Karl Rove: Obama is keeping score

Maybe because, as Karl Rove wrote two days ago for the Wall Street Journal Barack Obama "is steeped in the ways of Chicago politics," the president felt no hypocrisy this morning when he discussed audience about corruption in Kenya in Strasbourg, France while not mentioning the graft in Illinois involving his friend Tony Rezko, convicted felon, and indicted former Governor Rod Blagojevich.

To be fair, there is more to Chicago politics than thievery.

There's "keeping score," or to be more specific, keeping an eye on those who oppose you--even if it's just once.

"Don't think we're not keeping score, brother." That's what President Barack Obama said to Rep. Peter DeFazio in a closed-door meeting of the House Democratic Caucus last week, according to the Associated Press.

A few weeks ago, Mr. DeFazio voted against the administration's stimulus bill. The comment from Mr. Obama was a presidential rebuke and part of a new, hard-nosed push by the White House to pressure Congress to adopt the president's budget. He has mobilized outside groups and enlisted forces still in place from the Obama campaign.

Senior presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett and her chief of staff, Michael Strautmanis, are in regular contact with MoveOn.Org, Americans United for Change and other liberal interest groups. Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina has collaborated with Americans United for Change on strategy and even ad copy. Ms. Jarrett invited leaders of the liberal interest groups to a White House social event with the president and first lady to kick off the lobbying campaign.

This is not change I can believe in.

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