debates"
"Obama is a cotton-pickin liar"
You get the idea. None of these are offensive comments on their own; however, the MSM would have been outraged if McCain had said any of them.
But of course, Obama gets a pass.
I don't think these comments are bad because they are offensive, they are bad because they show horrid judgement.
Excellent examples. The
September 10, 2008 - 07:07 ET by Mark FinkelsteinExcellent examples. The MSM would call for Palin to be dropped from the ticket if she said anything like that.
yes...good examples
September 10, 2008 - 07:21 ET by txcoVery good examples...and
What if Sarah Palin said "Electing Obama would be a step back for blacks"?
MSM already suggesting Palin should be off ticket
September 10, 2008 - 08:23 ET by ChrisMillsIt wouldn't take Plain saying anything like that for the MSM to siggest she be off the ticket. They already are. Speaks to how dangerous they think she is to thier goals. And if it's bad for the MSM, it must be good for our country.
Elect Sarah Palin successor in chief!
Yes but...
September 10, 2008 - 08:08 ET by superconThat would be like the pot calling the kettle black.A tar baby in my opinion.All in all it was a niggardly thing to say.
What...?
Victory in Iraq.
Liberals suck.
McCain for Preznint.
Even if
September 10, 2008 - 07:06 ET by KC MulvilleLet's say, for the moment, that this was exactly as they portray it. Let's assume he didn't consciously say it that way, and that it was a borderline case.
Remember this case for later. Inevitably, some Republican is going to say something that will sound borderline racist. Watch the commentators sprint to the microphone to slam the speaker. Knowing this, is this McCain's way of playing the refs? Maybe. And if so, good.
Oh i hear you. Also the MSM
September 10, 2008 - 07:14 ET by athoughtor2Oh i hear you. Also the MSM would never go out of their way to say it was an innocent comment if a a Repub said it. Look at what they did to George Allen.
Just look at what Gov. Peterson from NY, oh he's a dem, that the continual use of the words "community organizer" is actually the way the GOP can say black without saying the actual word.
the new democrate definition of community organizer=black.
Going along with the "shoe
September 10, 2008 - 07:32 ET by motherbeltGoing along with the "shoe on the other foot" meme, let's try this:
Let's assume Obama made the comment in innocence, and the audience took it as a slap at Palin, hooting and cheering (which they did).
Now backtrack to when an audience member asked McCain "How do we beat the bitch?" and McCain was called to task for not slapping the woman down and disavowing that kind of talk.
Where are the MSM berating Obama for not chastising his audience for reacting that way? He had to know that's what they were thinking...did he really think they were hooting and hollering over a reference to the same old Bush policies?????
But of course, they are going to continue with the "innocent" line and he had no idea why it went over so hilariously. That's their story and they're stickin' to it!
Doesn't matter who said it.
September 10, 2008 - 08:55 ET by kgDoesn't matter who said it. Obama KNEW what he was saying. He also knew the meaning can go two ways. He said it to slam and degrade Palin in front of the crowd and then claim an old saying when he was called on it. Slime in the truest form!
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
reality check
September 11, 2008 - 09:02 ET by hugonewfieHmm, since John McCain did make the exact same comment about Hillary Clinton (earlier in the campaign), with very little reaction (much less outrage...) from the press, the dems, etc., I guess you're wrong.
Bad move either way
September 10, 2008 - 07:11 ET by expatriotNo matter what he may have intended that was a bad move for Barry H O. Once again he puts himself on defense and has to convince the public that he was not targeting Sarah Palin. This guy is not bright to begin with. Where are his handlers, or better yet, who are his handlers? They cannot be too bright either.
Obama really stepped in it
September 10, 2008 - 07:36 ET by Free ThinkerObama really stepped in it and it will be hard to just brush this gaffe aside. The fact that anyone is defending the remark just compounds the mistake. My wife was ticked off last night and I suspect she wasn't the only woman offended. Welcome Hillary supporters.
