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06/19/2008
Barack Obama Slams Broken Public Financing System, Opts Out
Barack Obama today announced that his campaign has made the decision not to participate in the public financing system for the general election, forgoing more than $80 million in public funds.
Obama criticized the broken system, accusing McCain's campaign of gaming it with special interest PACs and lobbyists.
He sent out a message on YouTube this morning. Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 9:33 AM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, Democratic Party, Election 2008, News | Permalink
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Slams broken public financing system...a.k.a. makes up more bullshit and spin to deflect from that fact that he pledged to use this. Anyone who thinks this man is any different from the majority of lying politicians needs to get their head examined.
Posted by: Chris | Jun 19, 2008 9:49:44 AM
Why doesn't Andy post about the 2 Muslim women that were kicked out of the Obama rally for wearing tradional clothing.
Posted by: Liz | Jun 19, 2008 9:53:54 AM
I wish he would look at me when he talks to me.
Liz, I was thinking the same thing...
Posted by: Tom S. | Jun 19, 2008 9:58:43 AM
...I'm still pissed off about the fucking DNC/idiotic Americans not picking Hillary.
Posted by: Donovan | Jun 19, 2008 10:06:27 AM
Wow! It's amazing how the three previous comments show up the political ignorance of the commentators and actually say nothing about Barack Obama. McCain has already scammed the public finance system. Go read AMERICAblog and learn something before you bitch about it.
Posted by: J.P. Johnson | Jun 19, 2008 10:06:56 AM
Right. And this is also written as if he's making some selfless, virtuous decision. He's forgoing the cash because it allows him to raise much more on his own. Let's be clear. This is a money-based decision. It's not necessarily a bad decision, but we shouldn't be pretending that it is something it's not.
Posted by: DAVID | Jun 19, 2008 10:08:01 AM
How this all plays out should be intriguing to watch.
Posted by: Progression | Jun 19, 2008 10:12:42 AM
You guys can slam him all you want but, this time around anyway, he is without a doubt the best we've got.
Posted by: Patrick | Jun 19, 2008 10:13:51 AM
Most of the money that Obama raised previously was from PRIVATE donations of small amounts of money. Everyone already knows that, so quit acting like he's suddenly become shady (or at least any shadier than Clinton and McCain). From Reuters:
"Instead of forcing us to rely on millions from Washington lobbyists and special interest (groups), you've fueled this campaign with donations of $5, $10, $20, whatever you can afford," he [Obama] said.
Obama's ability to raise huge amounts of money, particularly over the Internet, showed results for him in the Democratic primary contest that turned into a grueling battle against rival Hillary Clinton.
Clinton ended her campaign millions of dollars in debt while Obama was still flush with funds.
Posted by: J.P. Johnson | Jun 19, 2008 10:17:56 AM
FLIP FLOP. FLIP FLOP. I won't wear the flag pin. Now I wear it. I won't disown Jeremiah Wright, I just quit his church. Obama is a power hungry egomaniac who will say or do anything to be elected. I shiver at the thought of this clown becoming president.
Posted by: GT | Jun 19, 2008 10:21:26 AM
Actually as long as it is private funds and not public funds that is fine by me.
Unfortunately we cannot question the fact if Obama could not raise money for the campaign and had to use that, would he be so proud as to not use it.
It is easy for a billionaire to give away a million. Obama is not a billionaire but he has way more money in the coffers to basically just use this for whatever good PR he can. As long as he keeps his mouth shut he is doing himself a service.
It is more his election to lose at this point, and we will see how smart he will be in the upcoming months to not take the bait.
Posted by: Obamalet | Jun 19, 2008 10:23:13 AM
Any "expert" political feedback yet on how damaging opting out of public financing will be for BO? Obviously, repubs will say that he goes back on his word, but is this as bad as a reneged on campaign promise?
Posted by: Progression | Jun 19, 2008 10:25:11 AM
"You guys can slam him all you want but, this time around anyway, he is without a doubt the best we've got."
Whether or not that is true, he is not immune from criticism. When he deserves it, he should receive it. Otherwise, he'd still be traveling with the likes of Reverends Donnie and Jeremiah.
Posted by: DAVID | Jun 19, 2008 10:27:00 AM
In the same breath that Obama says he can't stop the smear campaign of the 527s that are set up, he is smearing his opponent. This election will be the same as others.
Posted by: Liz | Jun 19, 2008 10:27:10 AM
Don't hate the player, hate the game. And politics is a dirty one. Patrick is right. He's our best hope.
Posted by: JJ | Jun 19, 2008 10:27:39 AM
Fuck. Did this site suddenly get inundated by Republicans? Or are people still bitter that Obama beat Hillary?
Posted by: crispy | Jun 19, 2008 10:28:44 AM
If Hillary supporters, especially gay ones, are thinking of voting for McCain out of pique at not getting their way, they should realize that the next president will pick TWO Supreme Court jutices. If McCain wins, he will pick more fascist justices who will rule in favor of every ugly antigay law that the right-wing can dream up.
Want to reverse Lawrence vs, Texas and make gay sex illegal again? Vote GOP.
Want to lose the right to view adult material on the Internet? Vote GOP.
And let's not forget about continuing the war in Iraq, the degradation of our food supply by unregulated Chinese imports, and the rape of the federal treasure by the ultrarich.
