How McCain’s Public Financing Two-Step Helps Obama
EmailDefending his broken promise to aggressively pursue an agreement with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to enter into the public financing system, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., during his Friday press conference argued that McCain "was all over the map on public financing, right? At the beginning of this process, when I think they were projecting raising enormous amounts of money, he said he’d consider opting out of the system. Later when his campaign had collapsed for awhile, he said he was definitely in the public financing system."
What’s the truth of that charge?
**
Obama here is talking about McCain taking financing during the primary season.
At the beginning of 2007, McCain suggested that he would be interested in entering into the public financing system for the general election. But for the primaries, he was planning on raising $100 million of private funds and opting out.
That became a problem last summer, when his campaign all but disintegrated and had very little money.
In August 2007, McCain’s campaign prepared to enter into the public financing system — which would have capped how much he could spend in each state. On Aug. 10, McCain asked the Federal Election Commission for the authority to receive matching funds, and the FEC said he was eligible for $5.8 million.
But McCain did not collect any of the money. As McCain campaign spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker put it at the time: "We have not made a final decision, but we are doing what’s necessary should we decide to opt into the matching fund system."
Towards the end of 2007, McCain took out a $4 million line of credit with Fidelity & Trust Bank. The contingencies of loan, which carried an 8.5 percent interest rate, required McCain to take out a $4 million life insurance policy.
At the end of January 2008, as McCain’s prospects grew brighter in the wake of victories in New Hampshire and South Carolina, his campaign began to reconsider taking the matching funds, along with the accompanying spending caps. As Politico reported at the time, "John McCain is considering backing out of public financing now that his presidential campaign is raking in the cash."
And he ultimately did so. Meanwhile he used $2,971,697 from his $4 million line of credit with Fidelity & Trust as his campaign struggled to regain its footing.
Democrats charged that McCain had used his ability to qualify for federal matching funds as collateral, but the bank and McCain’s lawyers said that was not true. What was true was that the agreement did require McCain to reapply for federal matching funds if he withdrew from public financing and lost early primary contests. The agreement also held as collateral his list of contributors and a pledge by McCain to seek further cash from those donors to pay of the loan.
McCain’s maneuvering seemed to irritate FEC Chairman David Mason, a Republican, who wrote a letter to McCain in February saying McCain could only withdraw from public financing if he received the permission of the FEC and answered questions about the loan.
"The Commission made clear that a candidate enters into a binding contract with the Commission when he executes the Candidate Agreements and Certification," Mason wrote. "The Commission stated that it would withdraw a candidate’s certifications upon written request, thus agreeing to rescind the contract, so long as the candidate: 1) had not received Matching Payment Program funds, and 2) had not pledged the certification of Matching Payment Program funds as ‘security for private financing.’"
The McCain campaign at the end of February told the FEC it did not need the commission’s approval to withdraw from the public financing system.
McCain lawyer Trevor Potter, a former FEC Chairman himself, told Mason that since the Supreme Court had ruled that public financing for campaigns is constitutional precisely because it is voluntary, "(a)s a result, candidates have a constitutional right to withdraw from the program." Potter clarified that "the campaign did not use its federal matching fund certifications as security for the campaign’s bank loan."
The six-member FEC only has two members; four nominees are awaiting Senate confirmation. Without a quorum, it cannot act.
So in addition to filing a complaint against McCain with the FEC, the Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit against the FEC to force the commission to investigate whether McCain’s withdrawal from public financing was kosher.
"He used the matching funds to get the money when he needed it," said DNC counsel Joe Sandler. "That’s the reality of what happened here."
Republican National Committee chief counsel Sean Cairncross called the suit "meritless….Once again, the DNC has neither the law nor the facts on their side. It is a matter of public record that the U.S. Treasury never made any payments to the McCain campaign at any time during the primary.”
Incidentally, the Fidelity & Trust Bank loan has since been re-paid.
In April, a judge ruled against the DNC suit, calling it premature since the FEC has 120 days to act on a complaint. Those 120 days expire Tuesday.
The DNC and Sandler will file the suit again on Tuesday asking a U.S. District Court to compel the FEC to act on its original complaint.
**
I cannot find any record of McCain saying "he was definitely in the public financing system," as Obama charged.
But while the loan appears to have been drafted to exclude as collateral the public matching funds, the fact that the bank would have required McCain to have reapplied for them if certain conditions had been met looks at the very least like a way to have those funds be a sort of theoretical, possible collateral while not fitting the legal definition of collateral.
Which is to say this messiness may be a big help for Obama in his attempt to make it look like neither he nor McCain were married purely to the public financing system.
- jpt
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Thank you for pointing out that McCain’s own hands are NOT clean when it comes to staying in the public financing system.
Also, what McCain is doing is probably illegal as well.
Posted by: Edna | June 22, 2008, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm
McCain wrote the law, then broke it when it suited him. He has no grounds to call Obama on anything related to campaign finance in this manner. He is just showing what a blatant hypocrite he truly is, and just how desperate he is to get in office before his times up. He’s running on the Neocon Nixon/Bush model, instead of the moderate/conservative model he campaigned on in 2000. He id osing moderates and causing the conservatives to pay him lip service to his positions of the week; Which he seems to change on whoever is in the audience. Quite frankly, unless Hilliary’s assertions of an attempt on Obama’s life ring true, there is NO WAY McCain can get anywhere close to the majority support he needs to get elected. He knows it, the conservative who will be staying home know it, and the American people know it. The only people who are in denial over this fact are the Neocons. And they pretty much seems to be in denial on just about EVERYTHING!!!
Posted by: pity | June 22, 2008, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
Mr. Obama has managed to desecrate (insult or defile) the American seal by placing his slogan on top of the American eagle’s heart and shield….what the heck, it is only a symbol used by Americans—and it’s funny, right?! Do you think that John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan or even Abraham Lincoln would have the “audacity” to take an American treasured symbol and turn it into some artwork to win an Election? What about just throwing George Washington off the dollar bill Mr. Obama, he is an old has-been (no longer useful) a part of the past that you want to change—a part of our “broken system”—that needs change, “yes we can”. As you stated Mr. Obama we CANNOT go on living our “life style”, we have to conform to what other countries expect of us, they think we are spoiled and you are ready to bring us back down to their level of thinking—by voting for Obama, “yes we can”. HIGHER TAXES and MORE GOVERNMENT CONTROL, what a good idea—a change that we can all get excited about—a vote for Obama, “yes we can”.
Every day since you announced you are the nominee, you have shown your arrogance, your self-importance—you gave your pledge to those that voted for you (you know, that thing called trust, honesty, a man’s word) to accept federal funding if elected the nominee, but now you say you will not because this system is a “broken system”. Did you know this was the same system several months ago that you said you would follow—the system has not changed! I never thought that the first black man in American would have to BUY the Election. Let the cash flow to Obama he needs the $500 million to win this Election. Had you been a Colin Powell for example, I would have voted for you without any hesitation (I am not a racist). But you my friend have so many “flaws” and the people that have surrounded you for the past 20 years, have so much hatred for America and the American life style—-it is scary, to know they will be coming along with you (your advisors, your teammates) they will all be apart of this “new change”. It is now time to “think America”, to wake up and investigate this man before it is too late—“yes, we can” because we still have freedom of the press.
Posted by: Ann | June 22, 2008, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
They both have a mess as far as financing their campaigns but this won’t change a thing in people’s minds about McCain. The glaring spotlight was on Obama for betraying his pledge. McCain’s spotlight on funds….60 watt…
Posted by: wales | June 22, 2008, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
I think one thing the financing of this campaign might bring is a real charge for genuine and effective campaign finance reform. Other than maybe the fact he has gone back on his word, I can’t see much wrong with what Obama is doing. Actually what he has managed to do is find a better way to fund a campaign that is not closed off to any candidate. I don’t think he has done anything unprincipled and isn’t taking, apparently, any ‘dirty’ money from lobbyists or interests.
I think if what you want is a level playing field, then public financing os the way to go, but what Obama has done in effect, is to take the government out of the system and benefit from doing so. Kind of like the Republicans always seem to want to do.
Posted by: markymark | June 22, 2008, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
Ann,
You reasoning and arguments are really over the top. It makes it hard for anyone to take you serious.
Posted by: jmc663 | June 22, 2008, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
The problem here is the FISA vote! Tell your Senators to vote NO.
