Weapons and Taxes

Barack Obama writes, in a USA Today op-ed, “The only way to end the petty partisanship that has consumed Washington for so long and make a difference in the lives of ordinary Americans is by bringing Republicans and Democrats together to get things done. That's what I've done throughout over a decade in public office.”

He cites tax-cuts and charter schools in Illinois, as wells as ethics reform and weapons non-proliferation agreements as examples of his bi-partisan record.

The latter two are dubious examples of bi-partisanship. Weapons proliferation is hardly controversial and the ethics reform bill actually led to a split between Obama and McCain, before passing the Senate 96-2.

Obama certainly has a better bi-partisan appeal than a bi-partisan record. This image has been his most successful political approach since his convention speech in 2004, and it is doubtless the best avenue for him to pursue now.

Meanwhile, John McCain released another ad repackaging his incessantly repeated claims that Obama will raise taxes and dramatically increase spending in Washington.

Aside from the mendacity of such claims it is difficult to fathom how any government could possibly build on the level of spending seen by the Bush Administration. The most profligate European leftist party has a better sense of fiscal responsibility than the GOP at the moment.

One certainty is the fact-checkers will have their heads spinning today.