Spare Change

There's controversy over Obama saying you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. It's an old line, of course, but, considering how Sarah Palin has become identified with lipstick, it appeared to many to be a reference to her. Obama may not have meant it, but it sure seemed his audience took it that way.

But I don't want to write about that. I'm more interested in what he said next: "You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called 'change,' but it's still going to stink after eight years." He's really mad that McCain is trying to claim he's the candidate of change. "How do they have the nerve to say it?" He asks.

This is how: "Change" has always been an empty and meaningless campaign slogan. Anyone can claim it, and most do. It's so non-specific, even a guy running for reelection could probably get away with it. And considering how McCain was not the clear choice of his base, it's even easier.