Barack Obama breaks earlier pledge on public financing

[witchcurlgirl]

Barack Obama announced today that he will not accept roughly $85 million in public funds for the general election, breaking his earlier pledge to do so if his Republican rival John McCain opted in to the system.

He is the first candidate since the 1970s to forego public financing. McCain has already taken steps to suggest he will opt in to the system in the fall.

Both candidates support public financing, and early in the campaign season Obama was a vocal supporter of the system. His campaign, however, has raised unprecedented funds—some $265 million and growing–from a grassroots network of small individual donors.

The Obama campaign argument, in part, is that their campaign is its own version of public financing, since it is built on individual donors and does not accept money from lobbyists or political action committees.

Earlier Obama had pledged that he would sit down with McCain to work out an equitable system if the two candidates were to accept public funds. The Associated Press reported that Obama’s lawyer Robert Bauer said he had met with McCain’s lawyers to discuss terms, but the talks were fruitless.

The decision to opt out of the system will likely set up Obama to have a significant cash advantage over McCain in the general election if the Arizona senator opts in to the system. Even if McCain changes his mind and also opts out, he is unlikely to be able to match Obama’s fund-raising successes.

UPDATE: “Today, Barack Obama has revealed himself to be just another typical politician who will do and say whatever is most expedient for Barack Obama,” said Jill Hazelbaker, McCain’s communications director, in a statement. “The true test of a candidate for President is whether he will stand on principle and keep his word to the American people. Barack Obama has failed that test today, and his reversal of his promise to participate in the public finance system undermines his call for a new type of politics. Barack Obama is now the first presidential candidate since Watergate to run a campaign entirely on private funds. This decision will have far-reaching and extraordinary consequences that will weaken and undermine the public financing system.”

Washington Wire - WSJ.com : Obama Breaks Earlier Pledge on Public Financing

[Grimmlok]

Whatever.

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Thursday he has decided to forgo public financing of his election campaign against Republican John McCain.

The decision frees him up to collect money privately, which could be a help to him strategically ahead of November's election. During the Democratic primary, Obama smashed records for fundraising, largely on the success he achieved in raising money over the Internet.


John McCain can't be trusted when it comes to campaign finance. He already scammed the public finance system in the primaries. This is a very smart move by the Obama campaign.

AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth

Why the hell would anybody willingly enter into an agreement with someone who's under investigation AND being sued for campaign finance fraud, despite being a supposed fighter for campaign finance reform? LOL

Gimme a break!

McSame's campaign should probably start counting their subpoenas.

[louiswinthorpe111]

Whatever. Obama doesn't need public financing, so why use it? It's like using a credit card to buy shit you don't need. I see it as being fiscally responsible. If McCain needs the money, too bad for him.

[witchcurlgirl]

"If you are nominated for president in 2008 and your major opponents agree to forgo private funding in the general election campaign, will you participate in the presidential public financing system?" the Midwest Democracy Network asked in a questionnaire. Mr. Obama's answer was clear. "Yes," he wrote. "If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election."



the politics of change....ing your mind when it suits you

Now, I don't think this makes him a bad person, but it shows a typical politician doing what a typical politician does.....breaking promises.......

[Grimmlok]

I think McCain's lawsuit and his scamming of that system mean the earlier agreement was broken by him.

A fair pursuit, sure. But if McCain has already scammed it, why would you say "sure, let's keep going with it" ?

He's already lied and cheated.

[witchcurlgirl]

the lawsuit was thrown out before and will be again....

The McCain issue is a $4 million line of credit the McCain campaign obtained late last year. While the loan was not secured by the promise of public funds, his agreement with the bank required McCain to reapply for public funds if he lost early primary contests and to use that money as collateral. But he didn't lose the primary.....so, it's moot

That had nothing to do with Obama saying he would aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election." and then changing his mind....because he realized he can raise private funds....

McCain's line of credit was not breaking the agreement with Obama to use public funds in the general election......

[Grimmlok]

How is it private funds if it's all donations from the public, done grassroots style

[witchcurlgirl]

Originally Posted by Grimmlok

How is it private funds if it's all donations from the public, done grassroots style

private as in donated by the people themselves directly......wiseass

I should have said 'non-governmental' or some such nonsense....

The 'public funds' come out of the money the gov collects if you check that little box on your income tax forms

[lurkur]

Anti-Obama people would be happy about this decision were it not for sour grapes that he is kicking butt with individual grass roots donations. By his own individual supporters giving him money, he doesn't have to use taxpayer money toward his campaign, which would necessarily include taxes of people who don't support Obama.

[mamaste]

Originally Posted by witchcurlgirl

the lawsuit was thrown out before and will be again....

The McCain issue is a $4 million line of credit the McCain campaign obtained late last year. While the loan was not secured by the promise of public funds, his agreement with the bank required McCain to reapply for public funds if he lost early primary contests and to use that money as collateral. But he didn't lose the primary.....so, it's moot

That had nothing to do with Obama saying he would aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election." and then changing his mind....because he realized he can raise private funds....

McCain's line of credit was not breaking the agreement with Obama to use public funds in the general election......

Actually, it's not clear if McCain violated campaign finance rules. That's one of the reasons why he hasn't been able to back out. He's been trying to back out since the early part of this year.

However, re-read your Obama quote. These funds are for the primary. The general election has a different set of rules and funding. Obama hasn't broken his promise because the general election has not begun. Besides, how do we know he hasn't "aggressively pursue[d] an agreement with the Republican nominee"? We keep forgetting that neither candidate is their party's official nominee. Nor has the general election begun. It is still primary season.

[witchcurlgirl]

Originally Posted by mamaste

Actually, it's not clear if McCain violated campaign finance rules. That's one of the reasons why he hasn't been able to back out. He's been trying to back out since the early part of this year.

However, re-read your Obama quote. These funds are for the primary. The general election has a different set of rules and funding. Obama hasn't broken his promise because the general election has not begun. Besides, how do we know he hasn't "aggressively pursue[d] an agreement with the Republican nominee"? We keep forgetting that neither candidate is their party's official nominee. Nor has the general election begun. It is still primary season.

Yes dear...

Obama said at an earlier time:
"If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election."

Now today he says he will not use public funds in the general....as the first line in my OP says:Barack Obama announced today that he will not accept roughly $85 million in public funds for the general election, breaking his earlier pledge to do so if his Republican rival John McCain opted in to the system.


I understand clearly that this is in reference to the general...just as it says in my posts...

My point to Grimm was that the DNC lawsuit regarding McCain was about the primaries.....and today Obama has made these statements about not using public funds for the general election

Not sure what you are trying to make me see in my post...

[*DIVA!]

He said he would have talks with the republican candidate!!

[Sweetie]

What will we all have to bicker over after Obama becomes President and cleans up the world?

[witchcurlgirl]

You kill me Sweetie....

[Grimmlok]

We can still bitch about Bush