gistfile1.py

def _as(var, ident):
  import inspect
  cur_frame = inspect.currentframe()
  outer_locals = inspect.getouterframes(cur_frame)[1][0].f_locals
  outer_locals[ident] = var
  return var


if __name__ == "__main__":
  d = ['a', 'b']

  if _as(d[0], 'c') is not None:
    print c
  else:
    print "failed"