Barack Obama is complaining loudly to all who will listen that Hillary Clinton is taking the low road on the gas tax holiday. He argues that she is defying virtually all opinion from credible economists that this is poor energy policy.

Well, he might have more credibility as defender of the economic high ground and sound policy had he not fanned the flames of protectionist sentiment in state after state. It was he, after all, who told Ohio voters and Pennsylvania voters that job losses were the legacy of NAFTA (wrong), that open trade had drained the U.S. of its manufacturing base (wrong again), and that the road to recovery started with ripping up a trade treaty with our two nearest geograhical neighbors (really wrong).

So if he complains that the conversation has been debased, that politicians pander to fears instead of educating the public about hard choices, and that Clinton is winning by playing fast and loose with the facts, he might look in the mirror to see someone equally responsible for the economic illiteracy which now dominates the Democratic primary. If you want to set a standard for high-minded campaigning, it is generally best to stick to your own high standards.