"Obama broke promise about public funding " ?? . . . WTF?

[annabanana]

How the hell do they get away with saying that?

1) I don't think he ever "promised" to use public funding.

I think he said that he would if McCain did. I am hearing a LOT of mis-intimation all over my TV machine today. I'm pretty sure he said that he'd public finance if his opponent would pledge to the same standards

2) McCain said he wanted public financing. . .then he GOT A LOAN on the strength of that public financing..THEN he opted out of the public financing..


Could someone on my TV machine please explain to me why they are making it look like Obama is the waffler here? I mean really..Didn't McCain use our money as collateral? I don't even know if he paid it back...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/21/AR2008022103141.html

[Liberal In Texas]

1. Thanks for articulating what I've been thinking. n/t

[Berry Cool]

2. Keith Olbermann got it right on Countdown last night

contrary to everyone else.

Unfortunately, majority rules and now "Obama broke his promise" is the goddamn media "narrative" that will be tossed around all weekend long.

[Vinca]

3. MSM doesn't necessarily report what they consider news accurately.

They're a bunch of news readers, so the person scribbling the copy rules. Obama answered "yes" to a question about taking public financing, then wrote a long narrative qualifying the yes answer. They've conveniently omitted that part.

[Fluffdaddy]

4. Come on guys lets not spin this. He made a 180 change on public financing

I understand way he did it. And he will take a small hit for...............As he should

[annabanana]

5. ?Linkie?. . . . .

[Fluffdaddy]

14. he signed paper indicating those were his intentions. And you know this

I'm not looking for a link to prove something you already know

[Warren Stupidity]

38. What exactly did he sign?

Do you even know?

"If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election."

He did just that. McCain refused to stop RNC funding and to stop 527 loophole funding. No agreement was reached. End of story, unless of course you wish to accept the bullshit media coordinated echo chamber version. McCain also violated the public funding laws during the primary, opting in, using his opt-in status to get a loan, and then opting out. Would you make a deal with this clown?

[Warren Stupidity]

7. No. Sorry. That is simply false.

But since you have made the assertion please provide the evidence that backs up your claim of a '180 change on public financing'.

Hint: we already covered this during the primaries and the statements from the Obama campaign will not back up your claim.

[EFerrari]

35. Maybe 180 is an overstatement. Maybe it was just a 45. lol

[malaise]

20. I suggest you watch the Olbermann link from last night

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#25273881

[calmblueocean]

31. That Olbermann link is really good.

All the time, the MSM tries to lump Olbermann in with Bill O'Reilly as being two sides of the same coin.

But this was what real journalism is! The MSM has oversimplified this issue to McCain's advantage out of sheer laziness. They would rather fan the flames of conflict than talk about the truth.

[EFerrari]

36. At 6:04, Fineman quietly doesn't follow Keith's lead on this,

pointing out that Obama wanted to raise money on the net and as far as negotiations with the McCain people, "it cuts both ways".

In fact, at 5:32, Howard opens with the true statement, nothing prevents honest discussion in politics like campaign financing.

[MiniMe]

21. Olberman took on this myth, and explained it very well

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#25273881

Educate yourself, the MSM lies.

[EFerrari]

34. Yes, he did and Keith had to nearly break his neck to spin it last night.

Howard Fineman looked distinctly uncomfortable when Keith was asking him to chime in. Whatever.

[Warren Stupidity]

6. They are simply lying on cue. Pavlov's Press.

There is no longer even a veiled attempt to make some appearance of objectivity. Talking points are delivered, talking points are broadcast.

[AldebTX]

8. You are Dealing with Facts

They (the MSM) are dealing with what creates the most controversy and gets people talking the most. They are chasing a story whether it exists or not.

[DrDan]

9. he did - he signed a sheet of paper indicating those were his intentions

But Joe S is right on this. He should have come back with the argument that he has decided not to take taxpayer money. Would have resonated better.

Now he will have to take the hit.

[annabanana]

12. I would sure like a link that says he'd do this without McCain's

pledge to do the same...

edited to ask why the hell you believe Scabrough on this?

[DrDan]

16. well

"In response to a questionnaire in November from the Midwest Democracy Network, which is made up of nonpartisan government oversight groups, Obama said: ‘‘Senator John McCain 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.’’ "

and he didn't

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1014824,public061908.article

[MiniMe]

27. Senator McCain actually accepted the public financing for the primary

He even secured a loan based on getting the public financing, and then decided that it didn't apply to him. The FEC has already said that he can't do that, especially after using the public financing to secure the loan. McCain may have broken the law with that move. It is all spin.

[calmblueocean]

15. It's not quite that simple.

http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/06/19/the-problem-with-obama-s-public-financing-acrobatics.aspx

Asked last September on a questionnaire from the Midwest Democracy Network whether he would "participate in the presidential public financing system" if his "major opponents agree to forgo private funding in the general election campaign," Obama checked the box marked "yes," then outlined his vision for the 2008 contest. "In February 2007, I proposed a novel way to preserve the strength of the public financing system in the 2008 election," he wrote. "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... If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election."

So basically, he checked the box, but clarified that it hinged on agreement with the Republican nominee on certain terms.

