In last night's debate, Obama decided that Clinton's vote on Iraq would be the defining issue to highlight the differences between the candidates. He went on the attack. Wolf Blitzer encouraged it and tried to bait Hillary into saying something stupid. It didn't work.

But here's what I find interesting about Obama's argument. He emphasized that the authorization passed by Congress said "use of military force in Iraq" right there in the title. Everybody understood what it was. He said Clinton may have experience on day one, but that it's more important to be right on day one. He questioned her judgement and put her on the defensive about her position, which is basically that Congress was lied to.

But yes, Clinton did vote for the resolution, along with 28 other Democratic senators -- the majority of the Senate Democratic Caucus. One of them was John Kerry. Here's what Obama said at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in his keynote speech endorsing John Kerry as the Democratic nominee for president:

Obama: And John Kerry believes that in a dangerous world war must be an option sometimes, but it should never be the first option.

[..]

When we send our young men and women into harm’s way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they're going, to care for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world.

So, which is it Senator Obama? Being deceived by fudged numbers and shaded truth, or bad judgement? He can't have it both ways. Why has he changed his position? Why did he support Kerry and excuse his vote for the war, and attack Clinton for hers? Is Obama saying Kerry's judgement was sound but Clinton's wasn't? Why? Because she's a woman? Because her name is Clinton?

In 2004, Democrats were accused of being weak on terrorism and national security. Creeps like Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney called them traitors. Democrats talked tough to push back and to reassure the American people. Obama went along for the ride. Four years later, the "war on terror" is a catastrophic failure, and both Democrats and Republicans are trying to distance themselves. Now Obama is on board for that, too, and criticizing people who actually had to make tough decisions on the record -- a record that he does not have. Obama should worry less about striking the right pose for whatever media spotlight is on him at the moment and more about being consistent, especially when he's going to attack fellow Democrats for tough decisions he has never had to make.