McCain Expresses Concern Over Unfettered Fund Raising

[Nambe]

Source: The Wall Street Journal

During an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” the Republican nominee expressed concern over the amount of money his Democratic opponent was raising — and spending. Obama brought in a jaw-dropping $150 million in September, eclipsing his past record of $66 million.

In talking about the news, McCain repeatedly referred to the Watergate scandal that resulted in the impeachment of former President Richard Nixon. McCain pointed to that incident, which included Republicans breaking into the Democratic National Committee offices, as an example of the kind of corruption that comes as the result of unlimited funds. (Shortly after Watergate, the federal government added amendments to the Freedom of Information Act enacting campaign finance laws.)

“What’s going to happen, particularly if you’ve got an incumbent president, and we no longer stick to the … public financing, which was a result of the Watergate scandal?” McCain asked. “So what’s going to happen? The dam is broken. We’re now going to see huge amounts of money coming into political campaigns, and we know history tells us that always leads to scandal.”

McCain suggested that the number of small-dollar donations Obama’s campaign has received — the average donation size is $86 — is suspect. (Campaign finance laws are much looser for donations under $200.) ...

Read more: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/10/19/mccain-expresses-concern-over-unfettered-fund-raising/

[neverforget]

1. Wah! cry me a fucking river

[gateley]

2. STFU, McCain. nt

[joanski0]

3. This is the second time he said my

small donations are suspect. Eat shit, McCain.

[LynnTheDem]

4. DAMN those AMERICAN CITIZENS donating to Obama!!!11!

How DARE they!!!1!!

[minnesota_liberal]

29. UNPATRIOTIC American Citizens

Because they can't be patriotic unless they're supporting McCain.

[Sub Atomic]

5. What a crybaby.

\

[LynnTheDem]

6. The high number of small-dollar donations are coz we poor people,

you know, the blacks and the working joes and jills, can't afford more than that.

Thanks to republicans such as George W. bUsh and John McCain.

[jwirr]

24. Add to that us fixed income seniors.

[livelongandprosper]

7. LOSER! n/t

[TankLV]

8. Sure he does - now that he's on the losing end of it!

If he were on the receiving end of it all, like the repukes usuall were up until THIS ONE TIME, he'd be telling us all to "get over it"...

their hypocricy and hutzpa knows no bounds...

[Cheap_Trick]

9. I hope the wrinkled bitter old fucker chokes on his sour grapes

Fuck You, "war hero"

[Grown2Hate]

10. In the words of the great comedian Artie Lange...

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! I chose public financing because I couldn't motivate people to donate to my shitty campaign! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

[Juche]

41. He didn't choose public financing

The DNC forced him to take it. During the primary McCain used public financing as collateral in a primary loan. After he won the primary and considered opting out of public financing, the democratic party sued to force him to accept it. That is my understanding at least, my impression is he considered opting out but was sued into accepting it.

Ha fucking Ha McCain. Now he has $84 million in Sept/Oct while Obama will have $300 million.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/04/dnc-wants-court.html

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/dems-plan-lawsuit-over-mccains-reversal-on-public-campaign-financing/

[Plucketeer]

11. Well Senator Sour Grapes.........

......we watched as the last two elections were bought by those desiring to control DC. We obviously learned our lesson well. Too fucking bad for you, you wealthy ass hole! Go cry in one of your many homes while we try to keep one roof over our heads. :grr:

[CLANG]

12. Shut your traitorous pie-hole, McSHIT.

[undeterred]

13. I'd like to express concern over his wife making too much money

and McCain having too many houses. I think it leads to a candidate who is totally out of touch with the common person.

[Peace Patriot]

14. Har-har! The grass roots Democrats are beating the Pukes at their own game,

and, really, all the Bushwhacks and fascists can do is whine about it. It's so-o-o-o-o Republican of us! Much as I hate the gazillions of dollars in our political campaigns--and much of it going to the Corpo/Fascist 'news' monopolies--I'm just roaring with laughter over this. It is hilarious. And, at an average of $86 a head, totally, totally awesome.

They tried to fuck with our heads and turn us into stupid consumers, instead of smart citizens. And what did we do? We turned consumerism and predatory capitalism on its head, with our collective donations!

That's $86 that ain't going to Exxon Mobil and corporate resource wars! That's $86 that's going to work in our favor!

:rofl: x 1,000,000!

"McCain suggested that the number of small-dollar donations Obama’s campaign has received — the average donation size is $86 — is suspect."

SUSPECT!

:rofl: :bounce: :wow: :bounce: :rofl:

[beac]

15. I thought Republicans were all for "let the market decide"???

In this case, the market has decided to make OBAMA President!

[AndyTiedye]

16. Did the RNC Cut Him Off?

McAin't has access to unlimited fundraising via the RNC.
Donation limits are far higher for the RNC than for any single campaign,
so his fat-cat friends can donate $70,000 each.

Whatsamatter? Did the RNC Cut you off, John?
I bet you gave them a piece of your mind when they did!

[DeadManInc]

17. Waah I can't raise money because I am a fucking idiot, and

picked a turd for a running mate.

