I spend a significant part of my workday just trying to fact check the presidential campaign, in particular the Obama campaign.  Every day there are charges and counter-charges about Sen. Obama's record, and figuring out the Natural Truth is unusually difficult because Sen. Obama has said so many different, contradictory things about his own positions.

NAFTA, FISA, Russia vs. Georgia, capital gains taxes, the 2nd Amendment--the list goes on and on.

And then there are the "rumors" about Sen. Obama that he denies but so often turn out to be true.  He did support a total handgun ban at least twice.  And as we now know beyond doubt, he did sponsor legislation to lower the age for sex education from 6th grade to kindergarten.  Just ask ABC News--they've got the tape.

But now, after almost two years of covering his campaign, I think I've gotten to the essence of Obama:  He's a snob.

Last night, after declaring a return of the Great Depression, Sen. Obama jetted off to Hollywood for a $30k/person fundraiser and concert with Babs Streisand.  This is nothing new for Barack Obama.  These are his people.

But if you watch the ABC tape linked above, after Obama tries to explain his support for HIV education in kindergarten, he goes on to comment about the American people. You and me.  The little people.  He senses that we're bothered by the idea of chatting about sex with five year olds, but Sen. Obama is confident we'll come around.  You know why?

"The one thing that I want to insist on is that, as I travel around the country, the American people are a decent people. Now they get confused sometimes. You know, they listen to the wrong talk radio shows or watch the wrong TV networks, um, but they’re, they’re basically decent, they’re basically sound."

Gee thanks, Senator.

You got that, you "bitter," "typical white people," as you "cling to your religion and your guns?"  It's OK. Sen. Obama understands.  Even though you're not very bright and listen to talk radio, he knows that, down deep, you're still "decent"--despite all your indecent actions.

Today, you're bad.  You want to produce more US oil to heat your homes, and you don't want to raise taxes, and you're not sure you want every doctor to become a state employee, and you don't think Obama's idea of surrendering Iraq to Al Qaeda last year was such a great idea--but it's OK.  Barack still loves you, he still believes in your "basic" goodness.

He believes, because he knows that he can MAKE you good, that he can heal your souls and unleash the goodness that your clingy bitterness has trapped within.

That's how Barack Obama sees us.  Which says quite a bit about how he sees himself.