Wouldn't be "prudent" for Obama to show where his loyalties lie. Better to lie.
That’s my feeling, too. Bambi sure hasn’t been silent about the rest of his positions and was going full bore ahead on the phantom “president elect” stuff until this issue came up. He doesn’t mind in the least conflicting with Bush; he’s just afraid to tip his hand on this one until he’s inaugurated and officially in office, however, because he knows how radically different the US position is going to be after Jan 20.