Obama Jokes About "Lipstick on a Pig" Remark on Letterman

Us Magazine - September 11, 2008 12:59 PM PDT
Story photo: Obama Jokes About Us Magazine
Barack Obama made light of his "lipstick on a pig" remark on Wednesday's Late Show With David Letterman, calling the hype part of the silly season in politics.

Its a common expression -- at least in Illinois, Obama said of the remark. I dont know about New York City, I dont know what you guys put lipstick on here.

But in Illinois, the expression connotes the idea that if you have a bad idea, in this case I was talking about John McCains economic plans, that just calling them change, calling it something different, doesnt make it better, hence, lipstick on a pig is still a pig.

McCain's camp had accused Obama of making a sexist stab at Gov. Sarah Palin when he said at a campaign stop earlier this week: "You can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig." (Palin famously referred to herself as a pit bull in lipstick during her GOP convention speech.)

But Obama told Letterman, "had I meant it this way, she would be the lipstick. The policies of John McCain would be the pig."

(Asked if he has ever put lipstick on a pig, Obama joked, "The answer would be no. But I think it might be fun to try.")

Check out Barack Obama's "Just Like Us" photo gallery.

Obama praised Palin as a "skilled politician" and said his team knew little about her when she was chosen as McCain's running mate.

"There's no doubt that she has been a phenomenon," he admitted.

See photos of Sarah Palin's family on the campaign trail.

"I mean, as somebody who used to be on the cover of Time and Newsweek -- those were the days -- I had a recent offer with Popular Mechanics: centerfold with a wrench," Obama joked. "Look, she's on a wild ride and there's no doubt that she has energized the base."

More news from Usmagazine.com

comments

comments

comments 1-10 of 77  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • tikiman
    When Jim Bakker got caught banging his secretary he lost his empire and went to jail. But, Rev. Wright can bang his secretary and get a standing ovation from his congregation. What planet on we on ?anymore?
    report abuseposted September 18, 2008 6:30 AM PDT
  • tikiman
    Sounds to me like OBAMA is a white woman hater. Muslims think pigs are unfit to eat. Vote for Obama is a vote for bigotry. Rev. Wright would be proud of him.
    report abuseposted September 18, 2008 6:27 AM PDT
  • FREEMIND
    Both parties does dirty politics. The campaign is full of racism. A certain candidate should stop now, threaths are coming frequently, the Ks has smeared his billboard and is sending letters.
    report abuseposted September 17, 2008 8:33 PM PDT
  • Lady D
    McCain has been in Washington for years, what will be the change.. the middle class not eating rather than barely eating, huh...???
    report abuseposted September 16, 2008 11:21 PM PDT
  • Lady D
    Lauren B.. still cueless huh!! not of muslim decent, but what if he was, are you racist, biased... ?????
    report abuseposted September 16, 2008 11:19 PM PDT
  • SICOFIT
    GregoryA you speak half truths, the cop you talk about was on Larry King and admitted to tasering his 11 year old son and drinking in the cop car and stalking his wife maybe you think he should be a cop but america does not. He should have been fired by his boss the same person who is starting this crap, Sara will notbe charged cause if she did do it then it was the right thing to do -- get real
    report abuseposted September 15, 2008 12:47 AM PDT
  • SICOFIT
    A phemon calling a phenom a phemon well I guess he is scared to death of someone more qualified than him and he should be. His Robin Hood platform is socialist and not what america says in the constitution Take from the rich give to the poor just trying to speak to his base of welfare people and Bush haters He never served in the military just like Slick Willie Clinton who let Osama get away 2x
    report abuseposted September 15, 2008 12:42 AM PDT
  • Pamela G
    gregory, if you read up on the things wooten has done, you'll see that he deserved to be fired. palin asked monegan to fire him but he refused, so, palin fired monegan for disobeying an order. i think this is much ado about nothing and i will bet she'll be cleared of any wrongdoing.
    report abuseposted September 13, 2008 9:44 AM PDT
  • Gregory A
    Palin is currently under investigation for wrongly firing her ex-brother-in-law. He was an advocate for women's rights, especially women who were abused and had been in domestic violence situations. After he was fired, the people in Alaska said that Palin did not show any sympathy for their situation. That will come up time and time again. Right now the McCain camp is trying to get the
    report abuseposted September 12, 2008 10:09 PM PDT
  • Joy B
    Obama keeps saying he is better than McCain then why is he repeating McCains words????
    report abuseposted September 12, 2008 4:37 PM PDT
comments 1-10 of 77  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

Post A Comment

sign in to post a comment.

sign in

Help us to improve! - Send Your Suggestions