Where are the Handlers?
September 10, 2008 - 21:16 ET by KimberlyTrust me, that was the exact question that flew to the front of my mind when I first heard about it. Yet again more proof that the man may have a Harvard Law degree, but he's got zero extemporaneous speaking skills.
But, even if Obama wasn't referring to Palin, to whom might he be referring with the rest of the comment ("...and you can wrap up an old stinky fish in newspaper, and it'll still stink after eight years...")?
Obama didn't directly refer to Palin (or McCain, for the latter line), but he sure as heck knew his audience would likely infer who the comments were meant for.
And somebody might want to remind Obama that he's running against McCain, not Palin. Not that I doubt that Palin could bury him in the General Election, but for now, it would be nice to see the Dem's Presidential contender remember who he's supposed to be focusing on for the next 50+ days.
Andrea Mitchel-Greenspan is such a good aparatchik.
September 10, 2008 - 07:12 ET by c5thenShe is given her talking points and even ticks them off using her fingers to make sure she hasn't forgotten any. IF Obama wins in November (GOD, please no.) she will be rewarded with a nice little position in the new administration
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
Perhaps she will be the new
September 10, 2008 - 07:16 ET by Pete WilsonPerhaps she will be the new "Minister of Information", after the first amendment is repealed.
Or minister of the
September 10, 2008 - 07:29 ET by celatorOr minister of the political re-education camps ;+}
The major media report only half the news. Why are they surprised they have only half the potential audience?
Move over Baghdad Bob, here
September 10, 2008 - 07:31 ET by JerryMove over Baghdad Bob, here comes Amerika Andrea.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
The same that were laughing
September 10, 2008 - 07:24 ET by Jerry"all of them asked McCain representative Jane Swift "are you serious?""
Are these the same un-biased reporters that broke out into laughter when McCain announced Palin as his VP?
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Hear the one about the pig
September 10, 2008 - 07:26 ET by SickofLibsHear the one about the pig in a balloon fight?
Well
September 10, 2008 - 07:30 ET by well99What I take from Obama is his speech comes from a cartoon caption.
I always thought that the
September 10, 2008 - 07:33 ET by Hero SquadI always thought that the term was "perfume on a pig," so when I heard it, I assumed right away that Obama deliberately modified the phrase so that it fit Palin.
Listening to the full contexts of his statement, note the pauses and hesitation before he delivers that line. He knew what he was saying, and he knew there could be backlash. Yet ahead he went.
Man, how panicked has he become over the past week?
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
The debate is over
September 10, 2008 - 07:35 ET by Jerry"every reporter on the McCain conference call dismissed the notion that Obama was speaking about Palin"
Well, there you go. The debate is over. Every like-minded reporter had the same point of view. Everyone who agrees agreed. Concensus.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Why would you not think that
September 10, 2008 - 07:40 ET by stancoyleWhy would you not think that he is talking about Palin? They think
you talking about Obama when you say "Community Organizer"!!
Clayton "Obama" Williams
September 10, 2008 - 07:43 ET by mcg0125Senator Obama just effectively had his Clayton Williams moment of the campaign. Regardless of intent, the crowd took it as a joke towards Gov. Palin, and Senator Obama, knowing the typical reactions to his stump speeches, should have quickly issued a disclaimer.
Damage will depend on how well the media circle the wagons to protect him. I can see the questions now:
Larry King: Senator Obama, in light of the uproar by right-wing bloggers stretching to make you a sexist, I must ask...is there anything I can get you? Are you comfortable?
It Doesn't Matter what Andrea Thinks
September 10, 2008 - 07:56 ET by allanfIt doesn't matter what Andrea Mitchell or Joe Scarborough think about what Obama really meant. What matters is that it is out there now and it is a new problem for Obama.
I disagree.
September 10, 2008 - 19:34 ET by needle"It doesn't matter what Andrea Mitchell or Joe Scarborough think about what Obama really meant."
