Reach across: Obama and McCain work together on bill

By GottaLaff

(photo link)

Oh, you two crazy kids! What have you been doing behind our backs?

Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) are quietly working together on a good-government bill despite their campaign-trail battle over who is tougher against Washington’s special interests.

McCain’s Senate office contacted Obama’s office Monday night asking to sign on to a bill opening federal government contracts to public scrutiny, according to three knowledgeable sources.

Not that it's any of my business, but I heard that Obama made overtures to Tom Coburn first... shhh. Too late. John Sidney McThirdWheel's already jealous:

Before the call, Obama had been working on the measure primarily with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), an ardent proponent of eliminating wasteful government spending and an early supporter and longtime Senate ally of McCain’s.

After learning that Obama and Coburn were introducing the bill without his backing, McCain’s staffers immediately contacted Coburn to express concern and a desire to be named as an original co-sponsor of the update. They then called Obama’s office.

Obama staffers were happy to comply with McCain’s request to sign on, an Obama adviser said, because they knew support from the two presumptive nominees could propel the legislation to passage in the final months of a packed legislative schedule.

Obama made the first move. He's such a charmer:

Gerry Bass, the executive director of OMBWatch, one of the 19 watchdog groups backing the measure, said it’s clear that Obama took the lead on the transparency bill this year but McCain should get credit for signing onto it.

“It’s a tribute to both of them,” he said. “Obama walks the words he says on the campaign trail by doing things differently. He didn’t have to have on McCain as a co-sponsor. The same can be said about McCain. McCain deserves credit, even though he may not have been involved in the crafting of the bill, he deserves credit for jumping on board.”

They better stay away from the cloak room. No telling what kind of mischief they could get into there.

H/t: TPM