Posted by: Karen | June 22, 2008, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm
Ann,
Mr. Obama we CANNOT go on living our “life style”, we have to conform to what other countries expect of us, they think we are spoiled and you are ready to bring us back down to their level of thinking–
******LIke eating less, but healthier, getting more exercise, making smaller more fuel efficient cars, building smaller, more cost effective homes? RElying on solar and wind power, getting off our dependance on foreign oil.
Yea, who is he to tell US the TRUTH. Shame on that man. American’s dont want the truth. They want to blame all their problems on everyone but them.
Posted by: jmc663 | June 22, 2008, 4:04 pm 4:04 pm
Obama NEVER agreed to take public financing in the general election……and no amount of repetitive lies by the media will change that fact. They have conveniently ignored his complete answer on that questionaire they keep claiming is proof of Obama’s promise to accept public funds during the general election.
Posted by: vamon | June 22, 2008, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
Can we sing along now to the Obama two step
Posted by: dpxe | June 22, 2008, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm
Wait a minute i found proof that Obama would aggree to take Public Financing with John McCain
I miss you Mr Russert
Posted by: vamon | June 22, 2008, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
Obama is going to need all the money in the world to twist and spin the truth about him.
Posted by: vamon | June 22, 2008, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
listen, this election is not about choosing the right canidate. it comes down to voting DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN. it sucks, but thats all there is to it. i mean, who really likes eitheer of these fools?! obama definately has alot more “mindless” followers, but thats tnothing new. democrats always have more of the mindless followers behind them. but mccain, i mean… who REALLY likes him? i know i dont, but i HAVE to vote for him. it sucks, but we have no other choice. i will vote for him, and support him ,but we as americans are going to have to HOLD OUR OFFICIALS MORE ACCOUNTABLE THEN WE EVER HAVE. its so sad. in a time soooo critical in our history, we have these two to choose from??!! how the HELL does that happen??
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
markymark…
if you think ANY of these guys is going to “take government out of the system” you’re crazy.. lol especially a democrat? are you kidding??!! obama wants the government to control EVERYTHING!!!!
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
McCain is losing, so of course he’s going to try to restrict Obama’s campaign. Obama is right for declining the matching funds, relying on public donations instead of Federal tax dollars to finance his campaign.
McCain, on the other hand, is going to need every dollar he can swindle. His donor base of very wealthy contributors are intelligent, and realize that McCain isn’t likely to win this election. So why would they throw campaign dollars at him? Businessmen don’t support a venture that is destined to lose.
A comment on George Stephanopolos this morning; ‘this election is one that Obama can lose, but McCain cannot win.’ Unless Obama hands the election to McCain, McCain cannot do it himself.
This election isn’t just about Obama, however. There are several Congressional seats being decided this fall as well. Obama cannot change things alone, he needs all of the support we can muster. On every ballot, at every governmental level, elect Democrats. Together we can fix the disasters of the Bush administration.
Solid Democrat this fall!!
Posted by: Larry | June 22, 2008, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
The smart alec that provided that link to the debate between Hillary and Obama about campaign finance. Obama NEVER said he agreed to accept public financing in the general during that debate. TIM RUSSERT was the one that said Obama said that. Now if Obama REALLY agreed to that on tape, dont you think Tim Russert wouldve played the video tape or provided a complete quote of Obama’s actual words. Tim Russert DID NOT do that because they do not exist. Tim Russert giving his interpretation of what he thinks Obama said is not the truth. Russert was wrong in the premise of his question. Obama shouldve immediately corrected that false assertion in Tim’s question in the first place.
Posted by: vamon | June 22, 2008, 4:31 pm 4:31 pm
Well, Tapper, it took you long enough to report this, even if it is biased toward McCain.
You would have seemed like a more informed reporter if you would have reported this when you reported on Obama’s so called “broken promise”.
Tappper, do you have any news for us about the ENRON LOOPHOLE?
Posted by: MediaCoverup | June 22, 2008, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm
Good for Obama to go after the ENRON loophole. One of McCain’s economic advisers, Phil Graham, was instrumental in getting that thing in there.
By getting rid of that loophole, that may help to stabilize gas prices.
Posted by: Edna | June 22, 2008, 4:39 pm 4:39 pm
Listening to these blogs, it appears there is only one candidate for president this year; Barack Obama.
There are posts stating what Barack Obama is for, and posts trying to defeat Obama. Everything seems centered on Obama.
There is another candidate out there, yet he hasn’t stated anything he is FOR yet. It seems his only goal is to smear Obama. Apparently, Obama is the game to beat. McCain seems to be jumping on the bandwagon that Obama is leading, and following along. Kinda makes Obama the winner already doesn’t it?
We need a score card to follow McCain’s claims this year. First, he’s against an issue, then he’s for it, then against it, and so on, and so on. Flip-Flop is a Republican-coined term, and McCain appears to have gotten that down pat.
This election is about issues. McCain needs to take a stand, and quit waffling. Confusing the public doesn’t help.
Posted by: Susan2 | June 22, 2008, 4:41 pm 4:41 pm
John McCain will issue an unconfused clarification on his stance tomorrow stating that he was always for public financing after all. I personally wish he wouldn’t take food stamps from the government because real Republicans actually raise their own money rather than depend on government handouts.
Posted by: 1percenter | June 22, 2008, 4:42 pm 4:42 pm
larry…
first off, why do you believe mccain is losing?! what “poll” are you referring to this week?! there is sooo much time left in this election, tryin to say who is winning and losing right now. the country has never been more torn. THIS WILL BE A VERY CLOSE ELECTION. secondly, its common knowledge that democrats ALWAYS get “more excited” about their canidate! they are always out there with their “rock star” putting on shows, getting the “brilliant” youth following, putting up signs and bumper stickers evertywhere. but history has shown, when it comes time to voting, conservatives come out and vote. they dont put bumper stickers on their cars, they dont go to rallied by the tens of thousands, they dont fall for the “show”. now im not a mccain supporter believe me, but i do believe he will win. going by the polls in juse is pointless.
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm
teh obama fans need to get over it
Obama is a liar… a skinny ugly liar
Posted by: trettione | June 22, 2008, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
lorax,
The Repubs already decided that Obama was Carter, remember? Problem is no one under 35 did. They can’t use the Kerry argument. You only get ONE comparison per election cycle and they used theirs up comparing Obama to a humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize Winner.
Bummer! LOL!
Posted by: jmc663 | June 22, 2008, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
DENNIS..
first off, being a veteren(thanks for your service by the way) and college educated dosnt mean you have common sense..lol look at what all the left wingers are teaching our youth in colleg.. pure brainwashing. im not sayinh you DONT, i was generalizing! im not saying ALL democrats are mindless, just obama supporters!! i agree on a number of issues with alot of democrats. obama is soooo far out in left field, you have to be brainwashed to actually think he would be a good leader!! believe me, im NOT a fan of mccain. but “voting for change” is dangerous. just remember that. its always easy to point the finger, but remember it can ALWAYS GET WORSE.
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm
The problem for McCain remains the economy; he’s not responsible for it but Bush/Cheney are taking the heat and the breeze blows in his direction. Unfortunately, the economy can’t be fixed if we continue in Iraq. Ask the GAO or any of the crazy Ron Paul supporters. I think people generally vote their pocketbooks. Will Obama be better for people’s pocketbooks? Probably not if there is an over-ambitious spending plan. But, he’s not in the party of the current President and gets a pass whether anyone likes it.
Posted by: 1percenter | June 22, 2008, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
trettione said:
teh obama fans need to get over it
Obama is a liar… a skinny ugly liar
Wow!!! Your Super Genius dazzles us all. With that well thought out and intelligent agrument, we will now vote for McCain.
You have convinced us.
Now go back to playing with your Legos, LOL!
Posted by: jmc663 | June 22, 2008, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
1percenter…
i agree with you for the most part. i mean, the economy is not very stable. getting out of the war in iraq alone, will not fix it. but mccain will have to come up with something different on how to explain he will fix it. obama on the other hand, will pull out right away and begin the onslaught of the beginning of socialism here. so what is better for out future? getting out of iraq immediately or wasting all that money here while giving the government total control of our lives? you do the math. neither option is good.
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm
I was responding to this poster (see below) that said he would not take it. There is a signed pledge saying just that.
I don’t care if they praise him, but don’t make out like he never said or signed anything.
