Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Lipstick Slurs

"The difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? ...Lipstick."
--Sarah Palin 9/3/08

“There’s no way you can dress up that record, even with a lot of lipstick.”
--Joseph Biden 9/9/08

"You can put lipstick on a pig... It's still a pig."
--Barack Obama 9/9/08

I don't believe in coincidences.

It's interesting that the good-old-boy ticket has taken to thinly veiled slurs. Sexist rhetoric must be part of Obama’s promise of change.

....

34 comments:

Tsofah said...

Malott:

John McCain used this exact idiom in October of last year in a speech. It's a "saying", a quote that has been used for ages. It has nothing to do with Palin, or pitbulls, etc.

http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/put+lipstick+on+a+pig.html

http://www.wordwizard.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=20695

Idiom Definition for 'Put lipstick on a pig'

Meaning:
If people put lipstick on a pig, they make superficial or cosmetic changes, hoping that it will make the product more attractive.

Why am I, as a non-Obama supporter, making this point? Because I believe honesty is needed in all aspects of our lives. As a Christian, I'd like to see us not acting as the world (or the MSM) does.

This just saddens me.

Tsofah said...

My attempts to post the links didn't work. Sorry. ;-/

Mojo_Risin said...

Thank you, Tsofah. We all need to start paying attention to issues and platforms and stop listening to this garbage.

SkyePuppy said...

Tsofah & Mojo,

After Sarah Palin's noteworthy use of the word, "lipstick," she owns it for now. To use that word is to summon the image of her Hockey Mom joke. And that makes the person using "lipstick" look like he's slamming Palin.

Biden could have used the word, "polish," and had his reference work just fine. Obama's going to have to drop the pig comment for a while, because people are feeling offended for Palin's sake.

You're right, though, Mojo, that we need to look at the issues. When I do that, I find the prospect of an Obama presidency (especially if he has a Democrat Congress) to be frightening.

McCain-Palin 2008!

SkyePuppy said...

Chris,

She said "Hockey Mom." They don't play much soccer in Alaska.

Malott said...

Skyepuppy,

Thanks! I fixed it.

Tsofah and Mojo,

Let'e not forget that two men, both Biden and Obama, used the word lipstick on the same day.

Coincidence?

Please!

Mojo_Risin said...

Hey, if you want to TMZ this election, feel free. But all I hear anyone talking about these days is gossip... and nothing more.

Tsofah said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Malott said...

Tsofah,

If you look at my original post, you'll remember that I was pointing out what I believe is hypocrisy.

Following your line of thinking, Jesus was un-Christian when He pointed out the hypocrisy of the pharisees.

Obama and Biden used a feminine word, strongly associated with Palen, on the same day. If you listen to the applause of the crowd, you realize that the audience recognized the association of the term with Palen.

I believe this was orchestrated by the Obama-Biden campaign for just that effect.

If during the Democrat convention Barack had said, "The difference between a black man and a pit bull? ...Rhythm." And if McCain and Palen had both made a joke on the same day including the word "rhythm" ...There would be hell to pay.

I believe the Obama campaign and the Left are trying to use the fact that Palen is a woman to marginalize her.

I find that offensive... And I attempted to point that out.

I appreciate your comments and your sincerity, but when you, on your blog, show Hezbollah the same consideration... I'll take your criticism more seriously.

G_d keep you, my sister in Christ.

Lydia said...

Oh, come on! Let's discuss the issues!
Tsofah is 100% correct and she offers a voice of reason here.

In this article...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2008/09/
barack-obama-sa.html

...you will read this quote:

"This war hero and his self-described pit bull are so sensitive!

Meanwhile, McCain may have conveniently forgotten (hey, the dude's, like, really old) that he once used the same analogy in a 2007 Chicago Tribune article about Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's healthcare plan. And I didn't hear anything about Hillary demanding an apology.

"I think they put some lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig," McCain is quoted as saying about Clinton's proposal."

Lydia said...

P.S.
The links that Tsofah gave and the one I gave will work if you copy and paste them into your browser.

Malott said...

"I think they put some lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig," McCain is quoted as saying about Clinton's proposal."

