How big of an issue is it that Barack opted out of public campaign finance?

[Tim4319]

Is this that big of an issue? I am watching the "Situation Room" and they are saying that people view this as Barack having trust issues! How is Barack changing his mind on how he wants to fund his campaign that big of a deal? Even Russ Feingold took issue with his decision.

It seems to be kind of petty to me. But, if someone could help me understand this better, that would be much appreciated.

[Patchuli]

1. It was the smartest thing to do

considering the GOP cheats with Swiftboat Liars, et al. Now he has the money to fight back!

[Tim4319]

7. I thought it was a smart move too!

[Clark2008]

2. Who cares?

Really. Does anyone think the average American gives a flip?

[Tim4319]

3. That is what I was thinking!

This seems like they media making an issue of a non-issue, once again!

[uponit7771]

18. The average American shouldn't give a flip about Obama pastor either but the MsM made a hay day out

...of that like they're doing this issue.

We know the nuance but they don't (Yes, they are less informed than the average blogger) and they've been slamming him all day.

[Clark2008]

32. I don't think they do.

The only people who cared about Rev. Wright were the rightwing and political junkies.

[Imagevision]

4. No biggie at all, I'm glad he had the foresight, and recalled what they did to Kerry

[Tim4319]

17. So this decision that Barack has made to no accept public money

will handicap Swiftboating?

[BOSSHOG]

5. The gop has made me extremely jaded over the past 30 years

If anyone is bloviating about an alleged wrongdoing by a (D) I just sit back and think of what gwb has done (in the last week) let alone the last eight years.

Trust issues? After eight years of bush and cheney and now we have trust issues?

[Tim4319]

21. True

So true! The GOP should apologize for bringing up trust issues!

[FrenchieCat]

6. It is the media spinning for the candidate, John McCain.

Otherwise, they would called McCain on the carpet for his "trust" issues....but they won't.

You have to ignore CNN, and/or write them letters like I am doing.

Here's the problem with them making a big deal of this in reference to Barack, while they say nothing of John McCain:

The Media has amnesia about McCain's flip flop on campaign financing....among his many other flip flops.

McCain was out for the primaries, then he was in for the primaries, then he was out for the primaries, not he's in for the General.

But somehow, Obama is the Boogieman......

Also note that Obama is taking charge over his objection of 527s on the Democratic side, and those 527s are complying. McCain has not shown leadership on this, as he has professed that he doesn't have any control over 527s on the GOP side. Who wants a leader who can't control the party that he represents? That is the real issue in this whole slant.

Appears that Obama is much more of a leader in this public financing issue, even if he is being portrayed as the flipflopper. Read here:
Exclusive: MoveOn To Close Its 527 In Response To Obama's Candidacy
By Greg Sargent - June 20, 2008, 12:05PM

MoveOn, the advocacy group supporting Barack Obama, has decided to permanently shutter its 527 operation, partly in response to the Illinois Senator's insistence that such groups should not spend on his behalf during the general election, I've learned from the group's spokesperson.

MoveOn's decision, which will dramatically impact the way it raises money on Obama's behalf, is yet another sign of how rapidly Obama is taking control of the apparatus that's gearing up on his behalf
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/moveon_to_close_its_527.php



McCain's Flip Flop Evidence here:

March. 2, 2007
McCain may opt out of public financing system
Decision depends on winning nomination and Democratic nominee's plans
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17417007 /

Feb 18, 2008
McCain found a way to use the public funds as an insurance policy: If he did poorly, he would use public funds to pay off his loans. If he did well, he would have the advantage of unlimited spending.
There's a reason no one's ever done anything like this. It makes a travesty of the choice inherent in voluntary public financing, between public funds and unlimited spending. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Legal or not, it should bring to an end whatever tiny thread of credibility John McCain still has as a straight-talker or reformer of the political process.

http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=02&year=2008&base_name=the_pete_rose_of_politics


April 4, 2008

McCain returns $3m in checks as he considers public funding
http://www.blogrunner.com/snapshot/D/7/3/mccain_returns_3m_in_checks_as_he_considers_public_funding/

Democrats to ask for investigation of McCain's campaign financing
By The Associated Press
04.14.08
WASHINGTON — Democratic Party officials want a federal judge to order an investigation into whether Sen. John McCain violated election laws by withdrawing from public financing, saying federal regulators are too weak to act on their own.

A lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission, to be filed today in U.S. District Court, questions the agency's ability to enforce the law and review McCain's decision to opt out of the system. The Republican presidential candidate, who had been entitled to $5.8 million in federal funds for the primary campaign, decided earlier this year to give up that money so he could avoid strict spending limits between now and the GOP's national convention in September.
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/Speech/campaignfinance/%5Cnews.aspx?id=19920

[Tim4319]

13. Thanks for the information!

[Vinca]

8. The average person barely knows from Obama or McCain.

Public financing is, at best, a MSM orgasmafest (new word).

[dsomuah]

9. The MSM will make a big deal about it, and then forget all about it

Like the Reverend Wright thing.

[Tim4319]

14. They seem to like to make huge issues out of non-issues.

[Radical Activist]

10. 99.9% of the public don't give two shits.

That's how big.

[dsomuah]

25. Actually it's 57% of them according to a gallup poll. But I get your point.

[applegrove]

11. Doesn't matter that he changed his mind. McCain has made it obvious that he isn't going

to reign in the conservative PACs so Obama should raise as much money as he can in order to fight the smears.

[uponit7771]

16. The MsM is making a big deal over it and has gone all day with the "he broke his word" crap

[applegrove]

33. It will not stick to Obama. He has every right.

[Imagevision]

12. The average person barely knows from Obama, McCain or Bush...?

[uponit7771]

15. HUGE!!!! 2 people who're dems have asked me about it already!! Obama's campaign has been HORRIBLE

...at dispelling the big lie and they're being flat footed on this.

[Jazzgirl]

22. At dispelling what big lie?

What did he lie about exactly? He said he would take it if McCain took it. McCain never said. There wound up being no advantage to him taking the funds so he didn't. If you want to believe the MS-ultimedia go ahead. I don't even know anybody thats talking about it.

[uponit7771]

26. No, Obama didn't lie the "big lie" is the MsM telling us he flip flopped, that's false Obama never..

...said he was going to accept public finance without caveat, the caveat being McSame would accept public financing too.

Well McSame opted in public financing but then collateralized a PRIVATE loan based of the guaranteed financing.

[DJ13]

19. The MSM's corporate owners thought they could use 527's against Obama

Now that they know he will have the money to fight them, they are (ab)using their on air whores to try to force him to change his mind.

[Tim4319]

38. I'm sure the 527's don't want to do that.

[larkrake]

20. Smart, Only works if both sides go public funds, and I would not believe

any repub at his word.

[wowimthere]

23. non-starter. Obama is going up against a corrupt poltician.

[wurzel]

24. Don't "trust" what the "Situation Room" says.

Obama actually used the word "proposal" when discussing this issue. On MSM the word "proposal" has now become "promise". He also repeatedly said that campaign financing for this election would be a matter of "negotiation" with McCain. It takes two to negotiate! This topic has all the validity of Michelle hating America.

[uponit7771]

28. His campaign should get out in front of this though. The MsM is TRASHING him on this issue while...

...letting McSames criminal action of taking private funds UP TILL NOW untouched.

[Tim4319]

29. Wow!

What you said has shed some light on this for me.

[tekisui]

27. Less an issue than flag pins and fist bumps.

In other words, not even a deal, much less a big one.

[Imagevision]

30. Finally! the M$M has something to talk about besides Michelle's $148.00 dress...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

31. It's a positive for Obama.

Illiterate people either don't care about the issue or were voting for Obama anyway, and literate people know that Obama never promised to take government hand-outs, and McCain never had a choice.

[Orangepeel]

34. It's McCain who can't be trusted on the issue.

Personally, I don't care. That was the responsible thing to do as a candidate.

But if republicans want to use it as a political thing, I think it will backfire. McCain voided the agreement for both candidates to accept public financing when he cheated his way out of it during the primary (saying he'd take it, using that promise as collateral for a loan, and then backing out).

[Tim4319]

37. I don't care either.

Plus, it's the other issues that I cannot trust McCain on. The campaign finance is at the bottom of my list.

[Skwmom]

35. It's a big issue for the media. It lessens their impact on the election.

[Imagevision]

36. Gobama-Gobama-Gobama...!