Say What?

Did Obama just claim that the McCain campaign is putting lipstick on a pig? I think he did! "You can put lipstick on a pig," he said to an outbreak of laughter, shouts and raucous applause from his audience, clearly drawing a connection to Palin's joke even if it's not what Obama meant. "It's still a pig."

Yes, of course it's an old expression and might have just mindlessly been inserted into the speech. But the reference is so obvious it's a little hard to believe the double (triple?) entendre was not considered.

And that's fine with me - really, what's wrong with Obama interjecting a little ad feminem spice into his campaign. I wouldn't care if he called her a "moose-gutting ho'", quite frankly. What interests me is why - why do something so unartful?

I think it means that the Obama camp has pretty much given up its lofty 'unification' goal, and is now girding for a protracted base-war. Note how the crowd didn't share the campaign's alleged naivete - they got it right away and loved it. I'm pretty sure they'd love the moose-gutting ho' crack as well. But it's not going to do much beyond the base.

Obama might have a more motivated base to begin with than any other recent Democrat, so if that's what it's coming down to, he should be able to put up a good fight. But for the first time since McCain became the presumptive nominee in the spring, I'm afraid Obama may well lose.

P.S. - should any of you think I'm a little overprotective of Miss Sarah - please. It can get a lot stupider.