It's not quite the cut and dry "Obama LIED!" story the MSM is making it out to be.

[DrDan]

17. well - did he "actively pursue an agreement with" mccain?

if not - then he flipped

[annabanana]

19. Please watch the Olberman link

You seem to be missing McCain's dance steps in this...

[MiniMe]

23. Yes, he did. His reps were actively meeting with McCain's reps for the last

2 weeks. McCain wouldn't budge. What a coincidence that McCain wouldn't declare and then declares he would take it hours after Obama announces. Sounds like a set-up to me.

[DrDan]

25. I believe that - that it was a set-up

Obama signed the pledge - and the GOP knew it was a mistake to sign first. So they played it out.

repubs are much better at campaigning than us.

[MiniMe]

26. Did you read the question on that survey?

The question was if opponent would pledge to accept campaign finance, would you also agree. Obama checked yes, and then wrote a comment. His reps tried to work with McCain who wouldn't budge, and wouldn't commit, so Obama opted not to accept it. That is not breaking what he signed,McCain wouldn't commit.

McCain is a piece of work, he accepts public campaign financing in the primary, gets a loan based on that financing, and then tries to opt out. I think the only reason he is doing the public financing is that he knows that he can't match Obama's fundraising and is trying to limit it.

Edited to add: Watch the Olberman link as has been provided to you http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#25273881

It explains it quite clearly.

[DrDan]

28. the pledge in question indicates he would work

aggressively to reach an agreement with mccain.

Did he do that? You say he did. Oberman, in the clip, glosses over it saying "apparently that didn't work".

Did he, in fact, agressively work for an agreement? If so - then why have they not indicated an agreement could not be reached. Perhaps they have - I have not heard it if so.

What mccain does is moot (regarding the loan). It is a separate issue.

I think the Obama staff was outplayed on this one.

[calmblueocean]

10. There was an AP article yesterday that was truly awful on this.

It ended with some remark like, "So much for being a straight shooter."

This wasn't an opinion piece, this was an actual AP news article! I couldn't believe it.

[malaise]

11. Only Olbermann spoke the truth on this one

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#25273881

This is planned disinformation. Everyone else on M$M has either regurgitated the official spin or has spiced it up with lies. I was very surprised that Rachel Maddow did not expose David Gregory and no one called out either McCain, Tweety, Anderson Cooper.

add.

[Gman]

13. If someone doesn't vote for Obama because of this

he never had their vote to begin with. It's no big deal.

[Fluffdaddy]

18. I agree, nobody going to change their vote over this.

[malaise]

22. Another thread on this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3484485

[izzie]

24. I think he said he would like to use that system but who cares?

You know the GOP just goes around it any how and they us those other groups. Obama get most of his from every day people so it is a pretty good system he has. Maybe the Dem. can get up to speed with the GOP this time.

[iamahaingttta]

29. The REAL question here is...

...what are you doing with that TV machine yammering away at you so early in the morning?
Don't you know that thing causes brain damage?
You do realize, of course, that all of those highly coiffed grafters that they hire to do the yammering are only there to fulfill the corporate agenda of confusing you and pissing you off so that you salve the wound in your psyche that they are causing by going out and buying more of the consumer goods that they advertise for their sponsors?
I mean, they aren't there to inform you, they are there to sell products.

Please... don't take those made up Barbie and Kens too seriously. Turn off the TV and respect your brain!

[annabanana]

32. (standard oppo research). . .n/t

[iamahaingttta]

39. If it were "standard oppo research..."

...you wouldn't get upset about it.

You commented on it because it (quite rightly) pisses you off. Are you watching that crap on the TV because you enjoy being pissed off? Probably! Television is a vast, propagandizing wasteland, and to be surprised by ANYTHING that those idiots has to say is just kinda dumb. THEY EXIST TO PISS YOU OFF AND PROPAGANDIZE YOU!

And it worked...

[annabanana]

41. No dear..

(shhh . .I'm catapulting)

[old mark]

30. I saw this on CNN again last night

"Broken Promise" the caption, and over and over, people saying, well, he's lying already, here we thought he might be a different kind of politician, but it's the same old politics".....
Funny thing is the right hates CNN for being leftist.

What the hell are they really - just stupid?


mark

[annabanana]

33. No.. they most certainly AREN'T stupid. .

They are complicit

[librechik]

37. It's the new Swiftboat Slogan. repeat it enough with enough righteous outrage

and nobody will care if it's not true.

[blues90]

40. Isn't this really about 1976 and 84 million max in a GE?

That's what it is about. So do people really want anyone to be able to buy an election? It should not matter if it's Obama , it shopuld matter on principle.

You do realize that most of this money will end up in the hands of the very peoples pockets that own the media, the very media that has been lying to us and never giving the facts or information they are trusted to do and the only people who are protected in the constitution.

I suppose it's ok for only those who can afford to contribute to get what they want and all the rest be damned.

Why not just change it to whom ever hits the top money wins the seat and don't vote at all. Lets just make it all about the damn money.

[Jack_DeLeon]

42. It does look bad that he broke his promise...

but he wants to win and the rest doesnt matter.