President Obama, who made a surprise trip to Afghanistan Tuesday, deserves credit for giving last year’s order that took out Osama bin Laden.

But to politicize the death of this fiend, which Mr. Obama did in a political attack ad earlier this week, is sad and pathetic.

Worse for voters, it’s probably the first of many mud balls that will be thrown between now and November’s presidential election. Voters should stock up on extra soap and towels.

The killing of the al-Qaeda leader in his compound in Pakistan a year ago was a victory for all Americans. It was a team effort and the product of the work of two administrations — Mr. Obama’s and George W. Bush’s. Mr. Bush started the job and Mr. Obama finished the drill.

Thanks to the nation’s Special Forces, its intelligence sources and a brave Navy Seal team, one less madman walks the earth.

But Team Obama didn’t let the facts get in the way of a political commercial. It questioned whether Mitt Romney had the spine to pull the trigger.

This is a 180-degree pivot from Mr. Obama’s position 12 months ago. At that time, the president correctly said he wouldn’t use the bin Laden killing for gloating purposes. As he put it, he wouldn’t “spike the football.”

Unfortunately, the president just planted it. His image makers also worked in a little victory dance, suggesting Mr. Obama “took the harder and more honorable path” — as if there were any other realistic options.

Americans are divided by politics. Yet all cheered the death of bin Laden. It was a unifying event in the ongoing fight against terrorism.

But that was then and now is now. Mr. Obama is weak on the economy. So it’s not a shock that he wants to divert attention from pocketbook issues like jobs and unemployment.

The sad part is that there are other ways for the president to tout his leadership. For example, flying to Afghanistan to sign an agreement that spells out America’s future role in that country was a gutsy move.

But to brag on himself on the first anniversary of the death of America’s Most Wanted Terrorist doesn’t suggest a man who’s confidently in charge. It’s evidence of a politician who’ll say anything to win an election.

Washington has too many of those as it is.