Obama NEVER agreed to take public financing in the general election……and no amount of repetitive lies by the media will change that fact- posted by vamon
Posted by: J | June 22, 2008, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
The thing is, is doesn’t matter what McCain did, or does.
The media will either not report any McCain *problems,* or do as Tapper did here, report it late, and try to minimize it.
Just remember, at this point in the campaign, we know where Obama was born, where he lived, who his parents were, what schools he went to, who his preacher was, what church he went to, that he wasn’t wearing a flag lapel pin, he was on a board with a 60s radical, etc, etc. We know McCain is a *maverick,* *independent,* *war-hero,* who was a POW.
This is the *balance* the media has used in this campaign.
That McCain flipped on off-shore drilling & immigration… ignored.
That McCain was involved with the Keating 5… ignored.
Needless to go on… you get my drift.
If ya want factual balanced news, ya have to go to international news organizations, as the American media, has become an arm of the GOP.
And if you doubt it, listen to any question & answer news program. Every question is framed through GOP talking points… and on GOP issues. Very rarely do they bring up Dem issues (education, health care, infrastructure, etc). All GOP… all the time.
Thanks, Jake, for again proving my point…
Posted by: jon | June 22, 2008, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
thanks “no good choice”. couldnt have said it better myself. love the people with the cute little nicknames. makes me think they are real knowlegeable right from the start… lol
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm
and apperently, getting older makes you stupid?! thought it was the other way around. then again, we are talking about politicians here…
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm
Hard to find clean politicians concerning financing. Bush was on the verge of doing what Obama did four years ago, when the money was half what is expected to be out there this year.
Posted by: matt | June 22, 2008, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm
to J……….that is NOT a signed pledge about accepting public funds during his presidential general election campaign. McCain actually filed paperwork for public funds for the primary, then changed his mind and started raising private money…..then once he realized he couldnt raise the money he thought he could he changed his mind again only after Obama made his decision to reject government funds for his general election campaign. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PRIMARIES, OBAMA FILED PAPERWORK WITH THE FEC AND WAS GRANTED PERMISSION BY THEM TO RAISE “PRIVATE” FUNDS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION AND IF LATER HE DECIDED TO ACCEPT PUBLIC FUNDS HE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO RETURN THE GENERAL ELECTION FUNDS HE RAISE TO HIS DONORS. At no time did he agree to public funds during the general, he has always stated he decision would be made after he won the nomination.
Posted by: vamon | June 22, 2008, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm
Tim my point was that Obama doing exactly what GOP always says is most effective, and not using the government system to finance his campaign, he has opted out of it, just like Republicans seem to want everyone to do. Its called an irony, especially as the GOP have been hitting him so ghard for doing it.
Its fascinating that the GOP are throwing everything they can find at Obama already. I think a smarter strategy might be to present there vision between now and the convention, stay on message however little coverage they get, and then hit Obama later on. I think McCain is doing a bit of what Hillary did and allowing the shiny new thing distract them from there game. They need to focus on there vision and just that. Stop throwing the kitchen nsink at Obama, figure out there strategy and then stick to it. Either that or take the next 5 months off and hope Obama implodes. Not sure which would be the best strategy but one of those two.
Posted by: markymark | June 22, 2008, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm
I really love the fact that Obama supporters are called “mindless” (apparently a GOP talking point this week) but we can provide a laundry list of the reasons why we support him.
If you ask McCain supporters why the want to vote for him, their response is simply “He’s not Obama”.
Posted by: jmc663 | June 22, 2008, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
Hey Dennis in Orlando, FL most of them liberals in college when they finnaly get a real job most become conservative Republicans
Posted by: Ed | June 22, 2008, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
WOW all these lawsuits against McCain. Wonder why the Democrats are throwing the kitchen sink at McCain. They can’t win by lying and fake lawsuits.
We had enough of the Democrat investigations that uncover nothing and deviate attention why they are not doing their job.
Joe Q Public
Posted by: sal | June 22, 2008, 5:15 pm 5:15 pm
It is amazing how some of these statements are so blind to the facts on the ground…
the country wants a President that isn’t ANYTHING like Bush.
the country wants to get out of a war that McCain pitched for (yes he did…hard…and unlike Bush he would say “the President has to tell the American people this is going to be a lonf hardfought war”
those are his words on many occasions…and he still wanted to fight this war.
He now is saying the EXACT same pitches to AIPAC and the rest of the groups who moved us toward war that he used then but now about Iran.
The country wants the party that didn’t put gay marriage and pro-life groups ahead of the economy.
The country does not want to continue to be dependent on oil.
The country wants to know that their President is working on …or at minimum focusing and trying to plan something to get us out of the mortgage and healthcare crisis… not just “let the market work these problems out”
The country does not want their tax ratios to continue to stay the same while the very top percentage of wealthy Americans have a ratio growth at half of what they have had over the opast couple of decades. The public is okay witht hat being corrected(like it has since the republicans took power of the congress and Presidency)
The public wants our allies to come back to want to support us again after we shlepped off our responsibilities in Afghanistan to fight a lie of an oil war…that has sent the middle east into a tail spin. Not continue that same foreign policies extension.
the list goes on and on…
McCain and this platform he is running on and promising…will lose…and there is a great chance it will be a landslide.
so spin all the personal swiftboat crap all you want…the country is taking a turn off this road (McCain/Bush/BigOil/wealthyamericans-getting-a-lift-while the-rest-of-us-sink-Lieutenant-Dan-and my-wealthy-daddy-and-granddaddy-would be-proud-after-they-paid-for-me-to-get-into-college…street) that road heads off that cliff you all are pitching.
Let’s let the swiftboaters drive themselves there…we all want America to lead again.
Posted by: dl | June 22, 2008, 5:18 pm 5:18 pm
Ed said: Hey Dennis in Orlando, FL most of them liberals in college when they finnaly get a real job most become conservative Republicans
Guess that’s a choice they have to live with. Also you should have said most of those liberals, and the word is spelled finally.
Posted by: denden | June 22, 2008, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm
Obama’s Ethics Allies are Not Pleased
Posted by: sell out | June 22, 2008, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm
dennis…
first off, go back and look how many times i say that I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT HAVING TO VOTE FOR MCCAIN. i cant make that any more clear. both of these canidates are a joke, but somehow this is what i have to vote for. therefore, i have to vote for the lesser of two evils. i never said mccain would be a good leader. i honestly dont believe he will be. but in my opinion, he will be better than obama. see the thing is, i am a conservative. for the most part. im not a die hard, but i hold mostly conservative views. i want less government, not more. i know our country is a mess right now. there are many factors, from both sides of the aisle, that have caused this. ya know it would be easy for me to say ” i cant vote for mccain because he will be just like bush, and i dont want that for my family and america”. i really do feel that way. but if you really listen, and have even a little bit of historical knowledge on world politics, you would realize that barack obama is very scary. now i know he looks and sounds good. the smoothest politician i have ever seen in my lifetime, because he KNOWS he sounds good. and he KNOWS his experience, and he KNOWS who his target is. but the things he stands for, are downright scary. america was not founded with the idea of big government. matter of fact, the tried to build the constituion around trying to LIMIT the size and control of government. our founding fathers put it all right at the beginning: we the people. obama is soooo far out in left field from this idea. his policies, and his ideas on governments role could be farther from this. thats why i cant vote for him. I WANT LESS OF THE MESS!! why would we give them more control??!!
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 5:21 pm 5:21 pm
WOW Democrats were worried about SWIFT BOAT. I think they deserve what they get now after this public financing stunt by Obama.
Posted by: fast ray | June 22, 2008, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
the bottom line is
It is about issues.
and that same bottom line is…there is absolutely no denying…
Mccain’s answers to those issues…suck.
They have sucked for 8 years.
and no matter how you want to spin it…the fact is that 90% of the big issues we face…Mccain is sayign the EXACT same thing as Bush.
How anyone can try and spin that is just wasted air…or typing strokes.
Lay out the policies…READ THEM…it is the same plans.
and how’d the last 8 years work for ya?