Posted by: Gobear | Jun 19, 2008 10:35:49 AM
David, that's why I said "you can slam him all you want".
After the primaries, I'm sick of all the scrutiny, and I'm ready to move on from the current administration. GT says Obama is a clown- what does that make McCain?
Of course no one is immune from criticism, but you decide whether you open your mouth or type on a keyboard. I was an Edwards supporter, I voted for Hillary, and now I'm supporting Obama for president and I'm not going to say a negative word about him until he gets in to office. Then? Hopefully he will, unlike the Bush administration, be scrutinized and held accountable right from the get go.
Posted by: Patrick | Jun 19, 2008 10:39:13 AM
Forgive me if I suddenly caught a touch of the tard, but isn't Obama NOT accepting campaign funds from lobbyists and special interest groups a GOOD THING?
This is one of the reasons I voted for him in the primary. I love that he ran a great campaign using mostly small private donations. And he didn't end up in debt like Hillary. Given the state of the economy, this makes me think that if elected he can actually run the country in a financially responsible way.
Plus the system IS corrupt. Stuff doesn't get done because everyone is beholden to everyone. We need someone who can get elected and actually move some legislation forward and unite the country.
He's not a messiah, but he's the first Democratic nominee I've been really excited about since Bill Clinton in 1992.
Posted by: Alex | Jun 19, 2008 10:43:37 AM
"Fuck. Did this site suddenly get inundated by Republicans? Or are people still bitter that Obama beat Hillary?"
It does seem like that sometimes, doesn't it? But mostly it's the same delusional few who get orgasmic at any opportunity to bash Obama, warranted or not. Bashing Obama is easier than supporting McCain, because, unless you're a Republican who doesn't give a shit about gay rights, there is no justification for supporting the old man with dubious financial baggage. As for Hillary (whom I supported), Frank Rich has debunked the theory that her "bitter" supporters are flocking towards McCain. It makes good copy, but it's not true. Hillary supporters will be smarter than that in Nov.
I'm content to let the ranters rant into the wind while Obama goes about the business of getting elected the next President of the United States.
Posted by: Ernie | Jun 19, 2008 10:52:30 AM
Patrick:
Forgive me if my interpretation of your post was incorrect. When I read "you can slam him all you want," it sounded to me like an outright dismissal of the criticisms rather than an acceptance or acknowledgment of them.
Ignoring his shortcomings and just reminding ourselves that he is the best (or really only) choice we have can turn dangerous quickly.
We should not hesitate to hold him accountable to his promises, or to the spirit of his campaign.
In the end, I'm not interested in voting for him simply because he's the only choice I have.
Posted by: DAVID | Jun 19, 2008 10:57:29 AM
Any progressive who is wasting time slamming (as opposed to scrutinizing and criticizing) Obama at this point is either OLD and can't get over the past or is stupid. (Presuming he or she is not a fake progressive to begin with.) Obama isn't perfect, but he's nearly perfect on every issue any progressive cares about. I don't see what he's done to engender such anger from such a small, loud group of malcontents.
It's laughable to complain that he's foregoing public financing—he doesn't need it and McCain is a complete crook regarding lobbyists and financing anyway!—or to act shocked that he is changing his mind—talk about flip-flopping, look at McCain on drilling offshore, an idea he was against a month ago and is strongly for now
I understood, but disagreed, with people who felt Gore was blah (then) and Kerry was unappealing, but that 'oh wellz they're the best we got.' But Obama? He's not just a consolation prize—he's the real deal, an intelligent, inspiring progressive who will save the Supreme Court not because he is beholden to voters (the reason a President McCain will have no choice but to destroy the Supreme Court) but because he WANTS to. Hillary Clinton lost the election. She deserved to lose. I voted for her, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. I'm sure she'll wind up doing something just as valuable, such as sitting in his cabinet or on the Supreme Court herself.
When Obama wins and has two Democratic houses cheering him on, there will be no stopping the next liberal era of our country, and I'm betting most of Obama's detractors—except for those who hate him for his race or who are anti-progressives in progessive clothing—will feel foolish for ever attacking the guy.
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | Jun 19, 2008 10:59:54 AM
I'm not old, not stupid, and certainly not a fake anything. Thanks for the thoughtful discussion.
Posted by: DAVID | Jun 19, 2008 11:18:59 AM
Here it comes. The other face is coming out and people who voted for this loser are now discovering what an opportunist he really is. For all the bitching people did about Hillary you knew who she was and where she stood! What other surprises are in store from Obama?
Posted by: Bud | Jun 19, 2008 11:28:13 AM
I will probably vote for Obama because his positions on issues (at least what he's actually revealed) are closer to what I support.
That doesn't mean that I don't think his fake cadence when he speaks (come on, people. He's from the Midwest, not Alabama) isn't annoying. Just because his heritage is partially African doesn't mean he has to change his dialect when he does a speech! It is PHONY.
His speeches are only inspiring to people who don't really care about the details of policy. Do his supporters understand his position on the Farm Bill? What about his support for school vouchers? Hope, change, bullshit!
Obama keeps attacking lobbyists, like those who work for NARAL and the unions and on behalf of the environment.
Obama wants us all to work together, come together, betray the foundations of democracy (debate, argument, compromise).
I guess he's the better of two bad choices.
Posted by: Ian | Jun 19, 2008 11:28:27 AM