Just Another Politian....

During the lead up to the nominations, I talked to many first time voters who were firmly in the Obama camp. When I asked why all they could say is that it was because he was "different" from the rest of the politicians. I tried and tried to explain to them this was a man who rose through the ranks in Chicago where nasty politics is more than normal - it is an art form...an art form that Senator Obama mastered! As the campaign has worn on the campaign (and the candidate) started to show their true colors. Today we find yet another disillusioned Obama supporter run over by the "politics of hope and change".

A few days ago I received a letter from Barack Obama, pleading that I "rush a generous contribution" to him. I placed the return envelope in my checkbook.

The same evening I got a call from his campaign asking me to door-knock on the weekend. I already had plans but I agreed to future weekends.

Then I requested a lawn sign. The volunteer informed me that I could buy one at campaign headquarters.

Buy one? Purchased in bulk, a two-color lawn sign might cost the Obama campaign $1. I checked the Obama '08 Web site. They offer the budget-conscious supporter a generic 26-by-16-inch sign for $8. For those Obamites into conspicuous consumption, the site advertises a variety of 22-by-15-inch designer signs for $19.99. If this were an oil company, the Democrats would be accusing it of price gouging. As Kurt Vonnegut put it, "So it goes."

The author, a sociology and social professor at Metropolitan State University, did what I probably would have done...he made a few calls. What he found out disillusioned him even more.

I called the Obama '08 Minnesota office for clarification. Media spokesperson Nick Kimball told me it is "generally a policy of the campaign nationally to charge a nominal fee for lawn signs." "An occasional exception might be made for an outstanding volunteer," he added. Kimball later called back to report that "if someone balks at paying for a lawn sign and really wants one, we'll work something out."

Gee, I guess I didn't protest enough.

I contacted Obama's national headquarters and was told that charging for lawn signs compensates for the income lost when Obama rejected contributions from PACs and lobbyists.

Here's what they failed to mention — any revenue lost from those special interests is more than offset by the cash windfall the campaign is accruing from having opted out of public financing.

What's wrong with this picture? For a campaign that purports to be a movement, this mercenary marketing strategy is not only hypocritical but also counterproductive. Lawn signs should be an investment, not a revenue stream. Lawn signs are a biennial ritual for partisans and party activists.

Now I have never paid for lawn signs, bumper stickers or campaign buttons in the past. Especially not when I am an active volunteer for the campaign.

So what did Professor Bute learn from his experience.....

So I have learned that even heartfelt allegiances are conditional.

I will write no check nor will I knock on any door until the person answering that door can get a free lawn sign. I urge Obama supporters of conscience to do the same.

I recently spent countless hours writing an op-ed article favorable to Barack Obama. It was a labor of love and a proud contribution to his candidacy. I now realize I was a fool not to have billed my hours to Obama '08.

I will say this again, Senator Barack Obama is not what he is billed. He is NOT the post partisan candidate that he says he is. He is nothing more than a Chicago politician who is more concerned about raising the almighty dollar than anything else.