Pay for What You Get

I saw this headline earlier today, and didn't think that much of it. But then I heard it on the radio, and something about it really cracked me up.

Apparently, some wily Obama operatives lured some impressionable Indiana University students from a Clinton campaign rally by giving away free tickets to a Dave Matthews concert. (Read on to realize that the way this is being played isn't exactly the way it is.)

The most surprising development here: that college kids still like Dave Matthews.

Less surprising: that college kids' votes can be so easily bought:

Jason Schechtman, 19, Deerfield, Ill., a student at IU, got his tickets about 8 p.m. after waiting more than three hours. He met folks in line who said they'd left the Clinton rally to wait for tickets.

"I was leaning toward Obama, but this sealed the deal for sure," he said. "The Obama campaign announced this right as (Bill Clinton) was about to speak, and it brought everyone from over there to over here."

Then again, this is unfair of me. I know of one person who might be willing to switch their allegiance to McCain to Obama to get to see Dave Matthews in concert, and this person is a long way from college. Actually, I probably know more than one person who would be willing to do so, I just don't happen to know who they are planning on voting for, though, if I had to guess, I'd have to say McCain. I doubt any of them are planning on voting for Obama, though they might change their mind once they realize that Obama and Matthews are so tight.

The guy that was talking about this on the radio mentioned that these tickets can't be cheap. But given that Matthews has endorsed Obama (yawn), this is less impressive. Oh, yeah, and the fact that the concert is actually an Obama event and THE CONCERT IS FREE.

It's not exactly bribing for votes, then, is it?