Posted by: dl | June 22, 2008, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
Tim said: dennis…
first off, go back and look how many times i say that I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT HAVING TO VOTE FOR MCCAIN. i cant make that any more clear. both of these canidates are a joke, but somehow this is what i have to vote for. therefore, i have to vote for the lesser of two evils. i never said mccain would be a good leader. i honestly dont believe he will be. but in my opinion, he will be better than obama. see the thing is, i am a conservative. for the most part. im not a die hard, but i hold mostly conservative views. i want less government, not more. i know our country is a mess right now. there are many factors, from both sides of the aisle, that have caused this. ya know it would be easy for me to say ” i cant vote for mccain because he will be just like bush, and i dont want that for my family and america”. i really do feel that way. but if you really listen, and have even a little bit of historical knowledge on world politics, you would realize that barack obama is very scary. now i know he looks and sounds good. the smoothest politician i have ever seen in my lifetime, because he KNOWS he sounds good. and he KNOWS his experience, and he KNOWS who his target is. but the things he stands for, are downright scary. america was not founded with the idea of big government. matter of fact, the tried to build the constituion around trying to LIMIT the size and control of government. our founding fathers put it all right at the beginning: we the people. obama is soooo far out in left field from this idea. his policies, and his ideas on governments role could be farther from this. thats why i cant vote for him. I WANT LESS OF THE MESS!! why would we give them more control??!!
Tim I like this argument because now you are debating as opposed to insulting people by calling them mindless. I can respect what you said this time, but I respectfully disagree with you.
Posted by: Dennis in Orlando, FL | June 22, 2008, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
Did you all know that the percentage of taxes charged to the top percentage of Americans in the past3 decades has grown at half the rate of the rest of us?
Looking especially weighted in the past 8 years.
Why are the rich getting richer…
and the IRS in the past few years themselves have said now they are 99% accurate on personal income taxes…
but only 70% accurate when it comes to business revenues and investment revenues…
guess who that extra 30%wash goes to 90% of the time.
the families that the Bush’s and Mccain’s have looked out for.
the issues are overwhelming…
throw the bums out.
the wealthiest of Americans.
Posted by: dl | June 22, 2008, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm
Vero Possumus.
It is Barack Obama’s Brilliant Grass Roots Campaign that has put the “Public” into the Public Financing System. Barack Obama went directly to the People not knowing if they would back an unknown rookie with the funny name; who folks didn’t even know if he was black or white. He had a simple message, old as time itself, borrowed from Cesar Chavez, little known 60s Civil Rights Activist. Yes We Can. This has resulted in a wave of Inclusion never before seen in Presidential Politics, giving meaning to “We The People” that Americans have responded to. Barack Obama has reintroduced us to our Founding Documents, the Birth Certificate of the United States of America as to Who and What We are as a Nation.
Posted by: Fareed | June 22, 2008, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm
Kind of makes you wonder about what CHANGE and CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN really means. When Obama can’t keep one of his major promises about public financing.
Posted by: jane kane | June 22, 2008, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm
jane kane
the crux of his promise was to get lobbyists and corporations out of the system…
he’s done that overwhelmingly more than J McCain.
Posted by: dl | June 22, 2008, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
tim wrote:
i really do feel that way. but if you really listen, and have even a little bit of historical knowledge on world politics, you would realize that barack obama is very scary. now i know he looks and sounds good. the smoothest politician i have ever seen in my lifetime, because he KNOWS he sounds good. and he KNOWS his experience, and he KNOWS who his target is. but the things he stands for, are downright scary.
********
This nation is in a time of crisis like we are not seen since the Great Depression.
Our infrastructure is crumbling under our feet. Our bridges and roads are not safe.
Our planes are not being inspected and the flying public is at risk. It is only a matter of time…
Our Food is not being inspected. Killer tomatoes, peanut butter, lettuce, scallions, spinach, I could go on.
Our Drugs supply is not being inspected. NEw drugs are brought to market without fully being test. And Americans are dying.
Our schools are not teaching our kids the basics, let alone be competitive in a Global Economy.
The programs that Obama is advocating are similiar to what Roosevelt did with the New Deal.
We need to get Americans back to making things. How did we become a society whose economy is driven by the tax payers spending their hard income? That is BS.
We need to think globally. The older generations tend to still think in this insular manner.
4 more years and there will nothing left to save.
Posted by: jmc663 | June 22, 2008, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm
Fareed
Great post!
Posted by: Vero Possumus | June 22, 2008, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm
touche…..touche…..
bravo corrupt media.
You have finally come completely out of the closet and tried to SPIN Obama out of this obnoxious gaffe.
meet the ‘new politics’ . Same as the old politics , but on STEROIDS.
Even the media is in on it full time.
Posted by: sid | June 22, 2008, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
dennis..
oh, im not retracting my mindless statement.. lol i honestly believe that, and will stick by it. im not being rude personally to anyone by saying that, im just simply saying that obama, by a HUGE margin, holds the mindless vote. these are the people that when asked why they are voting for him reply, “they dont know they just like him and think he will do better than bush”.. lol there is no disputing this. and there are ALOT of mindless voters. now, that being said, i dont believe that every obama supporter is mindless.. lol i think there are alot of truly informed, smart obama supporters out there. they are just not informed on what governments role should be. they dont see the “big picture” as most conservatives do. they dont see the harm, or potential harm, in saying we should set up a “reasonable” profit commision for big oil companies just for one example. they just hear a smooth politician saying the big bad oil companies are to blame for high gas prices and we should punish them, because it’s SOMEBODYS fault. its that type of mentality that i refer to as mindless. most americans look at the hear and now, and not to the big picture. why do you think obama pushes the “vote for change” and “hope” thing?! he KNOWS he cant run on experience!! he is running because he KNOWS people want someone other than bush. and he knows he is young, and dosnt have alot of political baggage because he dosnt have the experience! he KNOWS he can run on “change” and that alot of “mindless” people will support that. thats the bottom line.
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
Sen Obama is money machine. he spent so far much more than Sen Clinton in primary and much much more than Sen McCain.So,Public financing is just some changes for Sen Obama= spending machine.
Posted by: chris | June 22, 2008, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm
Yes, our economy is beyond a recession – and if we aren’t careful, it will fall into another Great Depression. And who do we have to thank for this? George Bush and his money grubbing administration.
But, we can change the tide. Working together, we can undo the disasters inflicted on America by the Republicans. We need to focus our attention on electing Democrats in every office being challenged this fall. Every national, state and local election needs to be filled with a Democrat. Perhaps that would catch the Republican party’s attention that America is hurting, and we need help.
Every ballot, every district, select the Democrat. Barack Obama is going to need all the help he can get to reverse the catastrophe that George Bush and his Dynasty has inflicted upon America. Its going to take all of us pulling together to recover … and perhaps avoid a depression.
Elect Democrats. Every Ballot, Every Election.
Posted by: heather | June 22, 2008, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
Tapper failed to mention that Mc Cain and Obama had no agreement for PRIMARIES.
Just the general election. Obama busted that one, so Tapper is rolling up his sleeves to SPIN him out of it.
Posted by: sid | June 22, 2008, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
Why isn’t the media calling out John McCain on his Oil Drilling flip-flop. The McCain defenders are saying that McCain ony flipped because of high gas prices. But just 4 weeks ago (when prices were still very high), McCain said the following:
“[W]ith those resources, which would take years to develop, you would only postpone or temporarily relieve our dependency on fossil fuels,” McCain said when asked about offshore drilling. “We are going to have to go to alternative energy, and the exploitation of existing reserves of oil, natural gas, even coal, and we can develop clean coal technology, are all great things. But we also have to devote our efforts, in my view, to alternative energy sources, which is the ultimate answer to our long-term energy needs, and we need it sooner rather than later.”
Posted by: David | June 22, 2008, 5:53 pm 5:53 pm
typical liberal idea. vote ALL of one party. yeah, that will solve it… lol
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 5:54 pm 5:54 pm
The Republican spin machine is trying to make taxes on capital gains an issue, stating that anyone with a 401K has an interest in stocks. Except that taxes on 401K’s are deferred until retirement, and are then taxed as REGULAR INCOME, not as capital gains. Regular income, like what you are paying now, not the 15% rate that your Investment Manager is paying on his profits.
Capital Gains should be taxed at the same rate as any other earned income; just like your 401K will be taxed when you finally collect on it.
Posted by: Larry | June 22, 2008, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm
I have no other source but Huffington Post.
I fully admit its the most corrupt news outlet in america.
But hey, Im a liberal. Of course I will believe my masters.
Posted by: David | June 22, 2008, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
Are the Democrats afraid of McCain and a fair election? It sounds like it from these comments.
The Democrats refuse to vote on the FEC nominations so a FEC quorum is not possible.
