“I think they put some lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.” — John McCain last year, talking about Hillary Clinton’s health care plan.
“You can put lipstick on a pig. It’s still a pig.” — Barack Obama on Tuesday, criticizing McCain’s stated commitment to change.
“Sen. Obama uttered what I can only describe to be disgusting comments, comparing our vice presidential nominee, Sarah Palin, to a pig.” — Former Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift, who is leading the McCain camp’s new “Palin Truth Squad” (Palin joked last week that the only difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is lipstick).
Columnist Cal Thomas took John McCain to task for saying during his convention speech that he would “reach across the aisle” to Democrats. “Why aren’t conservatives arguing in favor of the superiority of their ideas rather than attempting to win ‘Miss Congeniality’ awards from liberals?” Thomas wrote. He argued that instead of compromising, the GOP should try to peel off conservative Democrats on issues such as defense and terrorism, immigration, education, health insurance, energy independence, and Social Security and Medicare reform.
At a panel discussion at the University of Kansas’ School of Journalism, Democratic media adviser Raymond Strother said that race could be a larger factor than people think in the presidential election. He said past elections show that voters are influenced by race more than they are willing to admit.
But political pundit Walter Shapiro of Salon.com said that youth turnout, which Barack Obama tapped in the primaries, could play the crucial role.
“Every day an Archie Bunker is leaving the planet and a new 18-year-old, who grew up in an America that preached the virtues of tolerance and is surrounded by tolerance, is able to vote,” he said.
Though it’s early yet, the Politico Web site has rounded up the eight worst gaffes of the campaign so far: 1) Barack Obama’s “bitter” comment about people who “cling to guns or religion.” 2) John McCain’s inability to say how many homes he owns. 3) Obama offering a “special shout-out to my pastor (now former, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright). The guy who puts up with me, counsels me.” 4) McCain saying “the issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.” 5) Obama saying in a primary debate, “You’re likable enough, Hillary.” 6) McCain’s comment that staying in Iraq for 50 or 100 years would be “fine with me . . . as long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed.” 7) Obama saying, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” 8) McCain admitting that he’s computer “illiterate.”
Our Tuesday editorial argued that Wichita needs ordinance changes and stepped-up enforcement to crack down on rogue nightclubs. But as the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission considers Thursday whether to approve a proposed country music dance hall and tavern at Towne West Square, it needs to consider business rights, neighborhood concerns and another thing — that Wichita needs more nightlife, not less, if it expects to attract and keep young people.
“I think they put some lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.” — John McCain last year, talking about Hillary Clinton’s health care plan.
