So now the McCain camp has created/released an ad in which it accuses Obama of sexism, directly stating that Obama called Palin a "pig."
Video here.
Obama surrogates are out in force today, suggesting that this will blow over, nobody cares, he wasn't talking about Palin, it was all a misunderstanding, etc. Wishful thinking. The McCain camp is going to keep hammering this, regardless of whether or not there is any validity to their charges (which there aren't, obviously). But they're going to push you around, Obama, simply because they can. Because you don't push back.
So it's time to sac up. Time to hit back on this nonsense, hard. This is a perfect opportunity for you to show a little faux-outrage of your own, and pick a fight to your advantage. Most people are sick of this nonsense, this tit-for-tat outrage du jour, wedge issues, taking things out of context. So get angry. Call the McCain camp. And most importantly, repeat what you said about a pig and lipstick. Repeat it over and over. John McCain equals more Bush. Say it until it sticks.
The Republicans are pushing you around, and you look weak. It's more important to look strong, passionate, and fired up than it is to apologize, move on, and hope this becomes about "the issues." It goes back to Josh Marshall's theory of bitchslap politics. They've slapped you, and now you've got to slap them back.
Call a press conference. Comment on this advertisement. Say how offended you are. Talk about how it disgusts you. Talk about how every concocted distraction like this infuriates you because it diverts the nation's attention away from real issues. Call the McCain camp liars. And most importantly, say, "When I said that you can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig, I was talking about John McCain and the failed policies of George Bush. Everyone knows what I was talking about. They don't want you to know that John McCain voted with the president 90% of the time. So let me say it again, John - you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. John McCain is not about change. He's promising more of the same."
Own the phrase. Own it. I know it's a old colloquialism, but make it yours. Don't let up on this. They're just pushing you around, you've got to push back.