Senator Obama missed a great opportunity last week to stop talking and take a bold stand on the Fannie/Freddie bailout. 

Senator Jim DeMint offered an amendment to the bailout that would bar political donations and lobbying by Fannie and Freddie.  Makes sense.  "Unseemly" is too weak a word for a system where Fannie and Freddie tuck millions into Congressional wallets while Congressmen turn around and lob billions of working men and women's tax dollars back at Fannie and Freddie.  DeMint's amendment seems like a no-brainer.

But speaking of no-brainers, Senate leader Harry Reid wouldn't even allow a vote on the amendment.  The current system is just too sweet for incumbents, Republicans and Democrats alike. 

It will take a new voice to bring change.  Somebody who can articulate how this contributes to the stench of Washington.  Somebody with huge platform and built in audience who has built up enough good will to survive the arrows that will come his way.  Somebody like...Senator Obama!

But so far?  Not a peep.

DeMintFest anyone?