Jail House Religion

Late last night, when most of us were in bed or at least on our way there, the Senate voted to reject South Carolina Senator Jim Demint’s amendment calling for a one-year moratorium on Congressional Earmarks.

The vote wasn’t even close, only 29 Senators voted for it, including Senators Obama, Clinton and McCain.

Hillary and Obama both seem to be experiencing some election year conversion.

In November, it was reported that Hillary had requested more earmarks than both McCain and Obama.

(HT: Reflections from a Murky Pond)

Just yesterday, Obama released his list of earmarks, asking the Clinton campaign to do the same.

It looks like it didn’t take Barry O long to get in on the fun of the earmark game.

In particular there was an Obama earmark request for $1 million to the University of Chicago hospital. What’s the big deal you ask? It’s in his home state, it’s his hometown. Correct you are, but it also just so happens that the vice president for community affairs for the University of Chicago hospital is none other than Michelle Obama.

Of course the hospital was quick to point out that Mrs. Obama has no part in lobbying her husband for the earmark.

“I can tell you with 100 percent certainty that Michelle Obama was not part of our lobbying over the request, not in any way,” said Kathy M. Sullivan the medical center’s vice president for communications and marketing.

Maybe not, but Mrs. Obama is well taken care of in her position. In 2004, right before Mr. Obama was elected to the Senate, she was making a cool $121,910. In 2005, just after he had taken office, Mrs. Obama’s salary increased to $316,962.

(HT: Jim Geraghty)

I’m just wondering, but who here thinks that Michelle Obama didn’t have a conversation with her husband about this? Maybe she didn’t, but this is the one of the precise reasons earmarks should be done away with. It’s the appearance of impropriety.

Look, I’m all for conversions and repentance, but it sure seems convenient that Obama and Hillary are all of the sudden against earmarks.

In religious terms, this is called “Jail House Religion.” It sure is easy for the crook to turn from his wicked ways when he's behind bars. It's conversion when it's convenient.