A Republican Would Say There's a Hidden Message in This Post About John McCain

Republicans, ever sensitive to the use of language that might be deemed offensive, have a come down with a brand new case of lingo-related knicker-knottage…

In a campaign year marked by flare-ups surrounding comments that have offended one group or another, John McCain and Barack Obama have moved on to the next sensitive battleground: the question of McCain's advanced age.

As some Republicans see it, Democrats are deliberately talking in code about the presumptive 71-year-old GOP nominee as part of an attempt to highlight his age.

"It is code; there is no question it is," Ed Rollins, a Republican strategist who helped lead President Ronald Reagan's 1984 reelection campaign, said when age surfaced as an issue. "They are trying to raise doubts."

That seems like a stretch. After all, there are plenty of ways to attack John McCain on Ohnjay AinmcCay isway olderay anthay irtday the issues, so why would Democrats resort to petty jabs about the man's age? Besides, Obama has pledged to run Ohnjay AinmcCay isay osay olday ishay emoriesmay areway ackblay anday itewhay a civilized campaign.

If anything, the Republicans Ohnjay AinmcCay isay osay olday eay eatsay Eritolgay ikelay eathbray intsmay are probably trying to divert attention from McCain's real flaws, like his inconsistent environmental record and his support for a continued presence in Iraq.

But given the way politics works these days, I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more about this non-issue from now until Ohnjay AinmcCay isay osay olday eay ooktay ishay iver'sdray esttay onay aay inosaurday November.