McCain camp screwing up by reponding to Pig comment (vanity)

Me

[Scythian]

I believe is a major mistake by the McCain camp. They could have let the 'Pig' comment go and been endeared even further. But now, they are taking on the victim status and seem small and petty, and as if they are using this as a way to avoid talking about issues. This response is going to cause Obama to take back the lead again in the polls.

[Scythian]

Anyone agree? The 'Pig' comment seems small and trivial, so somebody calls you a pig? good grief, it's politics. Stop wining, he knocked them off message and this is what it is all about. Ignore it.

[jennyjenny]

I guess I missed something. What’s this talk of a pig?

[housedeep]

i dont think any damage has happened yet
but it is time to let it go real quick

damage is done on obamas side...now move on and laugh it off

[ajwharton]

I agree, but others that know more than me think that there is still some political capital to be wrung from the comment. If the professionals think that this is the case, then it would be irresponsible for the McCain campaign to NOT pursue it.

[frogjerk]

I don’t agree with you. Milk it.

[jwalsh07]

Evidnetly not. The message was that Obama is above the fray. You can't be above the fray and referring to the opposition as pigs and stinky old fish.

And for the record the comments didn't bother me much at all. But politically, it was a mistake for Obama. It's called forced error in tennis.

[applpie]

somehow i dont think the american people are that stupid. they are ticked that obama and the left wing attack machine never stop. i actually like that mccain gives it right back to em. i am sick of republicans laying down all the time in response to bad behavior from dems and the media.

[AmericaUnited]

This response is going to cause Obama to take back the lead again in the polls.

No. It's absurd to think that this small response will have any substantial effect.

[Maelstorm]

What is it with all this hand wringing. Obama doesn’t want the Pig commment to have any more play. It also won’t make any difference at the end of the day. Obama has a problem. He has hit the brick wall called reality.

[Reagan79]

I think they might be laying a trap for Obama to play the race card, which ultimately would torpedo the Obama campaign for good.

[usslsm51]

Snort. In a pig sty. Why get upset when a political hog who has fed at the trough makes a stupid remark.

[Artemis Webb]

Re #2

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2078524/posts

[Allegra]

I agree. The McCain camp needs to laugh it off and be done with it.

Obammy's done the damage. Let him wallow in it. (Ooops...did I just make an accidental pig reference?)

[scooby321]

Keep it going dig deeper

In two speeches "lipstick comment used" by VP and President canidates rallies

He stole the speech from Tom Tolls Cartoon.

[mouse1]

“You can put lipstick on a pig. It’s still a pig. You can wrap up an old fish in a piece of paper and call it change. It’s still going to stink after eight years. We’ve had enough,” he exclaimed to a standing ovation.”

Never heard the expression old fish in piece of paper called change. It’s obvious barry. We hear what you said.

Can you imagine the outrage if comparing bho McCain used the term “you lead muhumad to the mountain...”. I see barry wants it to be a one way street.

[Dawn531]

Heck no you don’t ignore it. Obama may take back the lead, but it won’t be because McCain didn’t ignore the sexist comment. How many times has a Republican’s words forced him to apologize, resign...just this morning I read that a GOP leader at a college resigned because of something he wrote/said.

The fact that Obama wouldn’t apologize was just red meat for his campaign followers, but won’t fare well with the general public (and that’s who this election is all about at this point.)

[IMissPresidentReagan]

I agree to an extent.

I think if they continue to respond, it's a mistake; however, initially, the response is okay. It draws attention to it, and it opens people's mind to look for these kinds of remarks from Obama. Let us not forget Obama whines continuously about biased coverage here or there, or being taken out of context. Now that he has essentially said it has been blown out of proportion - Obama’s words can haunt him when he criticizes/whines/cries/etc. about coverage, comments, associations.

I saw McCain's camp should drop this now that it has served it's purpose.

I haven't explained this adequately, it makes better sense in my head, but hopefully all you smart FReepers out there get my meaning. Of course, it's just my opinion and what do I know? :)

[rtsimon]

I completely agree. This is a mistake. Let sites like this this one and the media drive this story. There’s no need for the McCain camp to get involved. I can’t understand why they are. All it is doing is driving home the dems point that the Republicans play dirty and they don’t. Of course nothing could be further than the truth. Either way it put the McCain camp on defense when they have been on offense for the last few weeks. It gives Obama the upper hand and they are pouncing on it. Big mistake in my opinion but we shall see.

[jessduntno]

“Anyone agree? The ‘Pig’ comment seems small and trivial, so somebody calls you a pig? good grief, it’s politics. Stop wining, he knocked them off message and this is what it is all about. Ignore it.”

