This morning, Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign called on Senator Barack Obama to release all documents related to his 2005 purchase of a home adjacent to land owned by Tony Rezko. The Obama campaign's response -- we did that already -- was swift and hard, and turned the tables on Clinton.
Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor teed up the issue as one of disinformation and blatant hypocrisy.
Here is Vietor's rejoinder today:
"It’s the height of hypocrisy for Senator Clinton to demand the release of documents that are already on our campaign website while she steadfastly refuses to release her full tax returns and earmark requests from her time in the Senate, as well as her White House records and Clinton library donors. Democrats across the country should be very concerned about Senator Clinton’s refusal to offer a full and complete accounting of what could be lurking in this financial information and what that would mean for our party when we run against Senator McCain in November."
James Oliphant of The Swamp writes:
"Clinton's campaign has said she will release her tax returns before the Pennsylvania primary. But it hasn't made a pledge about donors to the Clinton library. The Obama campaign has long made an issue about Bill Clinton's post-presidency business connections."
Of course, there is no need for Clinton to wait until mid-April to release tax returns or Clinton library donor records from previous years.
By delaying the release of tax records -- by waiting until Democratic primary voters have already voted -- Clinton hopes to blunt its effect.
As Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte said, "It is not necessary to censor the news; it is sufficient to delay it until it no longer matters."
It is time for Senator Clinton to climb off her imperious high-horse and live up to the standards of full disclosure that she has demanded of Senator Obama, and that he has met.