IGNORANCE IS HOPE:

Obama's 'change' theme tested again: The president may have a fight on his hands in taking on his latest targets: earmarks and lobbyists. (Peter Nicholas, March 1, 2009, LA Times)

As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama said that in overhauling healthcare he would make the negotiations public, and even invite C-SPAN to air the talks on television.

Yet in recent months, lobbyists and health insurance company representatives have been meeting behind closed doors -- with the White House's knowledge -- in the office of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) to debate options for a new health system.

As a candidate, Obama pledged to cut "earmarks" for lawmakers' pet projects to pre-1994 levels. But the president soon may sign a bill laced with more than 8,500 earmarks.

Transforming Washington's political culture is proving tougher than Obama may have envisioned.

"I don't think anyone who is familiar with the way Washington works was under any illusions about the ease in doing this," said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics.

The Unicorn Rider's awkward but accurate defense is that he wasn't being cynical, he just didn't understand how governance works.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 1, 2009 7:55 AM