Q: What's the rule for Democrats running for national office? A: Hide who you are. Run to the center, run as a conservative if you have to and you can get away with it, but for Heaven's sake never ever own up to your big-government leftist positions. It's the kiss of death.

But every now and again leftists lose focus and show their true colors. "The Life of Julia" is a prime example. It's a little slide show comparing and contrasting the President's cradle-to-grave activist approach to government and the Republican Romney's heartless "you're on your own" model (i.e. the American way). The problem is, like a woman trying to look hot on a first date with a low cut dress, it's a little too revealing and suggests the wrong message. Even that collection of leftist hacks on MSNBC were embarrassed for the President because the underlying message of dependency, intrusion and "you're not good enough to make it without us" may be a fine a policy goal, but should never be enunciated so clearly.

I think I understand where Team Obama is trying to go with this. Their tactics of divide, manipulate and blame are not working that well. They desperately want to present a positive vision for the future (you know, a little hope and change) that worked so well last time, but when you have a clear record of failure it's hard to offer up just more of the same. Dependency doesn't work in real life, as the President's policies have demonstrated, and it won't work as a campaign theme.