I disagree. It matters when they and the rest of the media go conspicuously out of their way to gratuitously protect Obama in spite of the fact that the audience and the nation realize EXACTLY what BHO meant. It matters because it demonstrates what the media constantly lies about; namely their complete bias.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Lipstick? Old Fish?
September 10, 2008 - 07:56 ET by jkrockoneHad the comment been made and no reference to the "old fish" (McCain), I may have believed that it was totally innocent without consequence. However; that is not how the sequencing occurred. Lipstick on a pig preceeded the old fish comment, which we all know was directed at McCain.
I would love to know just how many times BO has really used the term? Recently? And how many time McCain has used the term? It is always convenient for the likes of Mitchell to throw the usual "comeback" they all do it without any factual evidence. I would love to see the facts on this one!
"We need in politics men who have something to give, not men who have something to get"- Benard Baruch
Meet The Real Sarah Palin Blog POLL
September 10, 2008 - 08:02 ET by lareeMeet the Real Sarah Palin blog, has a poll about the pig and lipstick comment, you can vote here.
http://sarah-palin-2008.blogspot.com/2008/09/campaign-rhetoric-hits-new-low-with.html
probably true
September 10, 2008 - 08:15 ET by theduck6although it would appear that remark was not off the cuff and WAS scripted I don't think he was referring to Gov Palin. However George Allen was referring to a PITA stalking reporter's wierd hairdo when he called him "maccaca" and eventually lost the election. Words have consequences...or is that only when uttered by a conservative?
Does anyone remember the
September 10, 2008 - 08:28 ET by billbDoes anyone remember the consequences of MACACA!
Yup...let's all hope for the
September 10, 2008 - 08:32 ET by athoughtor2Yup...let's all hope for the same outcome for Obam's
There is no question
September 10, 2008 - 08:31 ET by Sonia HThere is no question that this was calculated and planned for the maximum effect.
Women (and smart men) everywhere should be appalled and insulted by his lack of judgement and resort to personal attacks on Sarah Palin.
If he IS elected as POTUS (God forbid!) he will not be representing me.
Lipstick
September 10, 2008 - 08:32 ET by NorthCoasterLIPSTICK, the new MACACA!
Barak has "jumped the shark" this week.
And, no, that's not a coded comment!
ObaMaCaCa
September 10, 2008 - 09:12 ET by JerryHenceforth known as the ObamaCaCa moment...
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Remember
September 10, 2008 - 08:34 ET by Copperhead RidgeLittle Barry has to say things three or four different ways before what he meant is fully understood.
That's just the type of guy we need as president in a geopolitical world that moves at the speed of light.
Democrats have been calling Palin a Pig with lipstick -
September 10, 2008 - 08:46 ET by Dee BunkHere are some links of comments said before Obama said it. It's obviously their theme
Democrats.org page Palin pig in lipstick
ebay Palin lipstick Pig
whitenoise bolog Biden lipstick Pig
Biden talking about dressing up Palin's record with Lipstick
This is interesting. Now,
September 10, 2008 - 09:14 ET by Hero SquadThis is interesting. Now, how many times did they use it before Palin was selected as the vice presidential nominee?
If they used it beforehand, then they can make a case that it has nothing to do with her.
But if it only started after her acceptance speech...
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
There is nothing wrong with the saying Hero
September 10, 2008 - 09:23 ET by Dee Bunkwhen it's made about an object (like a bill etc..._) he and the Dem party are saying she is a pig with lipstick.
I agree that if he had used the phrase to describe McCain or anyone else before she had made that memorable line, then it wouldn't have been seen as a personal attack.
The Dem party is smearing her and he's going along with it. I don't think it's sexist, just petty and nasty and certainly no new kind of politics. Obama is a fake.
Guilty
September 10, 2008 - 08:52 ET by FredRogersHis body language as he's saying it is like a giant neon "GUILTY" sign hanging around his neck.
"You can put lipstick on a pig ..."
