The New York Times runs an exposé of sorts on the Obama White House and its empty promises of changing “business as usual” in Washington DC that is remarkable in a number of respects.

◼ As Daniel Halper of The Weekly Standard writes, though, the most remarkable might be the remarkable honesty of former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), who offers us a Madge-Palmolive moment by not only admitting that the administration has a quid pro quo system, but also that he’s soaking in it... - Ed Morrissey/HotAir

◼ Former Dem. Congressman Kennedy Alleges 'Quid Pro Quo' for Access to White House - Daniel Halper/The Weekly Standard

...One can argue that this isn’t all that much different than other Republican and Democratic administrations. The article recalls the infamous Lincoln Bedroom “rentals” of the Clinton administration, for instance. However, Clinton didn’t run for the office by demonizing lobbyists and wealthy donors and insisting that he would provide a New Purity to the Beltway, either. In 2008, that was almost the entire message from Obama, who had no executive, military, or foreign-relations experience before running for the one position that requires expertise in all three areas.

I’m not certain that the Obama White House has been any less transparent about influence peddling, but it has certainly not been more transparent. All we got was an inexperienced executive and a boatload of sanctimony and hypocrisy.