Yet, the Democrats demand that the FEC investigate McCain although McCain and the bank believe the loan did not use public money for collateral. The loan is paid back in any case.
The Dems should just do their job, the nominations, instead of complaining about McCain to the FEC. Maybe the FEC should just be disbanded until they do the nominations. Maybe that should be the law of the land, either do the nominations or disband the agency. Stop political games meant to harrass the other party and disenfranchise, disillusions and misinform voters.
If you want the FEC nominate them, then McCain can work with them. Otherwise he doens’t have much choice.
Posted by: win | June 22, 2008, 5:58 pm 5:58 pm
heather
do you realize what the great depression was?! it was soup and breadlines. ya know, you liberals just loooove to say how bush was a “fearmonger” with terrorism and the war on terror, how about the recession thing. you’re saying we are not far from the great depression?! whats our unemployment rate right now? now compare that to the great depression. now, im not saying that we are in the best shape we should or could be in, and there are alot of issues that need to be fixed, but cmon. im sure you believe the democrats global warming scare too huh??
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 5:58 pm 5:58 pm
We have to work overtime to keep spinning Obama out of his idiot gaffes.
We have more money, a lousy president and the entire corrupt media hyping him to death.
Yet he doesnt have much of a lead on Mc Cain.
I guess we are going to have to work even harder to spin Obama.
I wish he wasnt such a lousy candidate. It would make our jobs a lot easier.
Posted by: Edna | June 22, 2008, 5:59 pm 5:59 pm
Thanks for putting this story out there:neither of these men are clean. It was incredibly frustrating to watch MTP today and Sen. Graham continually say Sen. Obama cares only about winning and this is what his actions show. Sen. McCain’s actions show a similar thing IMO.
Posted by: Rhoda | June 22, 2008, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm
Jake, you’ve got a real story here but you need to do some more work on this part rigggggghhhht here:
“McCain’s maneuvering seemed to irritate FEC Chairman David Mason, a Republican, who wrote a letter to McCain in February saying McCain could only withdraw from public financing if he received the permission of the FEC and answered questions about the loan.
“The Commission made clear that a candidate enters into a binding contract with the Commission when he executes the Candidate Agreements and Certification,” Mason wrote. “The Commission stated that it would withdraw a candidate’s certifications upon written request, thus agreeing to rescind the contract, so long as the candidate: 1) had not received Matching Payment Program funds, and 2) had not pledged the certification of Matching Payment Program funds as ‘security for private financing.’”"
Has the FEC granted permission for McCain to pull out of public financing yet? This is a simple yes or no question that already has an answer – ‘No’, since there is no quorum at this point to make that determination.
Details and nuisances aside, that’s the answer. And John McCain has since exceeded primary spending, a crime, although he was tied by a cap to public campaign limits due to the fact that the FEC has not granted permission to pull-out of the public financing system.
How about reporting that?
Posted by: P | June 22, 2008, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm
tim wrote:
whats our unemployment rate right now?
*********
In MI is’t 8.5%. The auto industry here had the worst month in 40 years. They predict if June is as bad, they will be bankrupt before summer ends.
Try to remember tim, we are a consumer driven economy. We dont make things, we buy things. When we stop, so does our economy. We are right on the edge, no matter how you Repubs want to spin it, facts are facts.
Posted by: Vero Possumus | June 22, 2008, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm
Tim, Tim, Tim. (June 22, 5:58 p.m.) You had some listeners there for a minute, then you said “democrats global warming scare”. McCain believes in global warming. So does Bush. Last I checked, neither was a Democrat.
Posted by: Robert | June 22, 2008, 6:06 pm 6:06 pm
He had t do it Obama made him. Now on to the Enron Loop hole with mcCains staff of Gramm and Black
Posted by: Thinking | June 22, 2008, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
Obama promised last year that he would abide by the election funding scheme set up after the 1974 Watergate scandal, provided his Republican rival would too. McCain, less successful at fundraising than Obama, agreed on Thursday to take public funding but Obama said he was not going to participate, the first presidential candidate ever to do so.
So, basically Obama continues to lie his way to November. Vote Nobama in November.
Posted by: Frank | June 22, 2008, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
whats the matter republicans a little scared because your canidate mccain is a flip flopping idiot that has no idea about anything other than war well looks like the democrats will be taking the white house in jan say good bye to the republicans and mccain soon THANK GOD!! obama 08
Posted by: angie | June 22, 2008, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
my thought is if the conservatives want less government control then why are they the ones who are always giving a vote to control a womens right to chose or gay marriage?
Posted by: melissa | June 22, 2008, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
vero..
i realize that. i didnt say we have serious issues. i was just replying to a “fearmonger” saying its all george bush’s fault… lol im not trying to say we dont have to make changes, but saying we are on the brink of another great depression is just fear mongering at its finest. but look at the national unemplyment rate. its not bad at all. michigan, i hate to say, has been in a world of hurt for awhile now. but, its just when people are hypocritiacal, i have to point it out. saying the answer is to ” vote for democrats for EVERYTHING” is just irresponsible and uninformed. there is a reason why we use the two party system. not that it seems to be working very well lately… lol
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
Obama is the one who is truely using public funding ! The people of america are funding his campaign not the government with tax dollars.The only reason the republicans are crying the blues is because they know that McCain can’t raise enough money on his own to compete with Obama.All that they are trying to do is to hold Obama to McCains level knowing full well that swift boat types will spend their money to do mccain’s dirty work for him.Are republicans really so stupid!that they can’t see through the BS!
Posted by: Steve | June 22, 2008, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
robert…
lol. you’re mising the point. i didnt go into deeply. i was simply saying that the democrats are fearmongers when it comes to global warming. i didnt say mccain or bush didnt believe it?! its just that most conservatives take it for what its worth. its an issue, but not an emergency. its ALWAYS a good idea to cut pollution and emmision levels. but the climate over the last decade has gone down! im not going to get into all the details here, but if you do any research from the scientist that are doing the studies, there is no immediate threat. but if you listen to the democrats and left wingers(being led by al gore), you would think we are going to melt in a matter of years!!! people have to do their own research and not listen to people with agendas and favors to pay is my point.
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
DL: B O is the black version of
B U S H!
He talks from both sides of his mouth, and only says what he sees on a telprompter… unless he has time to meorize his speech.
He would make a great preacher; ask Jeremiah!
And it is WRONG W R O N G W R O N G
to spend as much of his cultists’ money on campaigning as he does!
Most of that money should have been donated to a charity of his or, evenbetter, t h e i r choice!
NO ONE should be permitted to spend the quantities of money to get himself elected that Obama has! There should be a limit set!
As for the DNC suing McCain over the use of publc financing….. that is a scam which shows how deeply the DNC is broken. It has become a shadow of it’s former self…..and there is nothing “DEMOCRATIC” about it at all, at all….
Posted by: QUESTIONER | June 22, 2008, 6:17 pm 6:17 pm
questioner wrote:
And it is WRONG W R O N G W R O N G
to spend as much of his cultists’ money on campaigning as he does!
*******
Charming. WE are supporters. And he can spend my money on whatever he sees fit.
And he will win!!
Obama 08
Posted by: Vero Possumus | June 22, 2008, 6:21 pm 6:21 pm
tim wrote:
michigan, i hate to say, has been in a world of hurt for awhile now.
******
I want to make bumper stickers that say “Recssion 2008, Welcome to the Party. Love, Michigan” LOL!
My husband says they would sell out.
Posted by: Vero Possumus | June 22, 2008, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm
>>>PUSSUM BOOTS A/K/A POSSUM V:
Don’t count on it sweetie!!!!!
Posted by: QUESTIONER | June 22, 2008, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm
The “mindless” ones are those who yearn for smaller government. Don’t you realize that the call for smaller government is political tool, used to get elected, not something that any politician believes?
1. The constitution aims to avoid overconcentration of power by splitting the power between federal and states and between the three branches and using elections to determine who serves in office. The consitution says nothing about keeping the government small.
2. Do you want a small economy to accompany your small government? The Savings and Loan scandal of a past decade and the current financial scandal of securitizing mortages were both possible because regulation was rejected by the Republican party. Can’t you learn from past mistakes? The government should be big enough to eliminate profits based on lying.
3. The person asking for smaller government would really prefer the current government paid for by someone else. Avoding taxes is the motive for seeking smaller government.
People who yearn to preserve the power of the United States (a good conservative motive) should be interested in creating a government strong enough and clever enough to compete with the governments of Germany, Japan and China.
