Is Obama Changing His Tune About Compensating Campaign Volunteers?

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Money Talks

Before Pennsylvania's Democratic Primary, Barack Obama made a point of saying his campaign would not compensate volunteers who help get the vote out in Philadelphia, saying, "We're not going to pay for votes or pay for turnout."

But now, the Philadelphia Daily News reports Obama appears to be changing his strategy. Local Democratic Party Chairman Congressman Bob Brady says street money will be available. "They told me there are going to be resources here. That’s what we do in Philadelphia; we pay people to work," Brady said.

The campaign's Pennsylvania director would not comment on the availability of street money, but told FOX News the campaign is working with local Democrats.

On the Docket

A Barack Obama supporter is defending Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas regarding the Illinois senator's recent criticism of the judge. Obama told the audience at Saturday’s faith forum in California that he would not have appointed Thomas, saying, "I don't think he was a strong enough jurist or legal thinker."

But Cybercast News reports that Obama adviser Douglas Kmiec, a constitutional law scholar at Pepperdine University, and former legal counsel in the administrations of Ronald Reagan and the first President Bush says he is "disappointed" by Obama's remarks.

"Justice Clarence Thomas is one of the best appointments that have been made... he's the only justice on the Supreme Court who, prior to his appointment, had recognized the relationship between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution."

Preemptive Strike

The executive editor of The News and Observer newspaper in Raleigh, North Carolina, says that John Edwards called him last October to ask that a story about his then-alleged affair not be published. John Drescher writes that Edwards told him on the call the story shouldn't be run because of his wife's cancer. Drescher said Edwards emphasized it twice, saying, "Given Elizabeth's health — she has cancer — he said it was especially important to him that the story did not run in The N&O."

Drescher says Edwards explained that the Raleigh paper arrived on his family's doorstep every day, and was read by friends. The call from Edwards came on the same day he first denied the National Enquirer story about the affair with videographer Rielle Hunter. Editors at News and Observer had already decided not to run the story when Edwards called because they determined it was a little thin.

Drescher says the conversation was off the record, but that he now feels free to report what was said because Edwards lied.

In the Can

The Turkish division of Coca-Cola has just completed a design agreement for a new line of Coke cans that will mark the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. Digital Arts Online reports the cans will feature the Islamic symbol of the crescent moon and star. They will be distributed throughout parts of the Middle East, North Africa and as far east as Indonesia.

News of the Islamic-friendly Coke cans has prompted some critics to ask whether Coca-Cola would change its designs for Christmas from polar bears and penguins to include the Christian cross. Or to include the Star of David for those who celebrate Hanukkah.

Coca-Cola has not yet responded to FOX News about the story.

— FOX News Channel's Zachary Kenworthy contributed to this report.