"You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig."
Most people heard this metaphor, loose as it was, and depending what side of the fence they were on, ran with it. Or not.
Did he call Sarah Palin a "pig"? Did he say Sarah Palin wears lipstick? Did she call John McCain a pig, if Palin were to give McCain a kiss?
Better yet, did Obama just say something stupid in the heat of the moment? Most likely.
Since Obama was so metaphorically inclined, he should have said something along the lines of "making a silk purse from a sow's ear". I mean, I think that is where Obama was heading, or least trying to, with his lipsticked pig metaphor.
Other words, Obama was most likely pointing out that the "Oh, wow, gee-whiz!!!" that is Sarah Palin is an attempt to cover the fact that, hey, this is still John McCain, this is still the possibility of four more years of the past eight years, this is still business as usual, but with a new player...who I point out (and hopefully most people) is not a pig, may wear lipstick, may own silk purses, and is not a sow's ear.
I am reminded of my favorite of all metaphors, pointing out how easily manipulated we, the masses are:
- All the world's a stage,
- And all the men and women merely players;
- They have their exits and their entrances--Wm. Shakespeare
My favorite interpretation: McCain's candidacy is the pig, and Palin's nomination the lipstick.
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