Obama’s Fish Comment More Sexist Than Lipstick on a Pig
By Hillary Taft - Tuesday, September 9th, 2008
Obama has really put his foot in his mouth this time. Today he was quoted as saying:
“You can put lipstick on a pig,” he said as the crowd cheered. “It’s still a pig.”
“You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change. It’s still gonna stink.”
A lot of women were rightfully offended by the “lipstick on a pig” remark. However, I was even more offended by the “old fish” comment. “Old fish” is most certainly a back-handed reference to Palin’s private parts. The term “fish” is slang used to reference female private parts that have that specific female smell, only ripened. And that, to me, has truly crossed a line in a presidential election.
For more slang definitions of fish, check out the Urban Dictionary. In particular, check out the following entry (warning: the language is crude):
Good job, Obama, for being so tasteless and misogynistic.
NOTE: A few have commented here that perhaps Obama simply meant McCain when he said “old fish.” Well, of course, on the surface, that’s what he was saying to Middle America. But to those of us young enough and in urban areas, we know exactly what he meant when he said “old fish” – especially when he said it right after “pig in lipstick” in reference to Palin. I’m sure Obama was aware of the double entendre, and sniggering like a schoolboy to himself when he came up with it. Sickening.
September 9th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
“The scent of females who wash their vagina’s infrequently.
Man your grandma reaks like the fish.”
How presidential!
ACK!
September 9th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
omfg. ok, lipstick on a pig does make me think of the whole lipstick and pitbull reference, but only a 13-year old boy would make the correlation between old fish and female genitalia! (nobody even uses that slang anymore, btw, it’s like so 10 years ago. but way to be “hip” by referencing urban dictionary)… .
Whatever your politics though, you shouldn’t embarass yourself by referencing outdated slang for vagina. It’s crude and tacky.
September 9th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
I think the fish comment was directed at McCain rather than Palin.
I have to admit I’m cracking up a little. It’s an awful thing to say and I can’t wait to see how much it backfires.
September 9th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
first of all, i was in a rock band in hollywood california and most of the guys DID in fact and DO in fact STILL use the term “fish” to reference to female genitalia. these guys were in their 20’s so i don’t think the fish reference is out of date.
OBAMA: PUT A FORK IN HIM, HE’S DONE.
he was DONE the day he showed lack of judgement for not even picking hillary as his running mate
September 9th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
He seems to be grasping at straws with the silly, childish name calling but notice how he and his followers (disciples?) NEVER get reamed for being so sexist and ageist. Whats with the halo effect? I wonder though, if he meant the old fish is McCain and paper is Palin… The whole thing is so childish. Do we really want THAT kind of man running (ruining) our country?
Have you noticed lately that his unscripted speeches are ineloquent? “Uh, er…lemme just… uh, w-w-wait….McCain is dumb” Well, Mr. Obama, stumble on this: A bumbling idiot can speak about change but he is still a bumbling idiot.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Obama was trained as a lawyer. He is, or should be, acutely aware of the various nuances of his words and how they are likely to be taken by his audience.
The point is, he can’t have been unaware that some listeners would interpret “pig” as Palin and “fish” as a genital reference. Yet he went ahead and used those metaphors. He’s responsible for the effect they created.
September 11th, 2008 at 5:53 am
Obama is saying both and means McCain is “one” who picked “one” Palin.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Am I the only person that noticed that the fish comment was directed to Palin because her nickname is Sarah Barracuda? Seems like Obama is rattled and is now resorting to petty name calling. He could have used many other phrases that didn’t have certain key words that refer to Palin.
October 13th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
[...] here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. I also found bloggers (see Big Dog, Hillary or Bust, American Digest, and Fausta) who came to conclusions that are similar to the one I came to: Obama [...]