A Christian Liberal is NOT an oxymoron.

Posted by XT on September 11th, 2008 in Campaign News

Of all the stupid things, it would be hard to top the insistence that Barack Obama’s remark that “you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig” is somehow aimed at calling Sarah Palin a pig – technically, a sow. But, if that is true, then he also called her a fish:

Obama poked fun of McCain and Palin’s new “change” mantra.

“You can put lipstick on a pig,” he said as the crowd cheered. “It’s still a pig.”

“You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change. It’s still gonna stink.”

“We’ve had enough of the same old thing.”

Of course, John McCain has also used the pig phrase.

And, just as obviously, it was Sarah Palin that compared her self to a dog when she asked what the difference between a Hockey Mom and a pitbull was – then pointed at her mouth and said (after a total miss on comedic timing), “Lipstick.”

Now, there are some specific groups that would find it incredibly insulting to be compared to a pig – like Jews and Muslims that consider it to be an unclean animal. As far as I’m aware, Sarah Palin is neither Jewish nor Muslim. In fact, she’s a fundamental Christian and will probably chow down on bacon at the next pancake supper for Jesus.

But if she’s okay with saying she’s a dog, then the technical term she is calling her self is a “bitch”. Somehow, that is a bit more offensive to a lot more women than any pig reference.

And that is the linguistic opportunity that is totally being missed. Instead of limp rephrasings and such, the Obama campaign should just say, “We didn’t call her a pig. Period. She did, however, refer to “Hockey Moms” as bitches, and we find that incredibly offensive. She is more than welcome to repeat the same old sexist charges against women that Hillary Clinton fought so hard to break through, but we find it reprehensible.”

And while I’m on it, let me say that the flurry of activity around Palin being named on the ticket, on both sides, will surely die down. As John Kerry discovered, there is a real problem with being overshadowed by your running mate.

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