In regard to this case I don't think Obama is at fault. He used an old saying that McCain has used himself when actually talking about Hillary Clinton. The fact is McCain and his campaign saw an oppurtunity to make this news about something that really isn't news. It forces Obama to spend today talking about this rather than trying to compare McCain to G.W. Bush. It's all politics.
That's a bit simplistic. Watch the replay again - the news isn't tired of playing it. You'll see that he said, "if you put lipstick on a pig (pause so the crowd would make the connection)... it's still a pig." The Obama campaign, and Democrats in general, look like they've been totally knocked off their game and they are struggling to figure out how to handle all the popularity, enthusiasm, and excitement Palin's pick has brought to the McCain campaign. I think the lipstick on a pig reference was deliberate, planned ahead of time (try and sneak that in Barak, he was told), and he fumbled his way through delivering it.
I do agree Obama and the dems don't know how to go after Palin but if there is one thing we know from Obama from the primaries is that he has ran a very calculated (probably to calculated) campaign and they tend to take their time. Whenever Obama speaks he tends to pause a lot especially when he's going for a line. He's not like Al Gore whom never seems to take a breath when he talks. If you watch the entire speech or the stuff before it he was talking about John McCain and not Sarah Palin. He was actually talking about policies much like McCain was when he was referring to Hillary Clinton. He was talking about her health care plan now compared to it back in the 90's. It was a saying then and it still is now. McCain's camp saw an oppurtunity to try and pick at the wound that some HC supporters are probably feeling and they did. It was actually a smart play on their part or at least I think it was. Lucky for Obama the news coverage today is primary on the anniversary of 9/11.
Two words: "Plausible Deniability." The "lipstick" line of her speech got great airplay and was well received. They've surely been looking for a way to negate it. They floated the trial balloon of "she shouldn't be comparing herself to a dog" but that didn't take. This is along the same lines. I accurately predicted McCain would go after the "I'm the real change" mantra - this, too has thrown the Obama campaign for a loop. Remember, Obama has never sealed the deal even with his own party. Just with under half the party voters and with the majority of the politburo (super delegates). After being acclaimed the nominee, Hillary beat him in a bunch of primaries down the stretch. He limped across the finish line, at best, and that's what it looks like now. McCain/Palin is gaining steam, and is looking like a freight train. Realize I don't want McCain to win, or Obama for that matter. Of the two, I'd much prefer Obama.
