# Latest fraudulent, bullshit, manufactured outrage against Obama **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 10, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883 "2008-09-10T01:36:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/41 "2008-09-10T14:54:58Z")
> [@hopesperson](#): > > The primary difference is that the “lipstick on a pig” line is _always_ a metaphor, and “community organizer” is _never_ a metaphor. Other than that, they’re exactly the same. > > I agree with the OP. If there was any doubt (can’t say there was much) about who I was voting for, this manufactured bullshit outrage just sealed the deal in favor of Obama. I was a little flip, I admit, and I apologize for that (plus, I just read that there’s some Dems claiming that when you slam community organizers, you’re racist - Jesus!) And while I don’t think that Obama was trying to call Palin a pig (and a lot of GOPers like Huckabee are saying the same thing - that Obama wasn’t being insulting), the fact is that Obama is either smart enough to know that the connection was there, or that he wasn’t. Given the fact that he’s become a human gaffe machine in the past week, I tend to think he’s just not smart enough. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/42 "2008-09-10T14:57:35Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > As far as I can tell, Obama was riffing on Palin’s line about the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom, which is lipstick. If he is going to go directly from that to references to “putting lipstick on a pig”, it is hard to avoid the impression that he is calling her a pig… Oh, not so hard, really, especially when the speaker explicitly defines the topic of his remarks. Which he did, in just so many words: here’s what I’m talking about. You may remember it, its called the “topic sentence”, which is to say, the sentence which defines the topic. Of course, if he says he’s talking about “A”, you can insist that he’s _really_ talking about “B”, but then you have to produce your Certificate of Telepathy. Have you such? No? Ah. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/43 "2008-09-10T14:59:43Z")
Oh, I’m sure he knew what he was saying. Not necessarily that he was directly calling Palin a pig, but the connection was certainly there and he’d be a fool to deny it. McCain screwed up here, though. The appropriate response would’ve been a snicker and “Are you…actually comparing Sarah Palin to a pig? Heh. Heheh. If you say so.” Impotent rage is a huge turnoff for most people, especially if it’s over something minor. The ability to wave something like that off puts you above the person delivering the insult and makes you look a lot more cool and confident. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/44 "2008-09-10T15:02:38Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > They need to win or lose because the American people honestly evaluated them and chose the one they thought would be best for the job. Not because of some fluke of timing or an unfortunate accident. I hope to see that someday in my lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/45 "2008-09-10T15:04:06Z")
[Obama comments](http://www.necn.com/Boston/Politics/Obama-on-lipstick-comment-Spare-me-the-phony-outrage-/1221058082.html): > [@](#): > > “I don’t care what they say about me, but I love this country too much to let them take over this election with lies,” said Obama. “These are serious times, and they call for a serious debate about where we need to take the nation. We can’t take another four years that are like the last eight.” > > “Spare me the phony outrage,” said Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/46 "2008-09-10T15:04:45Z")
Obama’s learning how to make soundbites. “Spare me the phony outrage” is golden. ---
**Author:** ![Kokopilau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Kokopilau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kokopilau)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/47 "2008-09-10T15:07:01Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > As far as I can tell, Obama was riffing on Palin’s line about the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom, which is lipstick. If he is going to go directly from that to references to “putting lipstick on a pig”, it is hard to avoid the impression that he is calling her a pig. Tell me about it. I mean, it’s not like Obama was speaking about McCain in the sentences before and after he used that phrase, or that that phrase itself is a common metaphor, or that Obama had already used it long before Palin was picked, or that McCain himself used that exact same phrase when talking about Hillary Clinton! Oh, wait… ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/48 "2008-09-10T15:09:45Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > As far as I can tell, Obama was riffing on Palin’s line about the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom, which is lipstick. If he is going to go directly from that to references to “putting lipstick on a pig”, it is hard to avoid the impression that he is calling her a pig. > > Unless you are a brain-dead liberal, of which there is no shortage. > > Regards, > Shodan Not that I or, I don’t think, anybody actually cares what you’re pretending is true, but since you bothered, here’s the line in context: ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FPd4yk0x-eg/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/FPd4yk0x-eg?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque It’s really, really, really painfully obvious what he’s talking about. Palin had nothing to do with anything. Go ahead and see if you can avoid that impression once you’re actually informed. Oh, and regards. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/49 "2008-09-10T15:12:59Z")
If Palin is a pig and McCain is a fish, by inference George Bush must be a mule and Obama is swingin’ on a star. [QED](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/f/frank+sinatra/swingin+on+a+star_20055153.html) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/50 "2008-09-10T15:14:54Z")
> [@ArizonaTeach](#): > > …Given the fact that he’s become a human gaffe machine in the past week, I tend to think he’s just not smart enough. Boy, you nailed it! Graduated from some podunk community college out east, we’re supposed to be impressed? And you notice? They put him in the Law Review thingy, because he didn’t get it the first time, had to take remedial. Dummy, dummy Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/51 "2008-09-10T15:28:58Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Then the damage gets done anyway, and you score an extra point for congeniality. Palin should know this - she was a beauty queen. She’s got executive congeniality experience. 😃 I have disagreed with most everything **Sam** has posted about the campaign, but I didn’t want to let this pass without giving props. Well done, sir. ---
