As expected, the Republican Party's smear machine has resorted to the same kinds of swift-boat type tactics that benefitted them so well in the 2004 Presidential race. That year, they succeeded in painting John Kerry as everything he wasn't – the country got Bush a second time, and the rest is (pathetic) history. This time they're taking an analogical comment made by Senator Barak Obama – which mentions pig and lipstick (it's a long story) – and turning it into ammunition to try and paint Obama as a sexist; their contention being that the comment was directed at Sarah Palin. Obama isn't going to take such tactics lightly, however – he's fighting back:

AP (Associated Press) is reporting that Gov. Sarah Palin's church – the Wasilla Bible Church – is promoting a conference called "Love Won Out", which promises to convert gays to heterosexuality through the "power of prayer" [See the full story here]. The event is being conducted in Anchorage by one of the more notorious evangelical Christian organizations, Focus on the Family.

Given the fact that Sarah Palin's conservative "Christian" views are what endeared her to the suddenly-enthused throngs of John McCain supporters in the first place, it's highly doubtful that the media will seize upon the opportunity to further probe her bigoted worldview. However, since the media all-but flayed Barack Obama in the Jeremiah Wright controversy, it would only be fair to hold Palin to a similar scrutiny. But let's be honest; the media has all-but made Sarah Palin – a rather nascent U.S. governor from one of the nation's least-populous states – an overnight political sensation. I doubt they'll focus on background essentials now!

Categories: Sarah Palin; Barack Obama