Putting Lipstick on a Pig

When is a comment... just a comment and not some sort of attack, slur, racist or sexist remark?

The latest news cycle was awash with the charges --- and counter charges --- that Obama's remark, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig" was some how a sexist or inappropriate remark against the GOP VP candidate, Sarah Palin.

Now, I truly believe that the Democratic party, and leftists in general are in a tizzy about the GOP having a female VP candidate. After all, aren't all true feminists supposed to follow the Democratic line (hook, line and sinker)? How can a successful woman be a GOP operative?

But, in this case, from the evidence I've seen, this comment is coincidental to Mrs. Palin's remark at the GOP convention that "the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick."

This is much ado about nothing. It is a fairly common metaphor... denoting that you can pretty something up, but it is still that which it started as. A rose by any other name... etc.

John McCain is even on video tape using the same comment earlier in this seemingly decade-long election season.

Issues like this detract from the true purpose of our elections. We need to know the substance of what each candidate has planned. We need to ask "where's the beef", not " was that a sexist remark"?

There are rightly plenty of things both tickets can question the other on. Fair, open, honest discussion is not only allowed, it is required. Personal attacks are not, and tell us a lot about the candidates who stoop to that level. This, however... is neither. Its a coincidence at worst. Everyone needs to get over it, past it, and focus on the substance of the issues.

CP