Never thought I'd see the day where the Democratic National Committee would praise President Bush in an effort to hit John McCain. But that day has arrived. In an email to supporters, the DNC calls today a "bittersweet anniversary" for McCain's presidential campaign, noting that it was exactly five years ago that Bush signed into law the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill.

Calling the bill one of Bush's "signature legislative accomplishments," the DNC says McCain is "backing away from the reforms he once championed," by considering forgoing matching public funds for his campaign and, "cozying up to the donors he once blasted."

"Given how quickly he's abandoned his signature issues and principles its no wonder that conservatives suspect John McCain won't let anything get in the way of winning," said DNC spokesman Luis Miranda in the email.

Two immediate points come to mind. First, let's strip away the notion that the DNC is looking out for McCain or the electoral desires of the Republican's conservative base. Offering "advice" to the other side is something both parties do regularly, but it doesn't make their insights anymore intellectually honest. Secondly, there is a fair argument to make that McCain has backpedaled to some extent by expressing a willingness to forego the same CFR rules he helped usher into law. But those reforms were supported by a number of 2008 Democratic presidential aspirants, including Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, both of whom have also indicted their willingness to bypass public spending limits.

-- Eric Pfeiffer, Capitol Hill correspondent, The Washington Times