[Doctor_J]

18. Better get the DoJ to investigate!

He gets more pathetic by the day

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. McCain and Palin are responsible for the huge donations to Obama's campaign

The increase in September is huge; and it's because people are worried about what a McCain presidency would be like. McCain's tactics of hatred have frightened people that he'd tear the country apart; and his choice of a clearly unsuitable VP candidate got people to donate in record numbers to to Obama: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/04/after-palin-speech-obama-has-record-10-million-day/

That wasn't because of 'suspect' donations; it was a widespread revulsion of Palin, and the atmosphere of hatred she symbolises and encourages.

[FVZA_Colonel]

20. 3.1 million donors estimated in September. At $86 per person, that would be $266,000,000.

Given the numbers are around $150,000,000, at $86 per donor that works out to an average of 1,744,186 donors.


What's so suspect?

[mwb970]

21. That's the most desperate talking point I ever heard.

[pitohui]

22. boo hoo my wife's millions were supposed to buy the election for me

suck on it, you old fool, life is unfair, and you have been outbid

he wouldn't have said boo if he had continued, as he had expected, to be much more heavily funded than obama from his "have and have more" base

[PsN2Wind]

23. He should talk to his Dear Friend Mitch McConnell

who continually equates money to free speech.

[yourguide]

25. I'd like to thank john mccain for his "concern"

can someone please deliver both mccain and joe the plumber a pizza now?

[HPD]

26. I made my first ever political contribution $$$

And that's why Obama can raise so much. WHat is suspect is that there can actually exist a candidate that inspires people and actually brings something new to the American govenrment. Democrats always had a hard time raising money. But now with the internet, the people can easily contribute.

Republicans=Corporate power + right-wing religious fringe groups

Democrats= The rest of us.

[rcrush]

27. I've just donated exactly $86

dun dun dun!

[Bossy Monkey]

28. Gee, John, maybe you could take out a loan against your federal matching funds...

Oh wait, you already did that. What a maverick you are!

[Kalifornia.Kid]

30. "STFU"

[minnesota_liberal]

31. McCain opted out of public financing after using potential matching funds as loan collateral

Now he's complaining because Obama has more contributions?

That makes McCain a whiner, a hypocrite and a cheat.

[FrenchieCat]

43. don't forget that McCain is also a first class Liar. n/t

[CitizenPatriot]

32. I'll file this away with his concerns over the "single largest threat to our

democracy -- voter fraud"

Since today we found out that the GOP hired a man who has been arrested for voter fraud -- a fraud he deliberately perpetrated against innocent citizens by lying to them about what they were signing.

Needless to say, thanks for the head's up John, about what we should be investigating in your camp.

Illegal donations? Yeah, like the money you got from the Saudis earlier this year and had to return?

[TygrBright]

33. mmmmmm..... The smell of GOPpie desperation! n/t

[joewicker_TX]

34. What a fucking crybaby

Here is the next smear campaign line of attack..."McCain: Obama cash will lead to scandal"

"http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081019/pl_politico/14719"

[Sisaruus]

35. McCain just inspired me to give more.

That just inspired me to make another small donation. Maybe the Repubs will start an FBI file on me (a personal goal) before they leave the WH and keep a list of all my assorted $10 and $25 donations.

[Doremus]

36. Must limit small donations -- only lobbyists and $2K donations allowed.

He'd have no problems whatsoever doing it either. Damned bastard.

[tanyev]

37. He wouldn't be complaining if it were rolling in his direction.

[Barbara2423]

38. Republicans & FAUX News trying to trash Joe Biden

Check out this link:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/15/biden-routes-campaign-cash-to-family-their-firms/

[stlsaxman]

39. Perhaps he should express concern about THE HATRED he's fomenting?!?!?

McCain is a heartless, dying fuck.

[Juche]

40. McCain is low

Pathetic, now having the public support you and participate in democracy with $25 donations is a bad thing. McCain has lost virtually all integrity as a result of this campaign.

On the bright side I hope this campaign cements into the public's mind how irrational, ethically bankrupt and incompetent the GOP is. They have hopefully lost an entire generation (they poll shit for people born after 1977) who won't touch them.

[radfringe]

42. should mccain lose in November

any bets that mccain will push for tighter campaign finance regulations?

for finances, wall street, and corporations he's "the Deregulator", Mr. Burn-The-Rule-Book - but have problems raising funds or lose an election and he becomes the defender of campaign finance...

where was his "concern" in 2004 when bush campaign set a few records? His "sincerity" falls short.

[HopeHoops]

44. "I'm really pissed that there aren't enough richies to pay me what Obama gets from real Americans"

[bdamomma]

45. I am proud to say I contributed to that

$150 million, and I will contribute more.

[bemildred]

46. Money is speech, take it up with Fat Tony. nt

[all.of.me]

47. Jealous, losing and grasping at straws.

He should spend the time and energy he takes complaining about stuff like this to be out fundraising and behaving so people will want to donate! He just doesn't get it. He's a child in old man's clothing.

[Suji to Seoul]

48. Eat shit, you piece of fucking trash

Go fuck yourself in your 13 houses and 8 cars, dipshit!

God, I hate this pandering asshole!

PS: I'm really smashed right now.