I found this a very interesting story for three reasons.

First it is yet another example of the wink nudge quid pro quo system of dealing in DC:

Clinton defends consulting contract

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday denied that her campaign traded money for an endorsement from one of South Carolina's most influential black politicians.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Clinton responded to questions about the consulting contract her campaign negotiated with state Sen. Darrell Jackson, who last week endorsed her candidacy rather than of top rivals John Edwards or Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

"Senator Jackson was someone who was involved in my husband's campaigns. He was someone we turned to for political advice and counsel and I'm proud to have him on my team," Clinton told the AP.

Soon after the endorsement, Jackson acknowledged that his media consulting firm had negotiated a $10,000 per month contract with Clinton's campaign. Jackson has said he turned down more lucrative contracts from other candidates.

Ok, I am unswayed by his defense that he turned down higher bribes contracts.  Sorry, there is no particular comfort knowing that you are for sale even if you don't take the highest bid.

Second, the trade off is fairly obvious.   We are not stupid.  The fact that other campaigns sought his "consulting" just means everyone knew he was for sale.

But as the story unfolds something else struck me:

Although he backed Edwards, the former North Carolina senator, in the 2004 Democratic presidential primary, Jackson said he now supports Clinton because she has the best shot of winning the White House.

And this is point two:  Hillary is not the best qualified, just the odds on winner.  Interesting that of all the issue Jackson could have raised, such as easing poverty and unemployment, or working for racial balance or whatever, the best thing he had to say was that "she has the best shot of winning".

Don't get me wrong, he is right on both counts.  She is not qualified and she is the odds on favorite to win.

The final thing that struck me here in this story was this comment she made about the confederate flag:

Earlier in the day, Jackson introduced Clinton when she spoke to more than 1,500 people gathered at Allen University, a historically black college in Columbia.

Clinton, who spoke to the AP during her first trip to this early voting state since announcing her White House bid, also said South Carolina should remove the Confederate flag from its Statehouse grounds, in part because the nation should unite under one banner while at war.

Boggle!  She didn't just say that did she?  My hypocrite light just lit.

"I think about how many South Carolinians have served in our military and who are serving today under our flag and I believe that we should have one flag that we all pay honor to, as I know that most people in South Carolina do every single day," the New York senator said.

"I personally would like to see it removed from the Statehouse grounds."

No offense Senator Clinton, but since you are pushing for the speedy defeat policies in Iraq, I would wager that the flag you want us to unify under is a white one.

Your 90 cut and run policy will not help us and no amount of uniting will either with you campaigning for defeat.  The real truth is that in your 8 years in the Whitehouse, and your 6 years in the Seante, you still have no understanding of the military, and you are frankly one of the least suited to be comannder in chief of all the presidential wannabes.

You showed constant disdain to the military while you ran the Whitehouse, and you continue to do so as a Senator with you disrespect to their service and sacrifice.

You are flip flopping the issue of the war from a staunch supporter to an anti war Sheehanista, soley for political gain, to appease the nutroots.

Grow up Hillary.  The college protest days are gone for you.  You are, by whatever accident of fate, a US Senator.

Act like one.

Speaking of acts:  Here, courtesy of Hot Air and Michelle Malkin, is a montage of her views, flips flops and racist remarks.

Also at Sister Toldjah