Obama's Earmark Hypocrisy

President Obama and congressional Democrats are trying to unite in an effort to take away a key Republican talking point: that they've become the party of pork and earmarks. "The awarding of earmarks to private companies is the single most corrupting element of this practice, as witnessed by some of the indictments and convictions we have seen," Obama said at the White House today (though he added that earmarks for "public entities" were acceptable). But is the president walking the talk? "Obama made his statement even as he was prepared to sign a $409.6 billion omnibus budget bill which carries with it thousands of the same sort of projects he wants to restrain," according to Politico. "I am signing an imperfect omnibus bill because it is necessary for the ongoing functions of government," Obama said in his defense.