September 10, 2008 - 09:52 ET by mustangsallyHow does Barack know what a pig looks like with lipstick? Does he have experience 'community organizing' pigs?
Oh wait, he gets to watch Michele Obama get dressed every morning ...
Gutter?
September 11, 2008 - 10:52 ET by ChuckM from PADo we have to go into the gutter with Obama? Come on, be nice.
I think it was a stupid,
September 10, 2008 - 09:54 ET by CrashI think it was a stupid, erroneous comment because of it's lack of clarity. If I were Barry I'd fire that speech writer. My thought is that he was trying to say, McCain can put a women on the Republican ticket, but, he's still George Bush.
However, based on his audiences response to "lipstick on a pig", that's not how they heard it. Since the RNC convention - I'm basing this notion on how the MSM and Bloggers have responded in force - the campaign has been Obama vs Palin.
Audio
September 10, 2008 - 10:14 ET by chiefeditorI can't believe anyone is in doubt as to what he meant by this.
Lipstick on a pig
September 10, 2008 - 10:30 ET by markg8Obama: "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 going to shake things up in Washington,'" he said.
"That's not change. That's just calling something the same thing something different. You know you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. You know you can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change, it's still going to stink after eight years. We've had enough of the same old thing."
Where's the reference to Sarah Palin? There isn't any. It's a common phrase and Obama even explained the context. So common even John McCain has been known to use it.
John McCain: In Iowa last October, McCain drew comparisons between Hillary Clinton's current health care plan and the one she championed in 1993:"I think they put some lipstick on the pig, but it's still a pig."
He used the same line in May
John McCain would be an even worse president than Bush. He seems to be trying to prove it by the dishonest way he's running his campaign. He'd rather lose his honor than lose a campaign.
There is nothing wrong with the phrase
September 10, 2008 - 10:47 ET by Dee BunkIt's an old one usually said by old people - never heard Obama say it before.
The point is that he and the Dems have been upset that her Pit Bull with lipstick had such a good response. Lipstick digs have been common since she said it. I don't think it was sexist but Obama was being petty and nasty and everyone in that audience knew it and erupted in laughter.
I've never heard such and old Cliche get that type of reaction before. In fact every other instance that people have given with other people saying it, now huge laughter accompanied it. Obama is extremely passive aggressive and bitingly snobbishly mean. Who cares, it doesn't really matter. We all knew that Obama and his supporters were nasty, they've shown it since the day Palin was announced.
Come on markg8
September 10, 2008 - 11:17 ET by JerrySo if McCain had said...
"Biden has been in Washington politics forever. That's not change. A monkey can HOPE to CHANGE all he wants to, but in the end, he's still a monkey."
So markg8, even with no reference to Obama, you wouldn't read an implication into that statement?
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
We adults don't play "what
September 10, 2008 - 12:41 ET by liberal_bug_zapperWe adults don't play "what if" games like infantile Liberals do.
____________________________________________________
"A society that puts equality...ahead of freedom will end up with neither equality nor freedom." ~ Milton Friedman
Thanks markg8
September 11, 2008 - 08:37 ET by hugonewfieAt least someone on this site can put the statement in context. Where is/was the outrage over McCain having made the exact same statement regarding Hillary Clinton? What was his "implication"?
Don't bother with facts like
September 10, 2008 - 11:48 ET by JesseJacksonIVDon't bother with facts like that, people here only want to believe Democrats say stupid things.
It's not that we WANT to
September 11, 2008 - 09:11 ET by celatorIt's not that we WANT to make Ds look stupid, but you must admit the evidence is overwhelming, no?
The major media report only half the news. Why are they surprised they have only half the potential audience?
When will Mrs. Greenspan....
September 10, 2008 - 10:47 ET by cest moi...be donning the red ball nose and the giant flap shoes for her stint on "Circus of the Stars"?
This clown is wayyyyyy over.
