Barack Obama recently described McCain's gum-flapping about how he's different from King Bush II as "Putting lipstick on a pig" - it may look better, but deep down, it's still a pig. See the Urban Dictionary definition if you're not sure I'm right. Or any of the thousands of pages that come up when you search the phrase.

The problem is, as CNN points out....

Sen. Barack Obama's reference to "lipstick on a pig" has Republicans demanding an apology and Democrats accusing Sen. John McCain of a "pathetic attempt" to play the gender card.

McCain's campaign said Obama's remarks were offensive and a slap at Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin -- despite the fact that the Arizona senator himself used the phrase last year to describe a policy proposal of Hillary Clinton's.

So if McCain says it, it's ok, but if Obama says it, then he's insulting Palin apparently - but mostly due to Palin's recent remarks about Hockey moms and pit bulls.

Whatever. The campaign should be about the issues, not the personalities. I look forward to the first - possibly only - Vice Presidential debate, if only to see just how much new knowledge the Republicans have managed to cram into Palin since they chose her....