Posted by: W. Raymond Mills | June 22, 2008, 6:26 pm 6:26 pm
vero…
thats pretty funny actually, but you do realize the country is not in a recession yet right?!
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 6:26 pm 6:26 pm
i think its better to take it serious now then wait until its too late.. with global warming, relations with other countries, we need to get out of iraq and stop puffing out our chest and throwing tantrums like we are 3 and starting wars that are not needed. we need to focus on our economy and what we can do to help regain our export strengths we once had, somehow limit our need for oil consumption .
Posted by: melissa | June 22, 2008, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm
w raymond mills..
sounds good, but you’re kind of contradicting yourself here. maybe i should have been a little more specihic i guess… smaller FEDERAL government. smaller STATE governments. smaller LOCAL governments. you’re exactly right, by splitting up the powers, it IS making smaller government!! the point is, everyones idea of “Big government” is different. of course politicians say it but also realize it means cutting their jobs! im saying, i dont want the government IN CHARGE OF MY HEALTH CARE. idont want the government spending my tax money on WELFARE the way they currently do. i dont want my government to tell me HOW MUCH IS A RESONABLE PROFIT TO MAKE. i dont want the government TO PAY FOR MY COLLEGE EDUACATION. see, you can spin it anyway you want, but if you have government control or oversight on every aspect of our lives, you take away incentive. you take away the drive that made us what we are. look at welfare for that example. what real good has it done for the majority of people who use it? yes, it serves a purpose, within reason. its held the black community down for decades. thats just one example. im PROUD TO PAY TAXES. i just want them spent on the common good of the hard working, law abiding, fellow tax payers!! i want national security, i want safe roads and bridges, i want to be able to retire when i get old, i want our schools and education top notch, i could go on and on about what government SHOULD do. but lately, its a matter of explaing what the government SHOULD NOT DO.
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm
McCain is hoodwinking the
public that he’s a
straight-talking, upstanding
politician while riding his
campaign bus named the
Straight Talk Express.
In fact, he’s been riding
the Doubletalk Express all
along.
Posted by: anon | June 22, 2008, 6:43 pm 6:43 pm
thats pretty funny actually, but you do realize the country is not in a recession yet right?!
Posted by: tim | Jun 22, 2008 6:26:30 PM
********
Symantics. The economy grew at a staggering rate of .05% last quarter. So we just squeaked by. I don’t think this quarter will be so kind.
Posted by: Vero Possumus | June 22, 2008, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm
mellissa..
ok, i see your point. but just out of curiosity, what do you feel we should do about the war. dont tell me what we “should” have done, but i want your idea on what to do about terrorism. and im not being cocky here.. lol i just want your thoughts on what should be done about it. and let me ask an honest question.. do you not believe the democrats and leftists are blowing the global warming issue out of proportion just a little??
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 6:46 pm 6:46 pm
It sounds like a line got crossed for a private lending institute to use federal funding, specifically stated or not, and political donors as collateral. There’s no info. on how the original loan was paid back. There could be major conflict of interest in the repayment. Particularly if it was his wife and her income from her beer dynasty, which has lobbied hard against MADD and other regulations, and more recently, introduced a beer/caffiene product. But that is just speculation.
Posted by: kat | June 22, 2008, 6:46 pm 6:46 pm
vero…
i realize that, i dont want to be confused with someone who dosnt realize that its a moot point, but just want to keep things real. a recession and depression are two totally different things, and im not sure if some people realize that. a recession, in history, has shown to be a good “cleansing” of our system.
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 6:49 pm 6:49 pm
tim wrote:
do you not believe the democrats and leftists are blowing the global warming issue out of proportion just a little??
*********
Maybe you should ask the polar bears…
Posted by: Vero Possumus | June 22, 2008, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm
You expect it from the
Republicans.
But some Clinton supporters
who have not been able to
reconcile themselves with the
results of the Democratic
primaries are talking up
McCain – his virtues and
abilities that are non-existent.
Posted by: anon | June 22, 2008, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm
vero..
man that was quick.. see, thats the answer i was expecting. do you mean the same polar bears that have gone up in population from roughly 5000 to nearly 25oo in about 15 years? are those the ones you want me to ask??!! see, that was my point. our liberals in government and our liberals in the media want to MAKE you believe its an issue! if you are referring to the recent “polar bear endangered species” law that was just passed, you do realize that was just a step by the left wingers to stop any further plans for drilling for oil right? THE POPULATION OF POLAR BEARS HAS GONE UP IN THE LAST TWO DECADES. do some research before you what you hear from keith olberman. thank you for giving me the answer i wanted to hear though.
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm
sorry typo below.. poulation went up from roughly 5000 to nearly 25000…
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
a recession, in history, has shown to be a good “cleansing” of our system.
Posted by: tim | Jun 22, 2008 6:49:57 PM
*******
If that is the case, then we here in Michigan have been cleansed, bathed, hosed, and had the ultimate high colonic, LOL!
Posted by: Vero Possumus | June 22, 2008, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
ok, you tell me. since our national unemployment rate is not bad by any means, what do YOU think the answer for michigan is?
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
and vero, please dont ignore the polar bears.. i definately NEED to hear your reply to that one.. lol
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 7:03 pm 7:03 pm
tim.
Um, job, jobs, jobs, LOL! Booting out our do-nothing Gov. Jennifer Granholm and our entire Senate to start with.
Rethink NAFTA for another. The terms have not been kind to the Detroit Auto Industry. Part is their own fault, part is not.
Posted by: Vero Possumus | June 22, 2008, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm
ok, i feel ya on that vero.. i agree, from what i know about it. look at what your own did to you guys with your primary vote?! not sure a total cleansing of your democratic leadership there wouldnt be a bad idea.. lol
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 7:06 pm 7:06 pm
tim ,
sorry have 4 kids got busy didnt see the post til now.
i dont see the war in iraq as anything to do with terrorism but i think we should pull out as soon as possible,i dont think another 4 or 10 years in iraq is the solution to anything.. but i agree hind sight is 20 20 and its too late to go back and change it now..
about terrorism, im not 100 percent sure. i am not even 100 percent sure how the whole thing started as i suspect most people in america at least are only half sure if at all..on one hand i think we should go after them because they are not going to stop attacking us on the other hand you im not entirely sure that i would agree with even myself on that with out knowing the whole story.
i know how corrupt and shameless our government can act and if nothing else bush has taught us you can not entirely trust what they say or do is the whole truth or the right thing.
i dont have the answer for that.
Posted by: melissa | June 22, 2008, 7:13 pm 7:13 pm
ok, well i guess im not going to get a reply on global warming. thats a real surprise…
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 7:13 pm 7:13 pm
tim
Your posts make good sense. The left wing, as usual, sold out the good Democrats, and while Republican leaders are seriously flawed, they are, for the most part consistent. Compared to the nominees from both parties during the last 20 years, Mr. McCain actually stacks up pretty good.
Posted by: Independent | June 22, 2008, 7:14 pm 7:14 pm
Yea, she’s a real treat. We lost out on a huge Honda plant 2 years ago because she didn’t want to make Toyota mad.
The primary mess was no big deal, we are so used to her screwing us, everyone just kinds shrugged their shoulders.
Now they are about to pass a state wide smoking ban. That doesnt bother me, but I think we have lost enough jobs. 3 restaruants closed in my town in the last month due to the economy.
I can remember during the seventies, there were t-shirts that said “Last one out of Michigan, turn out the lights” LOL!
Posted by: Vero Possumus | June 22, 2008, 7:14 pm 7:14 pm
Senator Obama and his supporters are now doing the same type of dirty deeds against Senator McCain as Obama did in 1996 to get elected to Illinois state senate. He will try to find a way to prevent opponents from being on the ballot. Corrupt Obama will say or do anything to win any way he can. Obama believes in sewer politics and which smell. Also, I heard a TV rerun yesterday where Obama agreed to public funding last fall.
Posted by: Mary | June 22, 2008, 7:15 pm 7:15 pm
mellissa..
i hear you on that. i definately am not stupid enough to claim i have the answer either. i voted for the idiot twice, and i wasnt for going into iraq. but i will say, it is a war that NEEDS to be fought. and it needs to be fought aggressivly. as far as pulling out immeadiately, that would could be as stupid as making the mistake of going in in the first place. but, if handled properly i think we could start pulling troops out within a years time. all depends, just too many factors. but hindsight is 20/20. and our government has been corrupt since the beginning of time.. bush wasnt the first one. every administration has done it.
