McCain Runs Web Ad About Obama's "Lipstick On A Pig" Comment

September 10, 2008 10:01 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - In what may be one of the clearest demonstration of how Democratic dilemma over how to attack the first woman Republican vice presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) is fighting off allegations that he referred to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a "pig" while criticizing her change platform.

During a campaign event on Tuesday in Virginia, Obama said, "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.'"

He added, "That's not change. That's just calling something the same thing something different. You know you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. You know you can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change, it's still going to stink after eight years. We've had enough of the same old thing."

The campaign of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has said Obama's remark was a clear reference to Palin and required an apology. The 44-year old mother of five had said during her convention address last week, "You know the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick."

Former Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift, head of the Palin Truth Squad created the same day, said during a conference call Obama's remark was "disgraceful." "It's clear to me-- as I'm sure it will be to fair-minded Republicans, Democrats and independents across the country-- that Senator Obama owes Governor Palin an apology," she said.

McCain has made a web ad out of the issue. He released a 35-second ad on Wednesday showing Palin making her famous "pit bull-lipstick" remark, saying of Obama, "Ready To Lead? No Ready To Smear? Yes."

Some pundits have said Obama was not referring to Palin and had simply used a common phrase. The Atlantic's Mark Ambinder quotes Obama saying in a 2007 Washington Post interview, "George Bush has given a mission to General Petraeus, and he has done his best to try to figure out how to put lipstick on a pig." Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said on FOX, "It's an old expression, and I'm going to have to cut Obama some slack on that one."

The Obama campaign has cited McCain using the phrase himself to criticize Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) healthcare plan. "I think they put some lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig," McCain is quoted by the Chicago Tribune as saying last year.

Obama campaign senior advisor Anita Dunn lashed out at McCain, saying the Arizona senator's "pathetic attempt to play the gender card about the use of a common analogy" and "phony lecture on gender sensitivity" proved that he had chosen to run a "dishonorable campaign.