Who is knocked off message?? Hmmmmmmmpppph. Barry and his “wit” has become the news cycle, hasn’t it? Did he mean it? Yes. Does it define him? Yes. Is it worth fighting about? It is where I come from. And I doubt Barry would have said it to Todd Palin. He probably would have been given a black eye.

[metmom]

I think it is appropriate for McCain’s people to defend Palin. If it’s done right, it doesn’t come across as whiny, not as though McCain were complaining about it being done to himself.

However, they shouldn’t try to milk it too much. Make your statement and drop it.

[ishabibble]

Here’s a pretty good take on this:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/09102008/news/nationalnews/holy_sow__bams_lipstick_bungle_128304.htm

The comments really spell out what it meant to listeners.

[EagleUSA]

I don’t agree with you. Milk it.
::::::::::::
It has been far too long since we had ANYBODY in Washington that would stand up and bAtch-slap the filthy DemoRAT criminals....I am glad to see McCain/Palin, et al, stand up and kick the crap out of these maggots. Something the present adminstration was scared to do.

Kick Obama’s ass, every time he opens his anti-American, communist mouth!!!

[manc]

this comment show just how immature and unclassy the man is

he has been now racist, elitist, sexist

No Palin needs to respond to this in her usual humour, she has a way of doing it like no one else, look at her about the Greeks columns

Nope Palin could, and should respond to this with a joke and make Obama look even more like an idiot

[bahblahbah]

Indeed, I would have let it slide...

[Frank_Discussion]

Did you see Obama’s response? He showed NO CLASS, and the PUMAs are furious. He may have solidified his nutroots, but more people just walked away from him this morning.

I had the same concern as you, with hopes that Obama would respond with no apology. Graciously, he oblidged.

In fencing, you would say McCaine performed a counter-riposte. Those are always risky, but if executed well, your opponent skewers themselves. Less experienced fencers fall for that all the time... Thanks Big 0.

[RobRoy]

He’s forced Obama to hold a press conference to “explain himself”. This will be fun.

If obama tries to speak without a teleprompter, it will be a HOOT!

[rzn_republicans]

I agree with you. Yesterday afternoon when I saw this on Freerepublic, there was a thread with over 500 posts. I thought it was ridiculous that people were jumping all over this. Listen to his comments in context. I think it’s much to do about nothing, and if you fall victim to it you do look small and petty.

[Berlin_Freeper]

You have to stand up for your women or you have no honor worth mentioning.

The McCain camp did the right thing by forcing Obama to deny he called Palin a pig. Now he is insulting the intelligence of the people, not just Palin.

Obama won't see a lead in the polls again until he runs for reelection.

[Cinnamon Girl]

They should ignore it and move on. It is stupid to make this an issue.

[COUNTrecount]

George Allen introduces “Macaca”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r90z0PMnKwI

He never recovered.

[Fido969]

I'd begrudgingly accept his apology at this time because McCain “believes Obama to be an honest and honorable man.”

[manc]

agreed

we have been letting them attack us for far to long and we need now to stop it , go after them instead and let Palin make a joke of this but also put Obama down like she did with his community organizer or Greek columns

[rabidralph]

In hindsight, I do agree. Gov. Palin is nobody’s victim.

[sturmde]

Exactly, he’s already coming unhinged today.

Expect Øbama to soon yell out a window... “Enough already!! I can’t take it anymore!!”

Oh wait, he’s now quoted with the “Enough” remark.

Somebody needs to give 0bama a cigarette! Perhaps Senator McCain can wear a very smoky jacket to the first debate to bring some fumes in... might get Ø to snap.

(BTW, if you’re having fun with 0bama, try Øbama. Just hold the ALT key on your keyboard, type 0216 on your number keypad, and then release the ALT key. You’ll get the computer/old Euro-zero Ø. It’s also useful with Øprah. Kinda reminds you of a hammer and sickle, no?)

[MeanWestTexan]

They were a bit whinny. Democrats are the whiner party. Republicans are tough.

That said, keeping it alive in the news cycle is funny.

A tougher, and more substantive, response would be in order, not the “shocked.”

How about:

“For someone who allegedly supports women’s rights, Obama sure does have sexist knee-jerk tendancies. Not a good sign of what is really behind what is behind the celebrity facade of styrofoam columns.”

[Scutter]

I completely agree. I honestly think Obama might not have meant the comment the way it is being interpreted. I have used the expression “lipstick on a pig” before myself. If I use it now does that mean it is a slur against Gov Palin?