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 7:21 pm 7:21 pm
To me, the Republican’s ‘trickle down economics’ is a plumbing issue. It sure looks like something leaking out of a sewer pipe.
Maybe where you live life is good. Here, we need jobs. Its not that we don’t want to work, its that we cant. We aint asking for a handout. Just a helping hand. For years, we have been workin under a life where things are stacked against us, especially this past 8 years.
We need a change. Americans want to work. We can work. But there aint no jobs.
Posted by: leroy33 | June 22, 2008, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
tim,
i disagree that the war in Iraq is needed but why do you feel it would be better to wait a year vs now? what would change? oh yea i agree that there were presidents before bush that were screw ups and just as deceitful it just seems to be way more apparent to people with bush maybe cause he isnt a very good liar i dont know.. you really have a 50 50 shot on anyone you pick now i didnt vote for bush i would love to say it was because i am so smart that i knew he was a ####### but i cant say that i didnt vote cause i tend to think they are ALL #########..lol and about 10 min after they hear your the winner they have all but forgotten who the heck your were and what they promised they were going to do for you.. however this year i chose to vote on the issues who i think is the MOST likely to run the white house the way i would like and thats about it..
Posted by: melissa | June 22, 2008, 7:33 pm 7:33 pm
independant..
well, i guess as far as consistency goes, mccain isnt too bad. he’s weak on a few issues that are sooo important though. drilling for oil(for the not so immediate solution), soooo weak on border security and illegal immigration laws… also, falling a little too deep for the global warming falacy. im not really impressed with anything he says to be honest, but those are by far the worst ones… lol
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 7:33 pm 7:33 pm
melissa…
well, like i said.. theres just too many factors in pulling out of iraq. the bush administration has mishandled it since day one. although, its at its best point it has been in right now since the start of the war. the only reason i said maybe in a years time, is because we just cant pick up and leave without setting some sort of a stable government there. now, keep in mind the iraqi people REALLY would need to be pressured into stepping up and making a stand. there hasnt been enough pressure on the mto stand up, and thats been a big problem. what do you think the rest of the world would think if we just start pulling out?! you think they hate us now? that would be the most irresponsible thing we could do. but it would take stern leadership to just say this is whats going to happen. this is what HAS to happen. it can be done i believe, but just going to take stern leadership and i do think mccain could provide that. i think there is one advantage to having the military background, and that is that he will be stern. the line will be drawn in the sand. by the way, i didnt mean the war in iraq was needed, i meant the war on terrorism in general needs to be fought. and fought aggressivly. we are losing too much clout in the world, and we need to regain our leadership as the leaders for peace.
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 7:41 pm 7:41 pm
vero… you’re the one i wanted the reply from!! you were the one when asked if global warming was “for real” said go ask the polar bears!!! i then said, thats what the media and democrats want you to believe, but they have gone up in popuklatin over the last two decades!! cmon now, dont back out.. i want to hear WHY you think global warming is such a big issue??!!
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 7:44 pm 7:44 pm
Flip-flopping McCain would have
made a good footwear salesman
selling flip-flop sandals than
the dead-end politician he has
become.
Posted by: anon | June 22, 2008, 7:44 pm 7:44 pm
Jake Tapper, thank you for exposing Mccain’s double talking hypocrisy for all to see. Unfortunately most republican zombie lemmings will continue to follow them over the cliff. Even though republicans are ruining the country.
Posted by: Captain America | June 22, 2008, 7:45 pm 7:45 pm
CAPTAIN AMERICA…
ok, im sure im going to regret this but i need to know your reasons why republicans are ruining the country??
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm
Tim:
Why are you demanding an answer on global warming from vero? John McCain acknowledges there is a climate change problem, and has proposed legislation to combat global warming. He even held hearings in the Commerce Commission on this very issue.
If vero is wrong, then isn’t McCain? Or, if you are right in there is no global warming, then isn’t McCain wrong? Are you campaigning to defeat McCain?
Posted by: Larry3 | June 22, 2008, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
tim, Vero Possumus
Excuse me for interrupting…
Polar bears – There is one single reason why the population has gone up: The 1973 International Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears that put heavy restrictions on hunting.
The effects of global warming have only just started to show, and using the last 20 years as some kind of proof that polar bears love the heat is absurd.
Another thing: Reports in some areas of increasing numbers of polar bears on land is most likely a result of shrinking sea ice. Polar bears are forced to seek new frontiers.
Posted by: El_Pajaro | June 22, 2008, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
tim said:
vero… you’re the one i wanted the reply from!! you were the one when asked if global warming was “for real” said go ask the polar bears!!!
******
Oops, sorry, I thoguht the question was directed at Melissa and I was just chiming in about the polar bears to be contrary!
Actually, I do beleive that it is a bit overblown, but not completely. But then again the world has a history of wiping all forms of life and scientists believe we are about 7,000 years overdue. So it is probably a natural progession of things.
We had ice ages and mini-ice ages thousands of years before man, so it only stands to reason that pattern will continue. Are we accelerating the process? Maybe, but I believe it’s inevitable.
Hope that was the answer your were looking for.
Jeanne in MI
Posted by: Vero Possumus | June 22, 2008, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
new york times?! time?! newsweek?! you have a few decent ones in there, but jeesh… no wonder you believe the polar bears are all dying.. lol
Posted by: tim | Jun 22, 2008 7:51:50 PM
********
Aactually, I would blame that on the Discovery Channel, LOL!
Posted by: Vero Possumus | June 22, 2008, 7:55 pm 7:55 pm
larry..
yes! mccain is falling for it !!! thats my whole point. im voting for mccain, i didnt say i liked him.. lol anyone who has done any research on global warming and not just lisetened to al gore or all the liberal media on this subject, know that its not a real big issue. well let me rephrase that.. its an issue, but not an emergency. getting rid of pollution and emmisions is always a good thing. but,look at the climate change that has occured since we have started recording it(which is merely a blip on the screen as far as time goes) do you realize how minimal it has increased?! and do you realize how much of that is man made?! and how its cyclical? then they want to tell you the polar bears are dying because of it??!! are you kidding me?!! the earths climate has decreased since 1998? i mean, i realize that that is just ten years, but its the point that its not a man made issue!! its mother nature, and for these democrats (and select republicans, who just happen to be running for president.. coincidence?!) to try to “scare” us into believing this for political purposes?! its the same thing yours truly did with the war!!! its called fearmongering!! but you dont see it when its “your side” doing the fear mongering.. lol
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 8:03 pm 8:03 pm
heather..
lol i just happen to be a lone conservative it seems in here.. odd huh?! im just trying to talk about facts and issues.. im not being rude to anyone.. he was backing the global warming debate, and i was just asking him why? is that unfair to ask?!
Posted by: tim | June 22, 2008, 8:05 pm 8:05 pm
Mr Obama Controls their minds. He has them thinking he is All good and the only one who can help them. That everyone else is evil and trying to get him. That no one cares about them but him.
It is called mind conditioning, mind manipulation. Same techniques that Hitler used on the German people.
The techniques are more refined with all the studies done on the techniques since then.
The Obama followers have no clue What has happened to them or that they are a part of it all. Just like the German people were not that dumb, they were just sucked into the vacuum with out them knowing it was happening.
Posted by: seah | June 22, 2008, 8:09 pm 8:09 pm
seah said:
It is called mind conditioning, mind manipulation. Same techniques that Hitler used on the German people.
The techniques are more refined with all the studies done on the techniques since then.
********
Seriously! I dont hate John McCain. I dont thin he is the devil and I dont hink he has cloved hooves or horns.
Obama is just more in line with my ideals. Period.
You call it “mind control”, I call it an informed voter.
Posted by: Vero Possumus | June 22, 2008, 8:19 pm 8:19 pm
–Seah– I agree with you about Senator Obama. So many of his followers are young people who have not been “out in the real world” and simply believes everything the man says as the truth. He does have charisma and makes wonderful speeches when he is reading a prepared speech from a teleprompter. But certainly that does not qualify him to be the President. He lacks intergity, intelligence, experience and judgment. His policies on energy, the war, economy, etc. are not defined enough and he keeps changing his mind.
Posted by: Mary | June 22, 2008, 8:31 pm 8:31 pm
As one of these young voters ‘who have not been “out in the real world”‘, I only have what I see and hear to make my choices on. What Obama is saying aligns with what I am experiencing, and what McCain is saying does not.
