Barack Obama and Public Money. | 46 comments (46 topical, 0 hidden)
Yes (none / 1)
Obama wrote:
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. [LINK.pdf]

So, Obama was for public financing before he was against it. If McCain's flip-flop on offshore drilling is an issue, then Obama's flip-flop on campaign financing is an issue.

by Twba on 06/20/2008 08:37:26 AM EST

How the worm turns (none / 1)

Except that McCain refused to agree to this until he saw he was going to be vastly overmatched in fundraising.  Once that became clear public financing seemed like a splendid idea, a marvelous idea, a breathtakingly magically delicious idea.

Obama should just roll over and agree to public financing to even the playing field, right?  That's what the Republicans would have done were they in his position, correct?  Now the Republicans, those 'classical liberals', are screaming foul.  Poor things.  They only wanted to be fair.  They try and try to be even handed and see how they're treated?  I'm getting choked up just thinking about it.  How can Obama be so heartless?  Doesn't he see the Republicans just want to save the country from greedy corporatists?  They spend all of their waking moments thinking of how best to serve the public, and this is how they're repaid?  The thought brings tears to my eye, I'm having trouble seeing the keyboard.  I'm going to have to stop typing....

by bfaul on 06/20/2008 10:29:01 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Making a mountain out of a molehill (none / 0)

"y 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."

 

Was there an agreement made?  I don't think so.  And, honestly, how could you even trust McCain to honor an agreement with the way he's behaved in regards to public financing. There's a good chance that the man has already taken and used funds illegally.

This isn't a flip-flop. It's not as if he's changed his mind on the issue of public financing, but he's got to deal with the current situation as it stands.

Aside from that, he is publically financed.  Who do you think keeps sending in all those small dollar contributions?

by pmdtrans on 06/20/2008 05:07:03 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Of mt. and men (none / 0)
[new] Making a mountain out of a molehill (none / 0)

Ihavenobias may be just a molehill, but it's too much fun to point out his hypocritical douchebaggery to stop now.

Was there an agreement made?

In Obama's own words:

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.

Did Obama aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee? It does not appear that he made any effort at all, in light of McCain's standing offer to accept Obama's plan.

This isn't a flip-flop.

Of couuuuuuuuuuuuuurse it is a flip-flop.

Aside from that, he is publically financed.  Who do you think keeps sending in all those small dollar contributions?

By that logic, the First Baptist Church of Podunkville is publicly financed. No, Obama is privately financed, regardless of the number of contributors.

by Twba on 06/27/2008 01:22:39 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I restate my challenge (none / 0)

Any argument that Obama must accept public financing or be labeled a flip-flopper has to deal with the issue that McCain has violated the public financing rules.

Why in God's name would you expect Obama to enter into an agreement with a guy who is cheating? 

by ProfRich on 06/27/2008 01:48:25 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Keep spinning, Prof (none / 0)
It doesn't matter what McCain is doing; Obama is a flip-flopper. And I especially enjoy watching all the supporters of public financing rush to spin Obama's rejection of public financing.

by Twba on 06/27/2008 03:01:52 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Doesn't matter what McCain is doing? (none / 0)

So are you saying you won't vote?

Or you will vote for a 3rd party candidate?

The only way it can't matter what McCain is doing is if we have already elminated him from the potential candidates.

To say what my guy does is irrelevant, all we can talk about is what your guy does is ridiculous.  Who do you think is stupid enough to agree to that?

And, since it is an agreement based on the honor system we are talking about, why does it not matter that the other guy has proven to have no honor whatsoever on this exact issue? 

Again, as opposed to snickering and dismissing legitimate arguments, can you make this argument and include McCain's cheating?

I guess the answer is no.

And back to my binary argument.  On campaign finance your choices are a man who backed away from his consideration of taking public financing and a guy who accepted public financing and then shit all over all the rules of our elections.

So, on yet another issue, if you are choosing between Obama and McCain, Obama wins, and not by a little.

I will concede you are winning the argument in the Obama vs. Adam Warlock (google it) election. 

by ProfRich on 06/27/2008 03:16:59 PM EST

[ Parent ]

Barack Obama and Public Money. | 46 comments (46 topical, 0 hidden)