The latest controversy concerns a remark that Obama made about lipstick and pigs. The republicans are of course feigning indignancy and claiming the comment was a slap at Sarah Palin - due both to her sex and her own self depreciating humor about Hockey moms. If one squints hard enough, they can actually see the republicans point.
But I dont think Obama even thought of the reference to Palin. And that is what concerns me more. "Lipstick on a pig" is an old, country cliche. I have heard it before (and the one about a silk purse and sows ear). But there are times that you do not use certain phrases (see article about an arrest of a politician for making a comment about a young girl) as the timing is not right, and the circumstances do lead to a mis-interpretation. Experience then comes into play and warns the speaker about making such comments as most assuredly they will be taken out of context.
And Obama just does not know the difference. That is not to say he never will. With time, and more experience he will gain the wisdom of knowing when to shut up, and when "inserting foot into mouth" is a real danger. This incident will blow away - hopefully not as painfully as the monkeys in the tree comment that got his own staffer fired. But what about when he is meeting with the president of Russie, or Premier of China? Making a stupid joke that will cause already strained relations to become more tenuos will not help this nation - or for the more etheral citizens - world peace. And Obama just does not know when to shut his mouth yet.
He is a great reader of speeches, but his "err-um-ah-oh-mm-eh" off the cuff speaking leaves a lot to be desired. He may get better in time on that, but he sure needs to get better at knowing when to say and when not to say things before he is ready to be leader of the free world.
On the job training is great. But not when you are starting from scratch.