Lipstick Jungle

There's been so much sexism talk in the news and in both parties. It's not new talk, of course, it was seen when Hillary Clinton was a candidate.

The big statement this week was the lipstick on a pig comment made by Obama:


Is he the first to use this comment?

Nope. Let's take a look.

McCain made the same comment in reference to Hillary Clinton - it's the same comment and it's in reference to a woman candidate.
Time Magazine wrote this:
"While campaigning in Iowa in October 2007, Senator John McCain used the popular expression to criticize Hillary Clinton's revamped health care plan, arguing that it wasn't much different from the one she unsuccessfully pushed in 1993. "I think they put some lipstick on the pig, but it's still a pig," he said. McCain brought up the phrase again in May of this year to describe Clinton's health care plan at a town hall in Denver: "I don't like to use this term, but the latest proposal I see is putting lipstick on a pig," he said."


Let's look back even further, shall we? Here's one from Dick Cheney:


So what does it mean?
Wikipedia gives us this:
"Putting lipstick on a pig" is a slang rhetorical expression, used to convey the message that making superficial or cosmetic changes is a futile attempt to disguise the true nature of a product."

So do I think that Obama's comment was meant as a sexist comment about Palin? I don't. Obama went on to say that McCain will be like President Bush: a fish put in a newspaper will still stink after eight years. Not exactly sexist...really it is what it is: A reference indicating that dressing up Bush's policy is still Bush's policy...no matter how much you dress it up.

Let's have a look at the republican candidate's own sexism. In addition to the "lipstick on a pig" comment made in reference to Hillary Cliniton (which wasn't sexist unless it applies to Palin), it seems that McCain is rather fond of his new running mate: near the end of the video, Sarah Palin looks a bit uncomfortable. But the question remains: what is he looking at? It looks very much like he's checking her out from behind. A bit sexist? You be the judge. Watch his lips about half way through the video. His lips mouth the word "Damn." It's her ass he's looking at. (Thanks to Eric for noticing.) As my cousin, Tyler, put it: he's a dirty old man.


The last point I want to discuss, is one of McCain's approved ads regarding Obama's desire to teach your kindergarten children all about sex. The ad says: "...Obama's one accomplishment? Legislation to teach comprehensive sex education to kindergartners. Learning about sex before learning to read? Barack Obama. Wrong on education..." and, of course, John McCain approves the message.


1. Obama was not the sponsor of this bill
2. Obama was not a co-sponsor of this bill
3. This bill did not pass
4. factcheck.org shows that this bill would have allowed for "age appropriate" material - and parents could opt out.
5. The education was to teach children about inappropriate touching by another person.