Obama: Machiavellian?

Today I read two articles on Barack Obama from two different standpoints: One an opinion piece by David Brooks in the liberal New York Times (view it here) and another by Karl Rove on the Michigan GOP website (view it here).

But they both shared a very harmonious theme: Barack Obama is a two-faced, untrustworthy politician. He sometimes acts like the well-educated, highminded, left-wing liberal who espouses all the proper liberal causes—and at other times looks like the "I'd throw my mother under the truck if it helped me" cut-throat Chicago politician. He wants you to think he is the paragon of change, while living as the poster child of partisanship.

And let's not forget the "public campaign financing" issue. For months he had supported it, espoused it, even drew it close to his breast...but when he knew he could get more money by abandoning it, he did. Without compunction, and without (quite frankly) sincerity.

For months, Rev. Jeremiah Wright was a good friend, a mentor...but when his profane rants made the headlines, he was persona non grata.

Here is a quote from Brooks:

"On the one hand, Obama did sell out the primary cause of his professional life, all for a tiny political advantage. If he’ll sell that out, what won’t he sell out?

"All I know for sure is that this guy is no liberal goo-goo. Republicans keep calling him naïve. But naïve is the last word I’d use to describe Barack Obama. He’s the most effectively political creature we’ve seen in decades. Even Bill Clinton wasn’t smart enough to succeed in politics by pretending to renounce politics."

And here is a quote from Rove:

"Mr. Obama has said he "strongly supported public financing" and pledged to take federal funds for the fall, thereby limiting his spending to roughly $84 million. Now convinced he can raise more than $84 million, he reversed course last week, ditching the federal money and its limits. But by discarding his earlier pledge so easily, he raises doubts about whether his word can be trusted.

"Last month he replied "anywhere, anytime" to John McCain's invitation to have joint town hall appearances. Last week he changed his mind. Fearing 10 impromptu town halls, Mr. Obama parried the invitation by offering two such events – one the night of July 4, when every ambulatory American is watching fireworks or munching hotdogs, and another in August. His spokesman then said, "Take it or leave it." So much for "anywhere, anytime."

"My former White House colleague Yuval Levin pointed out that Mr. Obama, in his first national TV ad rolled out Friday, claims credit for having "extended health care for wounded troops," citing the 2008 defense authorization. That bill passed 91-3 – but Mr. Obama was one of only six senators who didn't show up to vote. This brazen claim underscores the candidate's thin résumé and, again, his chutzpah."

Perhaps you get the idea (if not, read the two articles I cited). This is a man who will say anything, do anything to become the next president of the United States. He is not naive. He is quite intelligent, quite shrewd. Beware.