Lydia,

In this case, "lipstick" was not strongly associated with Hillary Clinton.

It's a weak argument, in my humble opinion.

But I appreciate your comments.

Tsofah said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Malott said...

Tsofah,

Dear sister, I respect you so much. There is nothing in the political arena that merits a wedge between us. We may disagree, but we have a bond that transcends all these mundane trappings.

If I have offended, then I am the poorer for it.

Forgive my insensitivity.

Lydia said...

I see a "bond that transcends all these mundane trappings" not here at this blog, most definitely. Maybe in a monastery, or a tight family unit (such as we see in the families of both presidential and both VP candidates, I might add). I can see that you might swipe at me and others who disagree with you. But, ouch, if I were Tsofah I'd think long and hard about coming back as a voice for concern and balance here. Since her comments at your blog were the main reason I decided to read both of your blogs for the duration of the election campaign, I'm tempted to dash you from my bookmarks and just follow her blog. But I'll hang in because I'm doing this to see if it's possible for Americans to be kind and civil toward one another. Given your incendiary remarks at my blog today I have my doubts! I'm just hoping that one of my regular readers can temper what you said with reason - the way Tsofah has done here.

Lydia said...

P.S. I failed to respond to this comment of yours in reply to mine:

"In this case, "lipstick" was not strongly associated with Hillary Clinton."

Are you kidding? We're talking about a candidate for the Vice Presidency of the United States, not a babe vying for Miss USA. My sense of humor finds this statement so rich I feel like sending it to Jay Leno! (i won't) You are proud of your VP candidate who is "strongly associated" with lipstick? And you call my argument "weak"?

Malott said...

Lydia,

On September 3rd Governor Palin gave a nationally televised speech which included a joke whose punchline was "lipstick." That joke was re-broadcast many times in the next few days.

That is why this feminine cosmetic product is strongly associated with Palin.

Hillary Clinton did not give a nationally televised speech which included a joke whose puchline was "lipstick" before John McCain used the idiomatic "lipstick on a pig" to describe her health care program.

That is why I believe McCain's use of the phrase is a weak argument.

....

Also, on your blog I tried to diagram the Evangelicals' concern with the Supreme Court and its effect on our culture and representative democracy. It may be incendiary, but I think it is an accurate representation.

janice said...

Tsofah (and Lydia for that matter), I really don't get where you're coming from. Chris' points are spot on and the examples you present are weak at best.

However, I believe it will hurt McCain/Palin if they continue to make this an issue.

Also, you have yet to explain your strong oppsition to Palin. Maybe I missed it or I'm stupid. I just haven't heard anything to support your strong oppsition to her.

Tsofah said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SkyePuppy said...

Tsofah,

My understanding on the Alaska "partnership" bill is that Palin was required to sign that by the Alaska Supreme Court, much the same way the Massachusetts Supreme Court required gay marriage in that state. I don't believe her beliefs and policies tend in that direction, so I'm not concerned about her on that issue.

janice said...

Tsofah, I think the media coverage is due to the fact she is an unknown. I had heard 2 interviews (earlier this year) prior to her VP nomination, she's not had much exposure to the nation before August. But, you would agree her coverage has a negative slant where as obama can do no wrong, in the eye's of most of the MSM.

If your only concern is truly her signature to a bill on gay/partner benefits (which a lot of states already have) those fears/concerns should have no bearing with regard to her fitness to step into the oval office (should the republican ticket be elected).

I know this is not my perfect, dream repub ticket. But the alternative will, no doubt, be much worse.

janice said...

You're absolutely correct Skye.

Tsofah said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tsofah said...

I'm tired of the discussion. Sorry guys, it's a bummer day.

janice said...

"Fighting solves nothing", I think the Jewish victims of Hitler's genocide would strongly disagree with your statement, Tsofah. And so do I....

Tsofah said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SkyePuppy said...

Tsofah,

I'm not sure that what you're seeing is fighting, but rather passionate defense of our position. I don't see politics as a co-god.

