Obama and Public Financing of Elections

Let's get this right. Obama NEVER said he would take public funding. He suggested support for the concept while expressing his concern over the integrity of the system itself. Obama said he would explore it based on conversations with and actions by his Republican opponent. "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." In short, no 527s.

So, in looking out at the campaign finance landscape, what does Obama see? John McCain took public financing during the primary campaign because he had no money. Then he opted OUT public financing because he wanted to run a general election strategy without financial impediments AND, more importantly, he wanted to see how much money he could raise. Well, as of yesterday he opts BACK into the public financing. So, like off shore drilling, torture and Bush's tax cuts, McCain has CHANGED his position. Many times. I see no editorials or public outcry about that. And McCain for all his straight shooter mythology actually waited for Obama to commit to a course before making his own very clear. How pathetic is that? There were supposedly conversations between the two campaigns and no accord was reached. Is that Obama's fault? I don't think so. Apparently McCain and his lawyers never bothered to return the Obama camp phone calls.

Senator Obama looks at his opponent and sees a hypocrite who is gaming the system, a guy who talks about running a civilized campaign but says little or nothing when 527s start running attacks ads against Michelle and Barack Obama in Tennessee and South Carolina, a guy who knows that these attack groups will do his dirty work for him. That's what these neo con/swift boating groups do. McCain is trying to coopt the high road knowing full well his backside is covered by the highly partisan groups supporting his candidacy.

Obama has created a different, alternative public financing campaign which takes no money from lobbyists, special interests or PACs. In fact Obama has achieved the intended results of the law. Ordinary Americans are funding the Obama campaign with over 300,000,000 donations.


McCain supporters and embittered Clintonistas may complain and accuse but I heard or read nothing from them all those years when Republicans or the Clintons dominated the election fundraising.

Obama did the right thing. His proactive approach assures him of the best chance of winning in the fall. And it demonstrates to all of us that he is not the confused candidate who headed the ticket in 2004.

And more importantly he understands that he may have to destroy the system of public finance in order to rebuild it from the ground up, so that it serves ALL Americans, not just those who can afford access.