My first Pajamas Media column (MORE: ADVISOR STEPS DOWN OVER “MONSTER” COMMENT)

I have had the honor of being invited to join the stellar cast of writers at PajamasMedia.com. My first column is now posted and it addresses some myths about Barack Obama. Here’s an excerpt:

Barack Obama wants people to believe he is a “Washington outsider” who will “change” the way D.C. works. His selling points are that he decries lobbyists and special interests, says his campaign is responsible “to no one but the people” asserts he has the ability to “get things done” claims his 2002 anti-Iraq war speech was “courageous” and proved he has good judgment when it comes to walking against the political winds, has made a focal point of his campaign his commitment refocusing the US’ attention Afghanistan, and downplays the “experience” argument by suggesting that Washington experience is the “wrong” type of experience the country needs right now.

That’s his campaign spin. Now here are the facts:

Read the rest here.

In related news, expect the “secrecy” accusations from the Obama campaign to continue today as the USA Today reports that federal archivists are blocking the release of certain Clinton papers – papers that would likely not portray the former president in the positive light he wants everyone to:

LITTLE ROCK — Federal archivists at the Clinton Presidential Library are blocking the release of hundreds of pages of White House papers on pardons that the former president approved, including clemency for fugitive commodities trader Marc Rich.

That archivists’ decision, based on guidance provided by Bill Clinton that restricts the disclosure of advice he received from aides, prevents public scrutiny of documents that would shed light on how he decided which pardons to approve from among hundreds of requests.

Clinton’s legal agent declined the option of reviewing and releasing the documents that were withheld, said the archivists, who work for the federal government, not the Clintons.

The decision to withhold much of the requested material could provide fodder for critics who say that the former president and his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, now seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, have been unwilling to fully release documents to public scrutiny.

Officials with the presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., criticized Sen. Clinton this week for not doing more to see that records from her husband’s administration are made public. “She’s been reluctant to disclose information,” Obama’s chief strategist David Axelrod told reporters in a conference call where he specifically cited the slow release records from the Clinton library. “If she’s not willing to be open with (voters) on these issues now, why would she be open as president.”

And lastly, the BO campaign has denounced a senior foreign policy advisor’s description of Hillary Clinton as a “monster.” The advisor herself, Samantha Power, has apologized.

Meanwhile, Amanda Carpenter reports that while the two Dem candidates bicker here stateside, McCain has more important things to do:

According to CNN, McCain will go to Europe and the Middle East in the coming weeks to meet with our allies and “leaders of key countries.”

The report says he will have “an itinerary designed to showcase his credentials as the candidate with the most foreign policy experience.”

When he gets back to the US McCain will go on a domestic tour designed to highlight his military service, with stops in places like Annapolis.

This news comes after some press mastery McCain Communications Director Jill Hazelbaker demonstrated by knocking Clinton and Obama on foreign policy after Clinton decided to make it an issue for Obama.

This is the advantage McCain has over Clinton and Obama. They’ll both be spending millions attacking each other for the next 7 weeks before the PA primary, which is good for him because he has a serious money disadvantage. If Hillary pulls out a win in PA, expect even more millions spent between BO and HRC as the mudslinging will continue.

PM Update: Fox News is reporting that Samantha Power has resigned.