Obama Decides Against Public Funding
filed in Blog on Jun.19, 2008
Barack Obama opted out of public financing for his presidential election campaign today.
It’s a controversial move, because in a questionnaire he filled out months and months ago, he said he’d like to see both party nominees seriously consider going the public money route. Public money means that they use tax dollars to finance their campaign, and they can’t accept certain kinds of money. In general, it means less money for the candidate, but also a “cleaner” sort of money.
McCain has been calling for Obama to accept public money, because it will mean Obama can’t out-raise him by tens of millions of dollars this summer. Now, they’ll be attacking Obama’s claim that he’s a straight-talking, “different” kind of politician on this basis, and they won’t be totally wrong. Obama’s camp claims that they spoke to McCain’s people about the pros and cons of their decision before making it, but the McCain campaign denies it.
But honestly, if you were shattering fund raising records, and doing it in a “different,” shockingly grassroots kind of way — gaining millions from literally millions of small donors, donating ten or twenty dollars at a time, as Obama has… would you forsake all of that historic momentum just so you could *appear* noble?
I’d say that would be the actual political ploy.
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June 20th, 2008 on 5:31 am
“would you forsake all of that historic momentum just so you could *appear* noble?”
Obama said he would take public financing if McCain did. He obviously doesn’t want to because he can easily outraise McCain. Does that make is deception about it any better? This new politics looks like the same old politics to me. A liar by any other name still stinks!
June 20th, 2008 on 5:38 am
Of course McCain is saying that he is LYING! Because that IS EXACTLY what he is doing. Clinton Supporters SHOULD back right AWAY From this LYING! The public CANNOT BELIEVE ONE WORD OUT OF HIS MOUTH and it shows EACH and EVERYDAY! He signed on the dotted line…MAKE HIM KEEP WITH HIS AGREEMENT!
June 20th, 2008 on 12:48 pm
For the record, the questionnaire he filled out wasn’t any sort of “agreement” — it was an opinion-seeking form. “Signing” it did not bind anyone to anything, and it wasn’t a contract of any sort.
It asked Mr. Obama his opinion regarding public financing, and nothing more. His answer was that if his opponent had agreed to it (which Mr. McCain had not), Obama would consider accepting public money.
June 21st, 2008 on 2:55 am
Give me a damn break! Obama is the only real man for the job. For God Sakes people take a look the last fucking 8 years. Unless you have been rich and fortunate - you have suffered. We all need a damn break! You can come fine me in Jackson, TN - because I know Obama is RIGHT!!!