“...and it annoys the pig”

[ewx]

So Barack Obama may or may not have allusively compared her to a pig in lipstick, depending whether you ask Democrats or Republicans and Telegraph hacks. I'm having trouble finding a transcript, and in a triumph of journalistic integrity the BBC weren't showing the context last night, so I can't easily say which side is talking rot. Although western politicians do usually make their attacks on opponents a bit more sophtiscated than mere abuse (consider how unusual Major's famous “bastards” remark was).

Not so long ago however, and providing the basis for the claim of a slur, Sarah Palin compared herself to a pit bull terrier in lipstick (an equally bizarre image if taken literally). But frankly I think Obama's supposed comparison is the more flattering one; pit bulls have a reputation for savaging small children, and while pigs can certainly be dangerous they're not what springs to mind when you talk about dangerous animals. So what's the fuss about? l-)

[Poll #1257776]

Comments

[keirf.livejournal.com]

When book reviewers write something like "Stephen Donaldson is comparable to Tolkein at his best" do you think they mean "Stephen Donaldson at his best is comparable to Tolkien" or not?

[simont]

And even then, "comparable to" leaves a lot of wiggle-room to say that the comparison in question would have been "isn't anything like as good as".

[ewx.livejournal.com]

Surely it's perfectly clear that that's not what "comparable" means in that context.

[simont]

Only in cases where it's perfectly clear that the person saying it isn't a smartarse.

[k425.livejournal.com]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/11/uselections2008.barackobama

gives the actual quote and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7608653.stm is a recording of it.

[stephdairy.livejournal.com]

And http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR8IhMMhe8w has McCain saying the same thing...

(S)

[beckyc.livejournal.com]

Depends on the context, really. In terms of fighting skills or spoiling for a fight*, the more dangerous animal is probably the more flattering, even if there might be "fighting dirty" implications.

*Arguably, they are fighting, even if it isn't fisticuffs.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think in context, the associations for "pit-bull" would be more "tenacious" than vicious?

[burkesworks.livejournal.com]

Pit bulls don't write unreadable hobbity nonsense.

[baljemmett.livejournal.com]

See, problem with being a pig is that you're probably going to get et at some point. At least a pit bull gets to do some savagin' before being introduced to Happy Mr. Shotgun; after the morning I've had, I'm in the mood to savage something!

[ptc24.livejournal.com]

*Sigh*. Using the phrase "in lipstick" in a derogatory context when S.P. is on-topic is a bit like using the word "crusade" when Muslims are on-topic: every reasonable person knows what's meant, no need to make a fuss, but how many people are reasonable these days?

It is not enough to strive for clarity; you must actively think about how you will be deliberately and maliciously misunderstood, and pre-empt that. This applies right across the board, from politics to scientific papers. And unfortunately, we need leaders who are good at playing (the avoiding being misunderstood side of) that stupid game. *Sigh*.

[ewx.livejournal.com]

If the context given in Linz's URL is accurate [no facility for playing videos here] then I don't think SP was in play at that point.

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

However, when playing dirty (and US politics are pretty dirty), the ability to gratuitously misunderstand and misquote what your opponent has said is a valuable tactic.

[nevboo.livejournal.com]

I was most amused today when the BBC forgot to bias its watchers as it meant to by failing to appropriate cut the news reel. They said of McCain's speech that he suggested Hilary was better suited than Obama, however they let the speech run long enough for him to say something along the lines of instead of me, making it clear he was suggesting Hilary for vice president not instead of Obama at all!

[pjc50.livejournal.com]

The ingroup accepts slur-like comments from one of its own, or someone about themselves, whereas from the outgroup it is a terrible insult.

Besides, the entire republican campaign is based on this sort of thing.

[ksta.livejournal.com]

An american told me yesterday that apparently the pig thing is a common phrase tossed about the government frequently.

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

I like pigs.

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

A dog looks up to you, a cat looks down on you, but a pig looks you square in the face and sees an equal.

[pizza.maircrosoft.com (from livejournal.com)]

I read an impassioned LJ entry about how fluffy pit bulls are recently, so I'm now convinced they are fluffy.

[pizza.maircrosoft.com (from livejournal.com)]

(also, surprised more people haven't taken the opportunity to just tick the lot)

[(Anonymous)]

I thought he was just comparing a pig with lipstick to a pig without?

Apparently he's used the phrase on at least two other occasions during the campaign before Mrs Palin was selected.

To make a big thing of one phrase issued during a single speech which may or may not mean something is absolute nonsense. Sure, if Mr Obama kept using it or put out adverts with it, then they might have a point.

The Republican tactics at the moment seem to be playing the man rather than the ball, or at least they would be if they played decent ball games over there. Maybe that's the American way - cf. American football?

[imc.livejournal.com]

I am after all named after the Tolkien Society's publicity officer.