Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D., who also chairs a subcommittee that oversees taxation and IRS oversight, had to donate $10,700 in loan savings from Countrywide when his deal came to light. Obama's veep vetter James Johnson quit after his Countrywide arrangement became known.

Yet another Democrat's sweetheart mortgage deal is exposed — and this time it's the party's standard bearer. What could Sen. Barack Obama do for a lender in exchange for more than $100,000? Plenty.

If Obama is animated by high ideals for the future, why are we finding so many lowdown deals in his past?