We all chuckled at Obama's silly playlist, but I feel like it illustrates a very real and important dynamic in modern Democratic politics: The love Democratic voters have of being lied to and knowing that they're being lied to. Let me explain:

First of all, the playlist is absurd. Beyonce singing "At Last?" Listening to "Luck Be A Lady" to pump yourself up? "The Times They Are A-Changin" is your favorite Dylan song? The only thing more disturbing than this being obviously phony is it all being true.

Most Obama-critics I know assume it's obviously fake and meant to pander to people who want their politicians to be "cool" but don't have a high bar. And there are probably a number of people who did buy it. But I believe that the people who love Obama ALSO know it's fake.

Which is to say, I think a lot of Obama fans and loyal liberals look at it and say "Yes, of course this isn't *really* what he listens to, but he has to say so to reach other voters." They know that it's a lie, but they like the lie, because they know it's a lie!

Because they think of themselves as smart enough to know this is how the game works. "Obviously he can't really tell me what he believes, because *other people* wouldn't like it. So he has to do this." But it doesn't bother them, because they're in on it.

Here's why this is important: This kind of self-soothing or delusion or whatever carries over to these same voters' conception of politics generally. "Obama can't do the thing I want him to do, because that's how politics works."

And what we end up with is a system where politicians don't do what we want, don't do what is right, aren't honest, and rather than be mad, their base is happy because THEY know the secret: that everything that's happening is necessary for OTHER PEOPLE who aren't as clever.

This is the scourge of the savvy, something that I think truly undermines the kind of action we desperately need. Voters have insulated themselves from the necessary anger at being lied to or taken advantage of, under the guise of it all being necessary and pragmatic.

And to circle back to my original tweet, they don't just excuse this kind of behavior, they come to enjoy it. Every lie that's told, every inexplicable action or betrayal, makes them feel special because they are in on the secret. "Other people don't get it, but I do."