Did Obama call Palin a "pig" McCain "stinky old"?

graphic H/T

One myth about Dubya is that he waved “hello” to Stevie Wonder. Doesn’t matter whether it’s true or not – it’s part of the narrative, now – but here is video of Joe Biden saying to a State Senator in a wheelchair: “stand up Chuck, let ’em see ya.”

Hey, that’s an innocent mistake, and the senator, Chuck Graham, was cool about it and Biden appropriately apologetic and decent about it. Also, you sort of have to love Biden a little for it – I do, anyway. I mean, it’s not like 2004, when John Edwards told the world that if he and Kerry were elected, the lame would get out of their wheelchairs and walk.

Yes, Biden should get a pass on it. Yes, I know the Dems and the left would never be as generous if Dubya or McCain or Palin made the same mistake. We’ll be generous, anyway. 9:32PM

If only some on the left could be even remotely generous to John McCain or Gov. Palin: This creature cannot even acknowledge what McCain went through in Vietnam, which speaks of gross insecurity. It also makes this woman seem like a bit of a human grotesque.

Okay, Did Obama call Gov. Palin a “pig”?

Surber:

Remember how Republican Sen. John McCain dumped that Cincinnati radio dude for using the middle name of Democratic Sen. Barack Obama?

Here’s how Obama repaid that courtesy:

“You can put lipstick on a pig,” he said as the crowd cheered. “It’s still a pig.”

Whew…did he? Did he not? It’s a near thing.

The Obama camp is saying that McCain used the same phrase about Hillary’s policy. But since Hillary had not – less than a week earlier – called herself a “putbull with lipstick,” it may be fair to suggest that McCain was simply “using an old cliche,” and Obama was engaging in some sly, but misguided humor. Given Palin’s self-reference, it would have been sly, but it may have been a syllable too far for any man to travel. From the video, I think Obama’s crowd took it as a slam at Palin. What do you think? Take the poll below! 9:04 PM (h/t Larwyn)

Either way, it was unwise. So is some of this.

K-Lo at the Corner: The question: “Should we be wasting our time wondering if Obama was calling Palin a pig?”

Perhaps if it would provide an instructive mirror. We won’t get mad if you use “lipstick on a pig” in reference to our team if you don’t go bananas if we use “pot calling the kettle black” or any of another possibilities that the hypersensitive would scream about.

Hmmmm…I think it’s unlikely. Everyone enjoys the screams too much, lately. I say laugh at them. Jonah Goldberg does, too.

WAIT! Victor Davis Hanson wonders if McCain was meant to be the “stinky old fish…”. Hmmmm…considering that, I am more inclined to think the “lipstick on a pig” remark, and the “old fish” references were planned. Once is a slip. Twice? Now, that sounds calculated. Let’s take another poll:

See Allah for an update. The Obama Camp is sounding frazzled. Either they’re sincere, or they’re upset about being caught and called out for playing the very game they are denouncing. Notes Allahpundit:

Here’s a story of McCain using it last year. Hillary, of course, hadn’t made any lipstick references to herself before then so there was no context for McCain to play off of. (emphasis mine – admin)

Yes. That is the material point. All in all, not a good day for the Obama Camp. So many gaffes, I haven’t even had time for the Biden/Stem Cell one.

Also, I’m sorry, I just have to say it: IMHO, off-teleprompter, Sen. Obama is no more articulate or smooth than George W. Bush. He stumbles and pauses and ah’s and urms. All he’s missing is the Bushian stammer. I find Obama just as painful to listen to – off script, at least – as Bush. 9:21 PM

Instapundit has an exhaustive, don’t-miss, round-up

G M Roper says Send Lipstick to Obama!. I was going to suggest sending “kisses” to McCain/Palin by writing a check and planting a lipstick kiss on it!

Also writing:
Amused Cynic
Shrinkwrapped writes about where IQ fits into all of this.
Ace: Implies Obama does not respect most women: Sweetie, make me a sammitch!
Yuval Levin: Don’t get too upset; let them melt down.
Hugh Hewitt: It’s a smear! I remember Obama’s raised middle finger, too.