Lipstick Meme

Perhaps we're all already sick of this story, considering it happened soooo long ago on Tuesday(which alone indicates the role of media in our lives). But what amazes me is the unbelievably rapid retaliation and sequence of events following the last breath after Obama's uttering "lipstick on a pig." As soon as the words escaped his mouth, they were on the title of every political blog and news story on the Internet and by the next day made every newspaper. That kind of publicity can't be bought (well maybe it can) and so the McCain team swam with the momentum of slander and built the comment up as sexism, degradation and disgust.

They even posted a video illustrating Barack Obama as a sexist, chauvinistic "pig." However, before I had a chance to view this clever and righteous web ad, it was removed from YouTube and replaced with the message, "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by CBS Interactive." Darn. But luckily, the John McCain website posted the dialogue of their ad just for people like me. After reading, I have only two words: short and silly.

It's astounding that so many more important issues are being discussed every day by these candidates, yet lipstick is the headline of all the news stories. And really, it wasn't a big deal when McCain used the phrase in reference to Clinton's healthcare plan or Obama's economic plan all in the same election (and posted on his official webpage).

The cartoon below was taken from an LA Times article illustrating the commonality of the term and, at the same time, the frivolity of our political candidates.

An interesting question remains, however: Would the Republican campaign for President have amplified this harmless comment if the media hadn't first latched on? And is it even possible for the media to resist such alliteration as Palin, pit bull, President, pig?

(please note: I do not support the degradation of women, pigs or pit bulls; I happen to be one...a woman, that is...and have kept the others as pets, and I think both my pig and pit bull would be intimidated by Sarah Palin, with or without lipstick)