April 09, 2008
Going Back On A Promise?
John McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said today that only a "typical politician" would vow to accept public financing and then reneg on his promise. Bounds was, of course, responding to Barack Obama's statement last night that his campaign has created a "parallel public financing system," a hint, of course, that he's likely to opt out if he's wins the Dem nom.
“Barack Obama publicly promised the American people that he would accept public financing if he is the nominee of his Party," Bounds said. "Launching his campaign by going back on a promise to voters would be dishonest, and exposes his ‘politics of hope’ as empty rhetoric out of a typical politician."
A reminder of how this flap got started ... Last fall, Obama answered "yes" to a Midwest Democracy Network Questionnaire, which asked: "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?"
Here is his full response: "I have been a long-time advocate for public financing of campaigns combined with free television and radio time as a way to reduce the influence of moneyed special interests. I introduced public financing legislation in the Illinois State Senate, and am the only 2008 candidate to have sponsored Senator Russ Feingold’s (D-WI) bill to reform the presidential public financing system. In February 2007, I proposed a novel way to preserve the strength of the public financing system in the 2008 election. My plan requires both major party candidates to agree on a fundraising truce, return excess money from donors, and stay within the public financing system for the general election. My proposal followed announcements by some presidential candidates that they would forgo public financing so they could raise unlimited funds in the general election. The Federal Election Commission ruled the proposal legal, and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has already pledged to accept this fundraising pledge. If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election."
But this was before Obama started raking in $55M in a given month. Largely in small-dollar donations.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted at 11:50 AM
Comments
It is ironic how all the focus is on how Obama may break his pledge to participate the public financing and no mention of McCain's shenanigans with being both in and out of public financing already during the primaries. I guess it depends on what the definition of "is" is.
Common Sensicus | 04.09.08 03:09 PM
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You don't say whether the McCain flak was able to keep a straight face while saying that only a "typical politician" would vow to accept public financing and then renegE on his promise. This is exactly with McCain did in the primary season, and now he's violating the law by exceeding the spending limits he accepted, even though he received a benefit from being in the public financing system, since it exempted him from the expense of having to gather signatures to get on the Ohio primary ballot.
ompson | 04.09.08 04:14 PM
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Barack Obama doesn't need to take federal public financing dollars.
Obama's campaign is already funded by the public and is successful at it.
RiverRed | 04.09.08 09:25 PM
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McCain never accepted public financing. He only stated to the bank that he would take public financing if he could not raise enough money to cover the loans.
It's funny that Obama was the one who shot himself in this foot with this public financing scandal. It was his proposal for both the GOP and Democrat candidate to take public fiancing and be on equal terms during the election. Well, I guess it won't be the first time Barak "20 years" Obama lied about something.
Roy Mustang | 04.10.08 06:23 AM
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Obama is a liar...end of story!
lionred | 04.10.08 06:52 PM
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Obama is a liar...end of story!
lionred | 04.10.08 06:53 PM
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