Stealing the Bat

Now, I'm just sayin'...

Barack Obama in (my very own little hometown of) Lebanon, Virginia yesterday:

"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 gonna shake things up in Washington." That's not change. That's just calling the same thing something different. But you know you can't.. you know, you can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig."

(side note: I'll give you $100 for every mention of Sarah Palin in that quote.)

Folks in Lebanon know what "lipstick on a pig" means. We're no strangers to colloquial aphorisms. Its use here is appropriate and accurate.

John McCain understands its use, too, having employed it in describing Hillary Clinton's health care plan on at least two occasions (one on youtube here). A senior advisor to his staff even wrote a book with the title: "Lipstick on a Pig".

Are any of these uses offensive or wrong? No. At least, not until Barack Obama said it. Now, the McCain campaign is all in a tizzy over the turn of phrase, calling it "offensive", "disgraceful", and a "smear" against Sarah Palin.

And our dear media - with 24-hour cable news networks eager to exaggerate, pontificate, and hyperventilate over anything with a whiff of imaginary controversy in order to generate viewership and ad revenue - swallowed the hook. The breathless conversation this morning now revolves around the question, "Is Obama a sexist?"

If there was ever an example of rank hypocrisy, cynicism, and pathetic, dishonorable political maneuvering, this is it.

And guess what Obama should do?

Wear the phrase as a badge of honor.

I say, use the "lipstick on a pig" aphorism and use it often. Use it proudly.

Regular folks get it. We in the South are no stranger to colloquial turns of phrase. And "lipstick on a pig" is one that resonates - it's pithy, it's memorable, and it's accurate.

This is one area where a traditionally Rovian tactic should be employed by the Obama camp - take a perceived weakness (the quote) and play it as a strength. Say it loud, say it proud, and repeat. "McCain's health care policy? It's George Bush's. It's more of the same. It's lipstick on a pig. McCain's tax policy? It's George Bush's. It's more of the same. It's lipstick on a pig. McCain's foreign policy? It's George Bush's. It's more of the same. It's lipstick on a pig."

If someone's trying to beat you over the head with a bat, you can take the beating, or you can hit back. But if you really want to win, you steal the bat and start swinging.

UPDATE: Obama isn't backing down. He's calling it as it is in Norfolk, VA this morning. Excerpts from speech:

"I love this Country too much to let them take over with lies, misdirection, and swift boating. These are serious times and they call for serious debate".

"Spare me the phony outrage, phony talk about change, we have real problems, we need real answers; not distractions, diversions and manipulations."

And from the article:

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is accusing John McCain's campaign of "lies and phony outrage and Swift-boat politics" in claiming he had made a sexist comment against vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Obama on Wednesday called the Republicans' criticism of his use of the phrase "lipstick on a pig" a "made-up controversy."

I'm just sayin'...