**Author:** ![ManiacMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@ManiacMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ManiacMan)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/52 "2008-09-10T15:40:04Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Obama has used this expression before, you know. And he used it before Palin’s speech. And he used it in the same context. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Discordia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Discordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Discordia)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/53 "2008-09-10T15:46:19Z")
> [@ManiacMan](#): > > Cite? I’m not **Dio** but [ok!](http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/10/mccain_rolls_out_health_plan_a.html) Oh shit, wrong one. It’s so confusing when people express outrage at an expression they use themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/54 "2008-09-10T15:52:29Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > As far as I can tell, Obama was riffing on Palin’s line about the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom, which is lipstick. If he is going to go directly from that to references to “putting lipstick on a pig”, it is hard to avoid the impression that he is calling her a pig. Sometimes, it’s really hard to figure out whether you’re sincere, or if you just enjoy getting a rise out of people. I’ve always assumed the former, but this comment leaves me wondering. Can you explain how Obama went “directly” from Palin’s speech a week ago to the “putting lipstick on a pig” analogy? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/55 "2008-09-10T16:03:42Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I do not believe you ever had respect for the man. Do a board search on my name with “McCain” for the last several years. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/56 "2008-09-10T16:07:53Z")
This is a very similar to all the ‘I’ve _always_ been proud of America!’ remarks at the RNC convention. Every one (me included) knows that it was ripping on Michelle Obama, Sure, most of those speakers had probably said that before, and the remark made sense in context, and nary a direct mention of Michelle. But still… Same thing here. I’d be outraged if I didn’t think it was funny! 😛 Palin totally set herself up for it. BTW, is there actually any video of it? Delivery is probably everything. Obama: “you can put lipstick…on a pig.”, PAUSE FOR LAUGHTER, “But \” ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/57 "2008-09-10T16:10:55Z")
> [@Pashnish\_Ewing](#): > > 😃 I have disagreed with most everything **Sam** has posted about the campaign, but I didn’t want to let this pass without giving props. Well done, sir. Aw, thanks. I thought it was a good line, and you’re the first to notice. ---
**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/58 "2008-09-10T16:17:15Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > As far as I can tell, Obama was riffing on Palin’s line about the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom, which is lipstick. If he is going to go directly from that to references to “putting lipstick on a pig”, it is hard to avoid the impression that he is calling her a pig. > > Unless you are a brain-dead liberal, of which there is no shortage. I lurk for five years, and this horseshit is what I return to. Here’s Obama’s full quote: > [@http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/us/politics/10memo.html](#): > > “John McCain says he’s about change, too — except for economic policy, health care policy, tax policy, education policy, foreign policy and Karl Rove-style politics. That’s just calling the same thing something different.” > > With a laugh, he added: “You can put lipstick on a pig; 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.” Palin and her line are obviously not the subject; McCain’s policies and campaign slogan are. Seriously, I’m impressed, Shodan. Five years is a long time to troll a message board full of braindead liberals. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/59 "2008-09-10T16:18:30Z")
I guess the question is where do we set the bar for outrage. If people found putting Paris Hilton into a McCain commercial to be racist, then no one should be surprised to find people thinking the “lipstick on a pig” comment is sexist. Personally, I think both cases are examples of oversensitivity. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883/60 "2008-09-10T16:18:42Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > If Palin is a pig and McCain is a fish, by inference George Bush must be a mule and Obama is swingin’ on a star. > > [QED](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/f/frank+sinatra/swingin+on+a+star_20055153.html) And the symbol of the democratic party is the donkey, which is the father of… a Mule! I think you’ve stumbled onto some sort of code. The stupidest thing about this whole stupid non-issue (other than the Camp McCain actually thought it was worth soundbytes and conference calls) is that last time I checked the word pig, when used as a pejorative for women, usually if not always means ugly and or slovenly and or fat and or completely unattractive. The one thing that even people who detest Sarah Palin (including myself) will grant freely is that she’s an extremely attractive woman, nobody could ever call her fat or slovenly, and thus it doesn’t even make sense to call her a pig, a word that’s even more offensive to Obama since [del]he’s a Musli[/del] he doesn’t eat red meat… for health reasons… like Jesus. Then the (oh God is he going to bring this old story up again?) Chelsea Clinton- lovechild of Janet Reno:Hillary Clinton issue, a very definite and unwarranted slam, against a civilian no less- (yep, he brought it up again)- how the hell can McCain DARE feign outrage over something absolutely nobody could believe is a deliberate slam against Palin? (He was older by far when he made that crack than Obama is now.) I wish, I really wish that there was a little Mini-Obama who traveled around with him and said the things Barack will never say. In fairness of bipartisanship, McCain can have one too. I’d love to hear mini Obama say “Well, you know how they are when they get that age… I’m sure Senator McCain has absolutely no recollection of using that phrase himself… hell, he probably doesn’t remember _me_ saying it by now because it’s the short term memory that’s shot to hell the most, he just knows he’s mad at me about something. Or he might, he has his good days and his bad days. Yup yup yup… for Bush it was al-Qaeda and for McCain, al-Zheimers, which one will do the most damage… but you didn’t hear that from me… cause I’m Mini-Obama, not the candidate.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-fraudulent-bullshit-manufactured-outrage-against-obama/462883.md?page=4)