In the political dustup dubbed “The Boar War” by the New York Post, Republicans accuse Barack Obama of calling Sarah Palin a pig. In Lebanon, Virginia, he attacked  GOP promises of reform by using the old phrase: “You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.” The audience whooped and hollered, delighted by the apparent reference to Palin’s famous quip at the Republican convention citing “lipstick” as the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom. Obama’s visible hesitation before delivering the phrase suggests he knew he might get into trouble for it. Moreover, his refusal to apologize, and insistence on attacking Republicans for daring to object to his words, keeps the issue alive. When John Kerry joked about those with poor educations “getting stuck in Iraq,” he responded to immediate criticism by angrily denouncing his critics, rather than apologizing—giving the issue added resonance and ruining his presidential prospects. Similarly, Obama’s determination to fight over this issue is the self-destructive mistake of an increasingly insecure candidate.