Obama "Lipstick On A Pig" Line Triggers Controversy

LEBANON, Va. – Barack Obama cloaked himself in the mantle of change and offered new details of what that change would look like in Southwest Virginia. But a glib, throwaway line ignited a controversy that grabbed the most headlines Tuesday during the Democratic presidential nominee’s town hall meeting at Lebanon High School.

Wrestling for ownership of the change label, Obama said the Republicans’ version was akin to “putting lipstick on a pig.”

GOP supporters pounced on the line and said it was directed at John McCain’s running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Palin made “lipstick” a national catchphrase last week when she used it as the difference between a hockey mom and a pit-bull.

“This whole change thing must be catching on,” Obama said during an hour-long speech, his second in Southwest Virginia in three months. He was alluding to recent political ads run by the McCain-Palin ticket and endorsing change.

“These are the same folks who have been in charge for eight years,” the Illinois senator told the crowd.

“You can put lipstick on a pig,” Obama said, provoking titters from the audience and wide eyes from national media. “It’s still a pig. You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change. It’s still going to stink after eight years.”

The pig comment drew swift condemnation from Republicans, who immediately staged a telephone conference and demanded an apology from the Obama campaign for “comparing our vice presidential nominee ... to a pig,” former Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift said in a written statement.

“Barack Obama sunk to a new low today with his remarks today regarding Gov. Sarah Palin,” chimed in Republican U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake. “It is offensive not only to women, but anybody that cares about having a substantive debate on the issues,” said Drake, of Virginia Beach.

The Obama campaign denied that the senator’s remark referred to Palin. Soon after making the lipstick quip, Obama praised Palin, saying his “hat goes off” to anyone raising five children.

Later at the event, in response to an audience member’s question about the media coverage of the Alaska governor, Obama affirmed he believes a candidate’s family should be off limits.

Obama’s second visit to Southwest Virginia, three months and 30 miles outside of his stop in Bristol, Va., highlighted another significant change in the Virginia political landscape. As U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th, said in his introduction speech, Obama is the first presidential nominee of a major party in nearly 50 years to court voters in the region.

While political observers view Obama’s campaign in a conservative area of a new swing state as an effort to mitigate his opponent’s advantage there, the candidate articulated his vision for Southwest Virginia in the context of his plan to free the country from its addiction to foreign oil.

Taking Republicans to task for a “drill baby, drill” approach to the country’s oil shortage, Obama emphasized investing in energy alternatives like solar and wind power, and how to sequester carbon from coal.

“Clean-coal technology is something that can make America energy independent,” he said.

He spoke of a plan to create 5 million jobs in clean-energy technology by investing $15 billion a year for a decade, promoting development of renewable energy and biofuels.

He lauded Lebanon for its success at diversifying its economy by adding high-tech jobs, thanks to a backbone of fiber-optic cable – an example he hopes to repeat.

As he did in his speech accepting the Democratic nomination, Obama sought to portray McCain as out of touch with working people. As a measure for economic health, the Democrat offered a survey of where “regular folks, folks at the bottom” stand.

“How’s the waitress doing? Is she able to keep a roof over her head?” Obama asked the crowd. “How about the guy who worked in a factory for 20 years? How are we treating coal miners?”

Lifting directly at times from his acceptance speech, he questioned the Arizona senator’s judgment, arguing that McCain “just doesn’t get it.”

Obama also used his appearance Tuesday to emphasize his roots and faith. He’s a Christian, he said. He was raised by a single mother who once qualified for food stamps. His wife’s father worked a shift job his entire life.

“That’s where I come from,” Obama said.

The Illinois senator also hit back against Republicans belittling his time as a community organizer as an experience rung on his resume, calling it “the best education I ever had.”

Prior to taking the stage on Tuesday, Obama received two endorsements, one from United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts, and the other from local bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley.

dgilbert@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2558