The Voice of Class

Barack Obama’s mouth is like Pandora’s box. A helpful aide should glue it shut, while there is still someone Obama hasn’t offended.

Yesterday, we learned that Obama used the old “lipstick on a pig” joke, which appeared to be a reference to Sarah Palin, who made a famous and very recent joke in which she said lipstick was the only difference between pit bulls and she and her fellow “hockey moms.” He compounded the error by making an ill-advised reference to a smelly piece of fish.

Today, Obama gave us his official response. And it was a beauty. He said–smirking–that this was a “made-up controversy” of the type of which the public was tired. There was no apology. There was no acknowledgment that anyone could have taken legitimate offense.

He made his remarks at a high school. How appropriate.

There is about a two percent chance his pig remark was not aimed at Palin, so he could be excused if he claimed he wasn’t referring to her. But a mature man would have apologized, anyway. He should have said, “I can see how people would misunderstand. I am sorry if it appeared that I was insulting Governor Palin, and I did not mean it that way.” Instead, we saw the now-familiar, highly insensitive face of the Chosen One, dismissively chiding blasphemers and implying that those who claim they were offended are lying. And he ignored the PUMAs, who have nothing to do with the McCain campaign, and who are more angry than anyone.

Before the PUMAs arrived on the scene, I did not realize how badly Obama’s arrogance and contempt offend people. Since they started creating blogs and message boards, my eyes have been opened. They complain about sexism, disrespect, and bullying. They see Obama as a spoiled child who becomes indignant when criticized, and who feels entitled to a cushy ride into the White House, as if it were somehow his birthright. The more I read and the more I watch, the more I see what they’re talking about.

Here are two examples of what they perceive as crass Obama behavior.

At a rally in Iowa, Obama’s people played a rap song as background music. The refrain? “99 Problems but a bitch ain’t one.” Look it up. I’m not joking. Using rap music, in and of itself, is evidence that contempt for women doesn’t bother you. Rap’s history of vile sexism is indisputable. Using that song at a rally, while you’re trying to beat a powerful female opponent, is just plain over the top. And a song that crude and antisocial is inappropriate at a rally, no matter what the circumstances are.

We know campaigns fret a great deal about the music they use. They choose it with care, they think about the message, and they worry about how the public will take it. They even pay for rights. Right now, the McCain campaign is involved in a kerfuffle with 80s band Heart, because the campaign bought the right to use “Barracuda” to promote Sarah Palin. Obama’s people can claim they didn’t think about the rap lyrics, or that they didn’t know the song would be played, but the obvious and reasonable presumption is that they reviewed it and approved of it. Did Obama apologize? I see no record of it.

In April, in Raleigh, North Carolina, a bruised and petulant Barack Obama discussed the spanking Hillary Clinton had given him at a televised debate. While making childish remarks, he raised his right hand to his cheek, pulled back his index and ring fingers, and brushed his cheek beneath his right eye. Any high school student can tell you what this means. It’s a way to give someone the finger, while pretending not to. It’s an ancient and widely used insult. Every teacher has seen it a thousand times. You can see it in the movie “Aliens.” The character Sergeant Apone uses it in response to a stupid question from a private.

Now, maybe Obama’s cheek itched. Maybe the supporters, who sat behind him on the stage and broke up with laughter as he made the gesture, were laughing about something else. But the L.A. Times–not known for its hostility to Obama–thought there was enough doubt to justify running an item on one of its blogs. And again, if there was an apology, it’s not very obvious in Google searches.

This is the guy who thinks diplomacy is his great strength. He’s going to sweet-talk our enemies until they make peace with us. If he can’t be tactful and respectful in a political campaign, how are we supposed to believe he can charm the Iranians and North Koreans? So far, his efforts at charm have been limited to convincing slum dwellers that the government owes them more stuff. That’s not a job that requires a Clarence Darrow.

I won’t complain. Every time he stiffens his neck and refuses to be gracious, he moves votes into the McCain column.

Sun Tzu said, “If your opponent is quick to anger, seek to irritate him.” Maybe that’s the recipe for a McCain win. Call Obama on his disdain and narcissism, and wait for him to respond like an angry adolescent. He simply can’t take the heat. He treats criticism aimed at him the way jihadis treat criticism of Mohammed; it’s as if you’re criticizing someone he worships. Remember how upset he got when Maureen Dowd talked about his ears? If George Bush (or any other prominent Republican politician) were that sensitive, he would have killed himself by now. He makes John McCain seem almost serene, and that’s saying something.

It’s no wonder the PUMAs call Obama “the Precious.”

Maybe we should start calling him “Radar,” “Dumbo,” and “Jughead,” just to see if he throws a fit.

I’m glad Obama is working so hard to help us win. I don’t think we could pull it off without him.