Election2008 Home
Now I am being solicited to raise money to enable rich presidential candidates to simply raise more money. The arms race has been replaced by the money bragging race. Government spending is being eclipsed by politician spending. Public education should run for president.
Yet, money alone does not elect presidents; if it did Ross Perot would have been president.
It is not good to be a money hound at the same time that Obama is flipping from the left to the center because the ends, getting elected, justify any means (words to constituents?).
Can you believe a Democrat approving the federal courts taking gun control laws away from Washington DC as Obama did last week?!?! What's become of the body politic? Where are the "demos" of Democracy? Are we becoming citizens or contributors?
Barack Obama Opts Out of Public Financing
|
June 23, 2008 -- Posted by Catherine Morgan
Barack Obama opts out of public financing. Do you think this will help or hurt the Obama campaign? Here is some of what bloggers are saying... From Wizbang Blue... Despite the fact that so far John McCain has been unable to manage a campaign anywhere near the level of the Obama organization in either ability or management skills, McCain continues to make the case that he should somehow be the manager of the entire country as president. That's a big pill to swallow from someone who never even managed a business or anything any larger than just some political office in Washington. Obama is facing political reality that the current system of financing a run for public office is broken, while McCain is not. The public financing of campaigns is a broken system where the independent 527s still rule the airwaves. Obama has little choice but to oppose public financing and run his campaign under his own set of reforms until congress seriously repairs the political system. From Media Mouse... Last Thursday, Democratic Party presidential candidate Barack Obama announced that his campaign was opting out of the federal public financing system for the general election system. While he will not receive the $84 million in federal funding that he would have otherwise received, he will instead be able to raise an unlimited amount of money. Obama's campaign says that they were forced to make this decision because the system is broken and that the Republican Party has been able to manipulate the system to its advantage. Obama--who pledged to accept public funding last year--is the first major party candidate to opt out of the system. From MotherJones Blog... The McCain campaign has sharply criticized Barack Obama's decision to become the first general election presidential candidate since the 1970s to opt out of the public financing system, a decision Obama can afford because of his stunning success with hundreds of thousands of low-dollar donors. As David notes at the link above, the McCain campaign said Obama's decision "undermines his call for a new type of politics." Also See: ABC News Blog Jason Linkins at The Huffington Post What do you think about Obama opting out of public financing? Will it help or hurt his campaign? |
Theresa M.
Saturday June 28, 2008, 8:01 PM
Rob Moir I probably couldn't have said it any better, very well said!
People are complaining that they don't have the money to buy gas or food or even to hang on to their homes but can give to a political campaign, it is just amazing!
Do I smell an Abramoff or a Delay happening here?
People are complaining that they don't have the money to buy gas or food or even to hang on to their homes but can give to a political campaign, it is just amazing!
Do I smell an Abramoff or a Delay happening here?
Rebecca Young
Tuesday June 24, 2008, 11:03 PM
The only reason McCain is taking public funding is because he has to - he almost ran his campaign into the ground during the early primary season and wasn't able to raise any money. Too bad for him! The fact is, Obama has run an incredible campaign so far, and has inspired so many people to donate and become involved. If eschewing public financing will allow him to mobilize Americans to take back our country from the corrupt, lying war-mongers in charge now, then I'm all for it.
Rob Moir
Tuesday June 24, 2008, 9:02 PM
"The public financing of campaigns is a broken system where the independent 527s still rule the airwaves," so writes Obama paid staffers. Never mind that 90% of Obama $ comes from 10% of his donors, the big bucks, many of whom are 527 contributers (Kerry, Kennedy and Oprah resources). Obama is so in with 527 contributers that he denies federal funds in the belief that you and I will continue giving him more money, while the big bucks strut for "leveraging their money." Money bought him more delegates from states that traditionally did not participate in Dem primaries. Yet spending three times as much as Clinton in PA and Ohio did not get him those primaries. IF he had accepted federal funds we would have a more level funded field and the differences between candidates would be based on more than fundraising prowress and minutes on tv. Instead, the junior Il Senator is told he not settle for $84 mil when they can buy the election. This is classic 527 behavior. I was, however, most impressed by the Obama campaign helocopter-hummer reported on the Dailey Show. Having the resources for such machines is very seductive. If power corrupts and money is power, what does raising 3 or 4 times as much as the designated $84 million say about our next president? In this economy, with today's gas prices, will Americans give him the do-re-me for even more tv time and redundant media spots?
Wanda s.
Tuesday June 24, 2008, 5:58 PM
Of course, he is a politician! Are there any non-politicians running for national or any state office? I do not agree with every choice or decision he makes or will make, nor did I expect I would. probably even a clone would think independently. He's still better than the others now running for that office.
Sunday June 29, 2008, 10:25 AM