Lipstick on a fish

And the insult parade marches on.
So maybe he insulted her, and maybe he didn't. Maybe he was using metaphor to describe economic policy, and maybe he was throwing in an extra punch for good measure. It seems very possible to me that Obama was in no way attempting to insult Palin when he talked about "lipstick on a pig" and an "old fish." Are metaphors no longer safe? +1 point to Obama.
But the McCain camp saw an insult in the statement, and that is their prerogative. After all, half of the campaign seems to be made up of taking every opportunity to insult the other side. Defending against insults, both real and imaginary, is an every-day part of this process. (and I'm not going to pass judgment on whether this is real or imaginary).
What is worrisome to me, is the big hullabaloo Obama is making over having been "taken out of context." Doesn't he know that a major part of politics is having your statements taken out of context? Goodness, that's half the job description of being president! And all throughout this campaign, both sides have flung the insults equally. He is just as guilty as taking things out of context as anyone else. It seems to me that he is playing the victim card a little bit, and that does not impress me as appropriate presidential behavior. If he is going to be president, he needs to lose the need to turn around and defend himself against every accusation and insult. -1 point to Obama.