Obama, the 527 lie (oh, and racism!)

I hadn’t been paying much attention to Sen Barack Obama’s “flip-flip” on agreeing to use public funds for campaigning. I hadn’t thought of it in terms of Obama’s rhetoric of “change” and I suspect that for many American’s the issue seems like the standard “second tier” sort of lie all politicians tell, the sort of lie we have learned – as this Rasmussen poll demonstrates – to let roll off our backs.

Ed Morrissey opened my eyes this morning, though, by quoting Mark Shields’ dismay at Obama’s maneuver..

Both pieces are must-reads, but Ed gets the “scathing insight of the day” award:

Obama lied about the 527s. He smeared McCain by accusing him of having fueled his campaign on lobbyist donations. He reversed reality by calling Republicans “masters” of the 527 strategy that his allies George Soros and MoveOn dominated in 2004 and 2000. And Obama didn’t even have the courage to negotiate with his political opponent while telling voters that we shouldn’t fear negotiating with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. — [emphasis mine – admin]

Finishes Ed:

Vero Possumus, indeed. – [link to Obama’s “Presidential Seal” added – admin]

Seems Obama has also flipped on the FISA bill.

Some of this flipping, of course, is merely the insincere step-center that every politician makes once he has secured his party’s nomination. What troubles me is the inconsistency of it. He was supposed to be the candidate of UNITY, and yet yesterday he basically insulted half the country by implying that unless they voted for him, they were racists or, at the very least, allowing themselves to be led around by racists.

That’s a pretty big bomb to throw, especially so early in the campaign, and when some polls say one is riding high. Why toss it? It makes no sense to me. Is it meant to be a “distraction?”

Ed Morrissey, again (because the man is firing on all cylinders of logic):

Just as with his untrue statements on Republican financing and 527s, Obama seems content to issue lies and smears in order to inflame the electorate. There is more than a little hint of McCarthyism in this tactic. Joe McCarthy waved pieces of paper around and claimed to have lists of Communists in government that he never substantiated. Obama likes to accuse Republicans of racism without any proof, either, while apparently discounting the real race-card playing in his own party.

If he has proof that the Republican Party and/or John McCain plan racist attacks on him, let him show it. If he doesn’t, then Obama is guilty of his own racial pandering and should apologize.

Gateway Pundit, meanwhile, highlights what looks to be a bit of fast dishonesty in Obama’s first major tv ad. Obama has several times told us that the people he knew yesterday are not the people he knows today. Perhaps the vote he knows today is not the vote he knew yesterday?

What does all of this say about Obama’s character? Nothing terrifically impressive, not yet. Apparently some see “change”, but I see same old, same old.

Baldilocks says the racism demonization begins.

Bookworm says I got yer racism right here!

Instapundit has more links on the whole “racism” issue.

Sister Toldjah is keeping track.

Calling “racism” or “sexism” is always easier than dealing with the substance of any issue. Fling those words about and you’re going to muddy the waters. Some people will run away, in fear of having the mud smeared upon them; some people will bend over backwards to over-demonstrate how they could not possibly be racists or sexists. I have found that the folks who are fastest to make those accusations are the ones who are fixated on those issues. Their fixations do not make them racists, or sexists, of course. But it does make them the opposite of “color-blind” or “gender-blind”. Race and gender become the things they see first and foremost, and – since they’re fixated – they think everyone else is, too.

More: The Presidential Seal is not going over too well?