Super PAC man Obama

Four years ago, then-Sen. Barack Obama said his presidential bid would be wholly funded by federal campaign financing. But in June 2008, he reversed that course by opting out of what he called "a broken system."

Three and a half months ago, President Obama decried Super PACs and the 2010 Supreme Court decision that strengthened "phony front groups" which "can spend without limit," warning: "These rulings are not just a threat to Democrats. They're a threat to our democracy."

But Monday night, the White House announced its support of a Super PAC -- "Priorities USA Action" -- that is backing his re-election.

Tuesday's Washington Post, citing Obama campaign manager Jim Messina, also reported that "senior Obama campaign officials as well as some White House and Cabinet officials will attend and speak at Priorities USA fundraising events, but will not solicit donations during the appearances." But the president, first lady and vice president won't appear at those Super PAC functions, according to Mr. Messina.

That sounds slightly reassuring. Then again, until this week, the president -- a veteran of rough-and-tumble Chicago politics -- said he wouldn't go the Super PAC route.

Politicians, like the rest of us, have a right to change their minds. And as David Axelrod, communications director of the Obama re-election campaign, fairly told MSNBC this week: "We were faced with a situation as to whether we could afford to play by two sets of rules. And the answer is obviously no."

Certainly it was obvious to South Carolina television viewers last month that Super PACs bankroll relentless "attack ads" of dubious validity.

Yet the Supreme Court doesn't deserve the blame for that latest unseemly stain on the electioneering landscape. That's the fault of Congress, which has repeatedly passed overreaching campaign finance laws that force the court to teach review lessons on the U.S. Constitution.

As Justice Anthony Kennedy correctly wrote two years ago in the 5-4 majority opinion on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission: "If the First Amendment has any force, it prohibits Congress from fining or jailing citizens, or associations of citizens, for simply engaging in political speech."

And it's hard to fault President Obama for simply playing by the current rules.

It's getting easier, though, to see through his holier-than-thou act.