At the same time, though, I see danger for the world (especially for Christians) if Barack Obama is elected. When I first heard him say that he'd talk with Ahmadinejad and others of that ilk, in my mind's eye I could see the end result of that kind of foreign policy. That result would be America's abandonment of Israel and the boldness among Israel's enemies to attack her. More than anything else, that image is what drives me to oppose Obama with a passion I haven't felt in the political arena for a long time.

Add to that McCain's selection of a "regular" woman (someone more like me than any other politician I've seen), and I'm energized about this campaign.

Please don't mistake passion for attack, and I'll try to be sure that my words aren't nasty ones. We are citizens of America and have a duty to try to make her better, but our highest loyalty is to the Kingdom.

janice said...

Tsofah, first of all you wre the one who said "Fighting solves nothing". Maybe you should have put in a disclaimer.

Also, you sound as if you're seaching perfection in this and I agree this isn't my dream ticket either. I'm not trying to argue with you, it's just you've been so negative and confrontational since Palin was announced I'm just trying to understand where you're coming from.

Lydia said...

The 11-year-old boy two houses down from ours knew what the Bush Doctrine was because he told me about the report he did on it last spring. Sarah Palin could not respond to Charlie Gibson's question about the Bush Doctrine in her first TV interview Thursday evening. I pitied her as she scrambled for a canned comment the party prepared for her, but that didn't fit that particular question. She may be an excellent governor, devout in her faith, quick on the draw against a moose, and a pitbull in fighting for her kids - but, no, she is not ready for national office. I pitied her last night and that's not the emotion I want to feel for any candidate for higher office. There's too much at stake. And all this talk about lipstick might be appreciated by Maybelline, but it's indicative of a low level of expectation (and appreciation) that is irresponsible for voters to support in one running for the VP of the United States.

And, Tsofah, if I had ancestors who had suffered and died under Hitler I'd most likely follow the Jewish faith. Yours is a beautiful legacy. You must have a very compelling personal story indeed.

Malott said...

Lydia,

Palin is much more ready to lead than Obama, because Obama is wrong on the issues.

Palin may not be ready for the campaign... She may not be polished in front of the cameras... But you shouldn't be so shallow as to think that ease in an interview makes a good president. There is a little more to it than that.

If you're observing as a liberal, or if you have little knowledge and no political convictions, then yes - appearances are everything... And there are many people in this country like that.

Time will tell if her campaign accumen catches up with her leadership skills.

Malott said...

Lydia,

If i could edit my comments:

There is a little more to it than that, "as I'm sure you know."

(That sounds more respectful and less pompous.)

I'm sure your political accumen is just fine.

Also, Tsofah is a very wise woman... So I'm sure she will stick with Jesus... Being the "Only Way" and all.

Tsofah said...

Janice:

I've not been negative at all...or at least not intentionally...since Palin's nomination. She may not be my first choice as running mate, but she'll do.

What I have seen is an increased frenzy of lifting her up since her nomination by Christians who are fighting against one another. Democrats say "G-d is on our side" and Republicans say "G-d is on our side", and I say "G-d is on His own side."

This is Friday, my last day to do this sort of thing.

Lydia said...

Of course you can edit your comments, Malott, this is your blog! :) I appreciated the edit, though.

It's so strange, but I could take your first sentence in your reply to me and switch the names around to create a sentence that I believe, i.e., "Obama is much more ready to lead than Palin, because Palin is wrong on the issues." This is what concerns me so much, that we each strongly believe our particular versions; yikes.
But I would like to point out that the conversation seems to be omitting John McCain, who is running against Obama. I find it amazing that you guys are touting Palin as ready to lead but not McCain. I don't remember a presidential race that had this much to-do with a VP candidate. I'm thinking it is because the country realizes that Cheney has been the power in this administration and so, for the first time, the VP slot is being scrutinized as never before.

My political acumen was honed by a politically active family life, including my cousin's husband having served 25 years in Congress representing Oregon, as a D (but you probably guessed that!)...

SkyePuppy said...

Lydia,

We tout Palin as ready to lead, because the Obama campaign has spent so much time slamming her ability to lead. They keep comparing Obama to Palin, so we respond in kind.

Of course, we believe there's no question that McCain is ready to lead. But not Obama. He's not ready to lead. Not for a minute.