Comments on: Obama Declines Public Financing, Blames McCain

By: Hal

Hal — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:41:43 +0000

A good video by Josh Marshall which he points to as a nice run down on what McCain did, what the head of the FEC said (i.e. McCain did, in fact, accept public financing and couldn't reneg on that) and what the general lay of the land is in this respect.

By: Grewgills

Grewgills — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:43:10 +0000

In addition to helping secure a loan opting in to public financing also meant that McCain did not have to go to the trouble and expense of gathering signatures to be put on primary ballots. That is a benefit received from entering the system. He managed to game the system he set up for all the benefit he needed then, quite possibly illegally, avoid the restrictions that came with those benefits. Given his involvement in setting up the system, it is an issue that has gotten too little attention.

By: Hal

Hal — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:45:28 +0000

it does appear as though he used the public financing as collateral on a loan, however, which according to the law is accepting public financing. So, whether he "took a dime" or not, it would seem as if he is breaking the law. That is why it is not a "red herring" and is instead a matter of extreme hypocrisy or actual law breaking. Not something trivial. I'd eager if the positions were reversed, there would be non stop calls for his arrest and imprisonment from the right wing noise machine.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:05:15 +0000

Too bad we don't have a ruling from the FEC on this - or, too convenient - depending on your POV.

We don't have an FEC, for all intent and purposes. But McCain merely got approved for public financing; he didn't take a dime. It would be beyond absurd for that to be a violation. Ironic, given McCain's silly position on campaign finance, but still silly.

By: Hal

Hal — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:59:17 +0000

The "McCain accepted public financing" thing is a red herring. Or a huge legal problem. Too bad we don't have a ruling from the FEC on this - or, too convenient - depending on your POV.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:52:02 +0000

Got to agree with Josh Marshall

The "McCain accepted public financing" thing is a red herring. And what's the evidence of "greenlighting 527s"? I have no problem whatsoever about Obama's opting out of the system. The system is stupid. I merely note that there's some small political cost to having pledged to do otherwise and then reneging.

By: Hal

Hal — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:56:04 +0000

Got to agree with Josh Marshall

Someone help me here. McCain is grandstanding on public financing when he is, as we speak, breaking the law by continuing to spend unlimited primary campaign money after opting in to public financing for the primary phase of the campaign? And then greenlighting the outside 527s to go after Obama only days ago? Something doesn’t compute.

By: Hal

Hal — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:49:50 +0000

Well, as they say, get used to disappointment.

By: Steve Plunk

Steve Plunk — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:40:19 +0000

Of course the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth were right.

The anti-campaign finance reform people are merely pointing out the flip flop of Obama and the folly that is McCain-Feingold. It may seem funny to those who see everything as funny to the rest of us it seems sad and pathetic.

By: Hal

Hal — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:23:07 +0000

hahaahahaahahahhaahhahahahahahaha To quote Roy: Bite it, whitey. Seriously, though. It's enormously funny to hear people who are viscerally against campaign finance reform complain about Obama. Going to be a very interesting election. I'm sure that the Right's 527's will be angels and that it'll be Obama throwing the first swiftboat out of the season.

By: Bithead

Bithead — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:41:39 +0000

I said when McCacin first offered up McCain FInegold, AND when he first talked about tying himself to the monster he made, that he'd be a fool to do so because the Demorats NEVER would, regardless of the noises they made going in, and thus would any such person be committing electorial suicide.

So, yeah, I called it.

By: Floyd

Floyd — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:19:28 +0000

Anybody see this coming?? come on speak up......
"chirp-chirp"... "chirp-chirp"[lol]