Barry's judgment
September 10, 2008 - 10:48 ET by iveseenitallEven if Barry didn't mean the pig comment against Sarah, the reaction of the audience showed how they took it. Again, such a lack of judgment by the gaffe-boy himself. No way John McCain would say "a monkey in a $2000 suit is still a monkey". He has the mature sense of judgment that Obama lacks. Barry will be on with his buddy Letterman tonight, explaining away the remark with his ususal "uh", "uh". But ironically, the more he opens his mouth, the deeper he sinks in the polls. I love it.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Speaking of judgement....i
September 10, 2008 - 12:12 ET by athoughtor2Speaking of judgement....i feel like a lib here and a little sexist but...if Obam is comparing Palin to a pig, then he should have his eyes checked....The lady is pretty! So who has bad judgement
Media Whore, for real.
September 10, 2008 - 11:41 ET by ScrapironWas Hussein O's media whore Andreas Mitchell with Hussein yesterday when he visited what Mitchell stated was 'real redneck' country on his and her last visit to the area? Both the 'real redneck country' and 'lipstick on a pig' remarks occured within 20 miles of my home and I'm surprised they survived to get out of 'real redneck country'. Could they be wrong in their description of the people in this area? Real rednecks shoot first and ask who were you later, at least that's the idea the elitest democrats spread around. Evidently they are as wrong about this as they are about everything else.
Old, Retired and glad of it.
one of you geniuses with money,
September 10, 2008 - 12:01 ET by IamTinmanPlease use Nexus to find out how many times Barack Obama has used the "lipstick on a pig" reference in a speech, since he claims to use it often.
Just askin!
McCain used it too, no one
September 10, 2008 - 12:06 ET by JesseJacksonIVMcCain used it too, no one should care about it.
Note:what does it say about
September 10, 2008 - 12:33 ET by bigtimerNote:what does it say about the MSM as a whole that, as Mitchell reported, every reporter on the McCain conference call dismissed the notion that Obama was speaking about Palin?
Desperation/fear Mark.
Simple as that...
They may be dismissive all they want, they may try this tactic, but the American people aren't fools.
The polls numbers will keep rising for the Palin/McCain ticket.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Women as pigs / Old people as rotten dead fish
September 10, 2008 - 14:27 ET by Lame CherryGreat post in outing closet liberals to their pig fettish, but this is far worse as Obama was dusting off a talking point of the Dukakis campaign in which he termed Reagan a stinking dead fish and all Americans who loved him as the rotten body.
He did this in the Bush 41 and 41 called him out on it in debate.
I suggest Newsbusters get on this video and post it, because this is far worse than the insult to all women, because Barack Obama dug up a dead body and drug it through the streets of Falujah looking to lynch all the old people who smell of death.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
He was using the
September 10, 2008 - 15:22 ET by docbsame colliqicalism that mccain has used himself and many many others...the mccain group is using the clinton victim/sexist whine..thing is we are on to him and his running mate.
We should be asking mccain about his 'WET START' that resulted in the deaths of 100 on the USS Forrestal and Keating 5, his non-support of veterans, his denigating of women including his wife, his real POW issues and how many propaganda tapes he made and how soon he broke..[30 tapes and 3 days]
His running mate should be questioned on her position change on the 'bridge to nowhere', her claim of a giveback that has been on the books since the 1980's, creationism and governance, how her daughter was banished when the Gov learned she was pregnant, about her sons drug use and his choice of the military instead of jail, troopergate, a Judges warning of child abuse, etc.
They both should answer what they know about the economy and balanced budgets, privtization and socialism, the Israel conflict, Iran and the conflict, the real Georgia story--why it looks like KOSOVO and who is complicent, supreme court appointments...and if they are soo tough why are they screaming victim and hiding from the press!!!???
9/11 Today Show
September 11, 2008 - 07:59 ET by chuckshickMitchell again took up the cudgels of the Lightworker, but this time said he "clearly" was not talking about Palin. Yeah, right.