The Post’s Reliable Source reported yesterday that WTOP Political Analyst and longtime voting rights agitator Mark Plotkin cornered Obama advisor David Axelrod at the Radio and Television Correspondents’ Association dinner last Friday and pressed for the president to put the “Taxation Without Representation” tags on the presidential limousine. Axelrod didn’t seem to think much of the personal appeal, telling Plotkin, “That’s your thing.” Plotkin also found RNC Chair Michael Steele and followed up on the former Maryland Lt. Governor’s promise to put the protest plates on his car.

This is hardly the first time Plotkin has mouthed off to a powerful figure. In March, his strident questioning of two Republican senators over voting rights earned him the title of “rude” from a Weekly Standard reporter; in late 2007, he was booted from the White House for lobbing questions at press-shy First Lady Laura Bush. He also openly called President Obama an “ingrate” over the license plate issue during a White House press briefing earlier this year.

Let’s be honest — this is about as big a non-issue as you can get. The symbolism would be nice, but it’s by no means the thing that’s going to change the course of our long-standing battle for voting rights. But we feel where Plotkin is coming from: why not just put the issue to bed by putting the plates on? It’s not like Obama is against D.C. voting rights or will make anyone angry by doing it. How long could it possibly take to get this taken care of? And hey, White House staff, if you need to borrow our screwdriver, just email tips@dcist.com and we’ll run on over.