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Read my lips — I won’t leave home without it!

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The latest buzz is all about lipstick — not which lipstick has the best longevity, shine or appeal —  but how lipstick looks on, particularly, some animals.                                Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin stated that the difference between herself — a hockey mom — and a pit bull is ... lipstick. Since then, “lipstick on a pig” statements by presidential nominees Barack Obama (D) and John McCain (R)have been made  for the purpose of illustrating current policy positions that are really no different than the previous policies.

Some have said they’re insulted and that these remarks are clearly sexist. Well,  I only know of one that would be truly insulted, but certainly flattered,  by the attention  — Miss Piggy.  I rather believe lipstick looks great on Miss Piggy but certainly not on Chesty, the English Bull Dog mascot for the U.S. Marine Corp.! 

If you’re going to make an analogy of how lipstick looks on an animal, you really need to consider our cultural icons first. Chesty — or any other dog, for that matter — would not be caught dead wearing lipstick. But Miss Piggy must certainly have a contract with Revlon to promote their latest line.

Why would you even use that analogy? It sounds “high schoolish” and demeaning, no matter which animal you use. But, the use of lipstick is the perfect analogy when you look at politics. Politics seeks to cover truths and that is exactly what lipstick does — covers up the imperfections but accentuates other brilliancies. 

Since Cleopatra in the year 60 B.C., women have applied lipstick.  Many mujeres, if not most, do not leave home without lipstick on their lips — and for some, lipstick is all the cosmetics they apply.

Lipstick hasn’t always been popular. In 1770, the British Parliament passed a law where you could be tried for witchcraft if you wore lipstick. In the 1800s, wearing red lipstick meant you were “fast.” All of that changed during the suffrage movement of the 1920s when women wore red lipstick as a symbol of their newfound power. 

Today, there are too many colors to choose from. For me, the natural colors suit me just fine, which leads to the question du jour: What’s the difference between a Latina and a politician? A Latina lets her passion persuade, not her lipstick!

So, for those caught up in the spin du jour, I say, “Put lipstick on a male politician and see if their passion changes!”

That would be the true sign of change, verdad?