Concerned about John McCain's ability to fire a good political shot at a Democrat? You really shouldn't be. Sen. McCain displayed his ability not long ago to fire a shot at Barack Obama himself. You see, it turns out that Barack Obama had assured McCain of support for his lobbying reform efforts, but party politics caused Mr. Obama to retreat to the role of a standard politician, and go back on his word to Mr. McCain.

McCain then wrote the following letter to Obama:

"I would like to apologize to you for assuming that your private assurances to me regarding your desire to cooperate in our efforts to negotiate bipartisan lobbying reform legislation were sincere. When you approached me and insisted that despite your leadership’s preference to use the issue to gain a political advantage in the 2006 elections, you were personally committed to achieving a result that would reflect credit on the entire Senate and offer the country a better example of political leadership, I concluded your professed concern for the institution and the public interest was genuine and admirable. Thank you for disabusing me of such notions with your letter to me dated February 2, 2006, which explained your decision to withdraw from our bipartisan discussions. I’m embarrassed to admit that after all these years in politics I failed to interpret your previous assurances as typical rhetorical gloss routinely used in politics to make self-interested partisan posturing appear more noble. Again, sorry for the confusion, but please be assured I won’t make the same mistake again. ...

But I understand how important the opportunity to lead your party’s effort to exploit this issue must seem to a freshman Senator, and I hold no hard feelings over your earlier disingenuousness. Again, I have been around long enough to appreciate that in politics the public interest isn’t always a priority for every one of us. Good luck to you, Senator."

Can you imagine Mitt Romney writing such a letter? Mike Huckabee? Well, maybe Huckabee. John McCain is perfectly capable of taking the fight to Obama should McCain become the nominee. It is simply foolish for anyone to continue to argue that he cannot do so.

(McCain letter via Captain's Quarters)