When Hillary Clinton & Crew were incessantly promoting her as the most electable candidate, I kept saying: It's not just about winning; it's about governing. It's about YOU, Hillary; it's about US, the U.S.

Now that Obama has decided to turn down public financing -- despite the fact that he's been committed to campaign finance & electoral reform for some time -- I've had to revise my thoughts.

You can't govern unless you win.

The thousands of regular folks contributing time and money (many, like me, for the first time ever) to Obama's campaign helped him make it this far. If he had taken public financing, he would have had less money and flexibility to respond quickly to character attacks and other distortions. And more Swift Boatings, Willie Hortons or October Surprises are almost certainly coming. Since at least Nixon, Republicans have become the cynical masters of fanning people's barely suppressed fears, grudges and insecurities so they vote for the latest Protective Patriarchal Republican who will protect We American Children. Goebbels himself would be impressed with how Republicans -- and Clinton, too -- have clawed their way to the Presidency over the last 40 years.

To the critics who support public financing of campaigns: 

* Obama's Facebook-like donor system IS a new type of PUBLIC financing. Tell me how it isn't. And if he can raise more from the public this way, what's wrong with that?

To those who say Obama broke his word:

* Changing one's mind is a sign of a nimble intellect capable of continued learning and a wise leader able to respond to ever-changing conditions.

To those who say this decision shows he's just another calclutlaing politician:

* Good. The Republicans are masters of the politics-as-usual attack machine. Obama must be prepared for this year's Swift Boat and whatever else they throw his way.

Win first. Then govern.

Govern better than the emarassing bozo we've had for 8 years. And, yes, govern better than the slick cynic we had before that.