Lipstick on a pig
"Putting lipstick on a pig" is a slang rhetorical expression, used to convey the message that making superficial or cosmetic changes is a futile attempt to disguise the true nature of a product[1]; for instance, Chris Pirillo has used the phrase to describe Windows Vista[2].
Books
In 2006, Victoria Clarke, who was Assistant Secretary of Defence for Public Affairs under Donald Rumsfeld and press secretary to John McCain, published a book about spin in politics. She titled the book Lipstick on a Pig: Winning In the No-Spin Era by Someone Who Knows the Game [3]
Politics
2004 U.S. Presidential campaign
In 2004, the phrase was used by United States Vice President Dick Cheney, referring to the policies of Democratic Presidential nominee John Kerry.[4]; Cheney has referred to the phrase as his "favorite line"[5]. Similarly, Lynne Cheney has used the expression, referring to it as a common saying from Wyoming.[6]
2007
In 2007, the phrase was used by Senator Barack Obama referring to George Bush's Iraq policy: "I think that both General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker are capable people who have been given an impossible assignment ... 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."[7]
2008 U.S. Presidential campaign
On October 11, 2007, while campaigning in Iowa, Republican presidential candidate John McCain criticized Hillary Clinton's proposed health plan, saying "I think they put some lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig" to imply that there is little difference between her current plan and the plan she proposed in 1993.[8]
On September 9, 2008, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama used the phrase to attack John McCain's message of change. "You can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig. You can wrap up an old fish in a piece of paper and call it change. It's still going to stink after eight years. We've had enough." Obama's use of the phrase was criticised as sexist and demeaning by Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who accused him of referring disparagingly to Republican Vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Obama responded by saying his remark was an "innocent expression".[9]
references
- ^ Using English.com
- ^ Windows Vista: Lipstick on a Pig
- ^ Lipstick on a Pig: Winning In the No-Spin Era by Someone Who Knows the Game (2006, ISBN 0-7432-7116-5)
- ^ Turns out Dick Cheney knows about "lipstick on a pig" too Dallas Morning News Wed, Sep 10, 2008 [1]
- ^ http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/11/20041101-12.html Vice President's Remarks in Colorado Springs, Colorado
- ^ Remarks of Mrs. Cheney and the Vice President Following a Debate Watching Party White House Press release October 13, 2004 [2]
- ^ Eugene Robinson, Patchwork in Progress?, Washingtonpost.com September 14, 2007 [3]
- ^ "McCain rolls out health plan and a few punches".
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|publication=ignored (help) - ^ "Obama rejects 'lipstick' charge". BBC. September 10, 2008.
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