Just Another Dirty Politician

Dripping with sarcasm, the New York Times editorializes this morning that Barack just might not be the angel liberals thought he was.

BARACK OBAMA isn't abandoning his pledge to take public financing for the general election campaign because it's in his political interest. Certainly not. He isn't about to become the first candidate since Watergate to run an election fueled entirely with private money because he will be able to raise far more that way than the mere $85 million he'd get if he stuck to his promise -- and with which his Republican opponent, John McCain, will have to make do. No, Mr. Obama, or so he would have you believe, is forgoing the money because he is so committed to public financing.

They only figured it out because Barack left them no choice - his decision not to be part of the public financing system is grotesque in light of his position as an agent of change, but matters are made worse by the vile video he sent to supporters attempting to mask the decision as a sacrifice to the cause.

Pardon the sarcasm. But given Mr. Obama's earlier pledge to "aggressively pursue" an agreement with the Republican nominee to accept public financing, his effort to cloak his broken promise in the smug mantle of selfless dedication to the public good is a little hard to take. "It's not an easy decision, and especially because I support a robust system of public financing of elections," Mr. Obama said in a video message to supporters.

By the end of its editorial, the Times runs out of steam, however, giving Barack a 'boys will be boys' pass on the decision, instead bemoaning the video.

The Boston Globe is less emotional, stating matter-of-factly:

His decision deals a body blow both to the system of campaign finance and to his own reputation as a reform candidate.

The Philadelphia Inquirer writes that:

Barack Obama's decision to turn down public financing for the general election is as disappointing as it is disingenuous.

And the Journal compares him to the current president:

Senator Obama is the first candidate since the law was passed in the 1970s not to take matching funds for the general election. Even candidate George W. Bush, flush with cash in 2000 and 2004, didn't do that.

Does Barack care? Not really. He's been palnning to to stop playing a good guy once he had the nomination, even while continuing to use the image as a marketing ploy. This is just the first step that makes it clear, even though most folks won't notice, that Barack is a ruthless, opportunistic, and incredibly ambitious man who will do anything for power.

Will his supporters mind? Nah. They didn't mind Bill Clinton, did they? True, Barack is worse, but there's nothing like a winner, which he looks like to them right now.