What I’d rather see us focusing our energy on is this attack machine that the Democrats and the media (I guess that’s redundant) have sent up to Alaska.

[thepatriot1]

I have to agree that this is overplaying our hand. If we had done nothing and just left it out there, the media would have picked it up anyway. No reason for us to call him on it and make it look like we playing the victim. Personally, I think he deliberately said it to elicit the exact response that it did. The McCain campaign took the bait. Lets see what happens.

[svcw]

Do not ignore the comment. Rub his stinking face in it.
The statement shows the dems for who they are. I would like to see a larger video of the crowd laughing and clapping over calling Palin a pig and JM an old stinking fish.
Barry is panicking over this, make him sweat a bit more.

[nikos1121]

No! Obama makes a sexist comment. It should NOT go unnoticed. If you listen to the line, he paused long enough to get the point across.

He’s a small man. He’s NOT ready for prime time...He needs to work in the Senate a few years...make some accomplishments then run again. He NOW NO WAY ready for the presidency.

[edpc]

I wouldn't dwell on it if I were them, but it's not a problem. See.....the thing is.....Obama goes out like he did today and says they use it as a distraction because they don't want to talk about issues. Obama says he wants to solve the problems, but gives absolutely no specifics on what he will do.

Everyone waiting for O's big payoff ends up with nothing and walks away saying, "Oh......that's.....all...?"

[Barb4Bush]

McCain can be outraged but Sarah herself has to laugh it off. Say something like “Oh please I have more important things to worry about than whether or not someone’s calling me names”. Barracudas shouldn’t whine and I really hope Sarah doesn’t.

[OB1kNOb]

McCain should drop the lipstick complaint when 0bama drops the complaint about conservatives attacking his muslim faith.

[Blue Turtle]

Phony outrage? Anyone remember the outrage towards Trent Lott...by a willing media?

[gridlock]

I think McCain/Palin are going to score the point, tie it to Obama’s continuing record of sexist outrages, and move on.

The point will not be lost on American women.

[Petronski]

It keeps him off balance and off message.

It keeps him on the defense for another news cycle.

[FReepaholic]

I tend to agree with what you said.

I think Sarah should make light of it at her next appearance: "Mr. Obama, did you call me a pig?".. and laugh.

And then drop it and move on.

[isthisnickcool]

Obama and Biden (The Duke Brothers)

The "lipstick" comments HAVE to be pointed out by the McCain-Palin Campaign. Why? Because Obama/Biden are calling this woman a pig. It is either that or Obama/Biden are too stupid to not have known about one of the biggest applause lines that Palin gave in her speech. Does anyone think they are that dumb? Of course not. And nothing comes out of Obama's mouth unless it is scripted.

Obama/Biden are like the Duke brothers who think they owned everything in the Eddie Murphy "Trading Places". They both think that they OWN the right to the presidency and the power that comes with it. Biden thinks so because he has hung around long enough to have "earned" it. I think Obama thinks he deserves the presidency simply because his skin is dark and he is smarter than everyone else in his own little mind.

No folks, this was an intentional move by the Obama/Biden campaign. A stupid one but as least the media is talking about Obama/Biden now. LOL!

McCain/Palin are cleaning the Obama/Biden clock!

[padre35]

Indeed, milk it, but it should be ended by Sarah Palin herself at a time of her/our benefit, not a second earlier.

This is red meat for Palin on a stump speech with the women coming from miles to see and hear her.

But I do think it should not be shopped out to surrogates anymore, Gov. Swift’s response was sufficient IMO.

[waxer1]

Not a major mistake, although I agree with Laura Ingraham that the matter should be dropped post haste. They need to keep focused and not let anything including Gov. Palin’s popularity overwelm this campaign.

I am thrilled with Gov. Palin bar none, but they need to really hammer on the issues and not let anything else distract them.

Obama’s camp is already imploding just let this matter go.

[Brookhaven]

I disagree 100%. McCain is taking the Democratic playbook and using it against them.

Democrats routinely take small, offhand remarks made by Republicans and blow them up into a major controversy. It is designined to throw the Republican off balance.

Meanwhile, Democrats know that since the press (and Republicans) don’t call them on their remarks, they can be as outrageous or subtle (as in the pig comment) as they want.

Calling Obama on this (even if it seems over the top to some) is going to throw the Obama campaign off balance and off their game plan. Now, instead of feeling safe and confident that they could use these types of sly, insidious remarks they are going to be thinking twice and acting tentative.

McCain is changing the playing field by saying he won’t allow the Obama campaign to have it both ways anymore.

It’s a good move.