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December 2, 2008 7:45:22 PM CST

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Camps Vie for 'Reformer' Label

Posted Sep 5, 08 8:15 AM CDT in Politics 

(Newser) – John McCain and Barack Obama are both laying claim to an agenda of “reform”—but neither has offered a clear idea of what that means, writes Jonathan Weisman in the Washington Post. In opening speeches last night, the words “reform” or “reformer” were spoken 11 times. McCain’s camp says the calls aren’t for “programmatic” reforms, but rather something “both more sweeping and more nebulous,” Weisman notes.

McCain advisers discuss “a reform of attitude and conduct,” while an ex-aide said “it's whatever that viewer happens to believe is reform.” A conservative activist defined the concept as “cutting spending, cutting earmarks.” Meanwhile, Obama’s team is fighting to keep McCain from establishing a monopoly on the reformist image. For starters, it's slamming Sarah Palin for taking millions in earmarks for her small Alaskan town and labeling her calls for reform “a complete fabrication.”

Source Washington Post

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Republican presidential nominee John McCain waves to the crowed as he is joined by his running mate, Sarah Palin at the end of his acceptance speech.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., walks off stage after greeting Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., following their forum at Saddleback Church last month.   (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
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McCain's calls for reform have come to mean a pledge to "change" Washington—with little explanation of what that change would be or how that change would take effect. - Jonathan Weisman

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Barack Obama • John McCain • Sarah Palin • reform • change


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