Promises Broken (already)

Parent Cafe
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<p>Campaign spending proposal hems in Obama</p>

<p>Just 12 months ago, Senator Barack Obama presented himself as an idealistic upstart taking on the Democratic fund-raising juggernaut behind Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.</p>

<p>That was when Mr. Obama proposed a novel challenge aimed at limiting the corrupting influence of money on the race: If he won the nomination, he would limit himself to spending only the $85 million available in public financing between the convention and Election Day as long as his Republican opponent did the same.</p>

<p>Now his challenge to his rivals has boomeranged into a test of Mr. Obama’s own ability to balance principle and politics in a very different context. After taking in $100 million in donations, Mr. Obama is the one setting fund-raising records, presenting a powerful temptation to find a way out of his own proposal so that he might outspend his Republican opponent. And the all-but-certain Republican nominee, Senator John McCain, is short on cash and eager to take up the fund-raising truce. </p>

<p>Mr. Obama was notably noncommittal about his previous proposal in Tuesday’s Democratic debate, indicating that he would add new conditions, especially on spending by independent groups, to his previous pledges to accept the deal. If nominated, “I will sit down with John McCain and make sure that we have a system that is fair to both sides,” Mr. Obama said, alluding to the need to close “loopholes.”</p>

<p>Campaign finance experts said the issue was a major test of Mr. Obama’s commitment. It is also a first glimpse of what might come in a general election fight between two candidates who have championed public integrity, opening themselves to accusations of hypocrisy</p>

<p>On Wednesday, the McCain campaign stepped up its criticism of Mr. Obama after his statement at the debate.</p>

<p>“The fact is, Senator Obama signed a piece of paper and pledged to take public financing for his campaign if I did the same," Mr. McCain said. “I believe that Senator Obama should keep his commitment also, which means taking public financing. The rest of it is ground noise. The rest of it is irrelevant."</p>

<p>[Obama’s</a> spending promise haunts him - The New York Times - MSNBC.com](<a href=“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23378039/]Obama’s”>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23378039/)</p>

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<p>I hope the anti-Obama folks can find another straw to grasp at soon. I’m tired of this one already. Surely he must have an illegitimate child or something.</p>

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<p>sure saint obama groupie. And I personally care about these things more than affairs or illegitimate children.</p>

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<p>I mean, come on. You really think a campaign finance issue like this is going to get any traction against Obama? It’s really pretty pathetic. McCain may shake his finger about it, but my gosh, he was mixed up with the Keating Five.</p>

<p>And I think it’s wise for Republicans to say (now) that they don’t care about affairs. That’s good planning.</p>

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<p>The drama behind this is that the Federal Election Commission has to take a vote on a technicality of McCain’s campaign financing and can’t hold the vote because they don’t have a quorum because Obama and some other senators are blocking confirmation of three commisioners. Obama is taunting McCain.</p>

<p>As someone else has pointed out on another thread, the special prosecutor on the Keating thing recommended exonerating McCain (I believe he actually used the word ‘exonerate’ in his report) but was overuled by the Democrats in charge for political reasons.</p>

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<p>They’re all tainted. Obama and his crooked crony and questionable home deal. McCain and his love/hate affair with lobbyists and promise of 100 years in Iraq. Clinton, with her sleazy campaign and questionable past financial dealings. Huckabee and his illicit attempts to get his dog-murdering son off the hook. We could dissect and destroy ANYONE who has the audacity to run for president. There are no saints.</p>

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<p>McCain HASN’T yet committed to take public financing in the general election, and he can’t until he is nominated.</p>