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LEBANON, Va. (AP) - What's the difference between the presidential campaign before and after the national political conventions? Lipstick.

The colorful cosmetic has become a political buzzword, thanks to Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's joke in her acceptance speech that lipstick is the only thing that separates a hockey mom like her from a pit bull.

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama told an audience Tuesday that GOP presidential nominee John McCain says he'll change Washington, but he's just like President Bush.

"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. "It's still a pig. You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change. It's still going to stink after eight years."

McCain's campaign immediately organized a telephone conference call in response and called on Obama to apologize for calling Palin a pig. Obama's campaign said he wasn't referring to Palin; he had been talking about McCain immediately before the lipstick comment.

Obama followed up by saying Palin is an interesting story, drawing boos at the mention of her name that he tried to cut off.

"Look, she's new, she hasn't been on the scene, she's got five kids. And my hat goes off to anybody whose looking after five. I've got two and they tire Michelle and me out," he said.

McCain has used the lipstick phrase, too.

Last year while criticizing health proposals from the Democratic presidential candidates, he said Hillary Rodham Clinton's resembled the failed plan she offered as first lady during the 1990s. "I think they put some lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig," McCain of her proposal.

In Virginia, a questioner asked Obama to join Republicans and agree that candidates' families and religion are off limits. Palin's pregnant teenage daughter and the teachings of her church, the nondenominational Wasilla Bible Church, have been the subject of scrutiny since McCain picked her as his running mate.

Obama responded that he already has said families are off limits and he's very protective of his daughters, 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha. He said he doesn't want their inevitable future mistakes to become newspaper fodder if he gets to the White House.

Obama also is no stranger to attacks on his religion. He's been the subject of a false rumor campaign saying he's a Muslim, and the racially tinged sermons of his longtime former preacher caused problems for his campaign earlier this year.

He stressed that he's a Christian and "so the fact that Gov. Palin is deeply religious, that's a good thing." He said poking around in her religion or saying it's wrong is "offensive" and he wants to have a debate about the issues.

"But don't give people some sort of religious litmus test because I don't want somebody to question my faith and I'm certainly not going to question somebody else's," he said.

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Palin vs. Hillary: no comparison

How can they nominate a vice president who doesn’t think about world politics; doesn’t believe in evolution (are we in the Dark Ages?); sex education (no wonder her daughter is pregnant); and who wants to ban books). They are right, she really is no Hillary.
ROSEMARY SIMMONS
Albany

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Nothing wrong with Palin’s family or values

    I have been reading many interesting political articles over the last few weeks in an effort to be an informed voter. The only reaction I had after reading Froma Harrop’s Sept. 6 column was that the newspaper should find a new columnist.
    Why, when the candidates at the Democratic convention presented their families and backgrounds, it was OK, but when Sarah Palin presented her family and their history, this reporter called it “parading” and “dysfunctional.” Rather than saying she gave birth to a “special needs child,” why not acknowledge their new baby and call him by name?
    Our family has a young child with Down syndrome, and from her personality and character the syndrome should be changed to “ups.” She is one of the most delightful, affectionate, smart young ladies we’ve had the privilege of knowing. We wouldn’t change anything about her. I thought our society was beginning to change from an era where handicapped people were treated like something to be ashamed of and were never seen outside of the home. I hope, if John McCain and Sarah Palin get into office, the attitude of people like Harrop will change and accept people for who they are. After all, anyone who’s borne a child knows they all have special needs, some are just more noticeable than others.
    As for calling her family “dysfunctional,” I’m not sure where this came from. There are many examples in our society of “early” pregnancies, singleparent households, same-sex relationship adoptions and grandparents raising grandchildren. Sarah Palin’s reaction as a supportive parent to a difficult situation is commendable. I would think if she had tried to hide the challenging issues in her life, there would be a reason to label a family dysfunctional.
    CATHY HASBROUCK
    Rotterdam

Quoted from 191

Miss H you are overlooking the fact that this will cost the repubs the votes and that no one wants a woman president in there to make wars and troubles with the other countries as this loser is guaranteed to do plus she is against law enforcement and she has a jailbird hubby who also made her have a crippled baby. She left her daughter alone to get preganant and you applaud? Maddone!

Quoted from 47

MT, you told me we are too smart to respond to the rants of a lunatic from the 1600's.  He is just a dufous and dumb a#s.  I think it was you anyway.

Quoted from 191

let me tell you friend I DISAGREE so you shoot me down I am sick of that kind of anti Italian wording and you need to take that back. I dont like the lady and see it as being very bad for our nation. When will you realize she is costing mCCain the votes? I am not elected to an office but some day I may run since I am sick of the germans and irish and poles running everything over here then saying things like{Italian pile of crap} you are wrong wrong and more wrong then ever sir.

Quoted from 191

you know I am not against anyone.

Quoted from 191

since I am sick of the germans and irish and poles running everything over here