Genie..I totally disagree with you. When I heard what he had said I went, oh no, he couldn't have. Nobody had to connect any dots for me. Now, again, I do not believe it was intentional. I do not think it was conscious. I believe he is a gentleman. But I do think it was shocking, seeing as she had just made the comment about the pit bull with lipstick. It was quite possibly a Freudian slip. It could have been a simple coincidence or gaffe. If she had not had the lipstick comment, and he had said the lipstick on the pig, not a big deal. To me, it instantly linked. It is not false outrage. It is real outrage to something that was not meant to be offensive. And it is not an expression I am familiar with..I have probably heard it in my lifetime, but it is not common to my experience. I thought it was something he had made up. So again, I do not think he meant any disrespect, but because of the timing, I think it was a big booboo on his part. I think he should just briefly have said I meant no offense, it is an expression I have used often (which I think he has now said) and others, including McCain have used it. I didn't connect it with Gov. Palin's joke, but I can see how others could have. And she shoudl have graciously said, no problem. I know you didn't mean to say it on purpose. mg