My parents are supporters of McCain. They have always voted Republican, and will again. No discussion, no reason, they just always have. Myself, I’m listening to what the candidates are saying, and Obama fits my experiences better.
Posted by: heather | June 22, 2008, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
heather, Vero Possomus,
Obama is a blank slate, put together by the Axelrod machine (the new Karl Rove) to make you believe whatever you personally need to believe to give him your vote. All the other words you are hearing to rationalize anything about him or McCain, pure make-believe.
========================================
Obama, let’s not bother to vet, please!
========================================
We’re all just weary possums!
========================================
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | June 22, 2008, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
The republicans only care about this because, for once, the democrats are better financed then they are.
make no mistake about it, Obama IS PUBLICLY financed… it’s just directly from the middle and lower class via his web site. …the majority of his fund raising is coming directly from the middle and lower class public with donations under 100 dollars. People like me, I personally donated 25 dollars three times. (hey look, it’s a grass roots movement like the ones republicans love to talk about so much!)
Posted by: Scott | June 22, 2008, 9:42 pm 9:42 pm
Obama’s followers haven’t been in the real world? Oh please. The people behind McCain can be broken down into three general groups, the super rich OLD MONEY, many of whom have had lives so devoid of hard work, they think the only purpose for gloves are to help you with your grip on a golf club.
The second are middle and low level white collar workers who think they are capitalists by being wage slaves for someone else. These are the people who listen to Rush Limbaugh and agree with everything he says while also believing they are rugged individualists. They’ve never done anything to stand out from the flock of sheep they’re a part of, beyond being exceptional examples of sheep.
The last class is the white working class in southern and southern minded states. These are the highest quality people among McCain supporters and they know what a hard day’s work is. Unfortunately, large segments of this group believe that Obama is a muslim, going to lead a revolution against white people, etc… because they trust what their dumbass friends say too much, without verifying things for themselves.
Myself, I’ve been successfully self employed for going on 6 years. I built my businesses from nothing but an idea and hard work. I know what hard work is, but more than that, I know what capitalism is because I don’t just listen to some loud mouth on TV or radio extol the virtues of it, I live it every day, taking risks, failing, succeeding, and reinvesting.
I guarantee you the people saying crap about Obama supporters lacking “real world experience” have wage slave jobs working for someone else and know only how to be a good little follower. Their “real world” is taking marching orders from others. Like McCain. He’s a good little follower, which is why he doesn’t stand for hardly anything he stood for just a year ago, because he’s following what the leaders of the RNC have to say. Contrast to Obama, he’s a mover and shaker, a real leader, the DNC is following what he has to say, not vice versa.
Those of who actually compete in the real free market every day and make a living at it, rather than the wage slaves who are content taking their marching orders from others, we know leadership when we see it, and Obama has it and McCain does not. It’s really that simple.
Posted by: Benjamin | June 22, 2008, 9:58 pm 9:58 pm
Yes Seah,
You figured it out! Obama supporters are under mind control. That’s it. It’s a deliberate and well exucted movement based on mind control. We are all gulible and weak.
Glad YOU are too smart to fall for it though. Perhaps you can save the rest of us with your multiple blog postings every day. Glad there’s smart folks like you out there to help show us the light.
It’s amazing how much I’ve learned about my fellow Americans in the last six months. There’s WAY too many people wrapped up in conspiracy theories based on inuendo, conjecture, and flat-out lies (like Obama won’t face the flag or was sworn in on the Koran for example). Worse yet, is people like Seah will believe that crap.
Too many people think if it’s on the internet, is must be true.
We need to improve our educational system and raise the standard for critical thinking in the USA.
It’s definitely time for a change!
OBAMA 08!
Posted by: I'm a Mindless Zomby | June 22, 2008, 9:59 pm 9:59 pm
tim: It seems that conservatives are faced with two democrats this election cycle. I await their VP choices to see which one is more ‘right’.
Posted by: 1percenter | June 22, 2008, 10:15 pm 10:15 pm
–Seah– I agree with you about Senator Obama. So many of his followers are young people who have not been “out in the real world” and simply believes everything the man says as the truth. He does have charisma and makes wonderful speeches when he is reading a prepared speech from a teleprompter. But certainly that does not qualify him to be the President. He lacks intergity, intelligence, experience and judgment. His policies on energy, the war, economy, etc. are not defined enough and he keeps changing his mind.
Posted by: Mary | Jun 22, 2008 8:31:46 PM
Mary here’s a news flash for you.
The minimum age is 35. Here is the clause that defines this age and other requirements:
No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.
Sources: http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Article2
Posted by: GOP are thieves | June 22, 2008, 10:38 pm 10:38 pm
–GOP are Thieves–Please read my post correctly. I did not say a word about Obama being too young or under 35 years old or that he was not born in USA. I was referring to many of his YOUNG supporters.
Posted by: Mary | June 22, 2008, 10:58 pm 10:58 pm
The McCain Victory ’08 fund has been set up so that individuals can donate up to $70,000 to his campaign. It takes advantage of a loophole (drum roll please) in the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. His campaign calls it a “hybrid legal structure”.
Here’s the breakdown of how the funds are distributed:
-$2,300 for general election
-$28,500 to the RNC
-Remaining funds, up to $10,000 each, go to what McCain’s campaign has determined battleground states.
Et voilà! What will the people signing $70,000 checks over to McCain want in return?
Posted by: cincyr | June 22, 2008, 11:07 pm 11:07 pm
cincyr: We’ll want our money back!
Posted by: 1percenter | June 22, 2008, 11:14 pm 11:14 pm
GOP are Thieves–Please read my post correctly. I did not say a word about Obama being too young or under 35 years old or that he was not born in USA. I was referring to many of his YOUNG supporters.
Posted by: Mary | Jun 22, 2008 10:58:26 PM
—————
Mary, I read your post. My point is he meets the requirements set forth by the constitution. That’s all that’s necessary for voters validate if he meets the voters requirements.
Posted by: GOP are thieves | June 22, 2008, 11:21 pm 11:21 pm
–GOP are thieves.—-Does that mean that if the candidate is 35 years old and a natural born citizen but a convicted rapist or murderer, you would vote for him???? If so, this country is in trouble. LOL
Posted by: Mary | June 22, 2008, 11:52 pm 11:52 pm
Mary: What do you think the voting age should be?
Posted by: 1percenter | June 22, 2008, 11:57 pm 11:57 pm
I just watched Recount (but it was no different than what I recall, exactly) and it is once again clear that the only way that the Democrats can ensure a win in the White House in the fall is to engage in a bare knuckled street fight with McCain and the Republicans. Obama can easily rationalize telling a big lie about public funding to prevail in this street fight. May God help us all.
=======================================
Obama, please, no vetting allowed!!
=======================================
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | June 22, 2008, 11:57 pm 11:57 pm
WCM: We are being distracted by the Presidential election from the real game.
Posted by: 1percenter | June 23, 2008, 12:06 am 12:06 am
The current voting age is fine with me. I applaud all the young people(college age) who are working the campaigns and are interested in moving our country forward by refusing to vote for a socialist, Senator Obama.
GOODNIGHT AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK.
LOL
Posted by: Mary | June 23, 2008, 12:14 am 12:14 am
Naturally, McCain does not see
himself as a quibbler or an
equivocator but a man of
principle you can depend on.
In Des Moines, Iowa, in March
2007, here’s McCain to reporters
aboard his campaign bus:
“My positions haven’t changed,”
McCain said. “I’m too old to
change. I’m the same. People
will understand that as the
campaign goes on.”
Posted by: anon | June 23, 2008, 12:21 am 12:21 am
>>>cincyr | Jun 22, 2008 11:07:03 PM;
You DO realize that only 85-90% of Obama’s windfall income for his campaign comes from you wee little donators, right?
Well….. where do you think the other 10 to 15% of the money is coming from?
Outer space?
Naah.
What do you think the B I G donees will want in return?
Guess again!
Posted by: QUESTIONER | June 23, 2008, 12:25 am 12:25 am
The point is that McCain considered taking public financing or not.Obama insisted he would take it and demanded McCain and all the other potential nominees go with public financing…to “level the playing field”…and he also put it in writing and when it looked like the playing field and the money situation would be favorable to him
HE BROKE HIS WORD…Simple as that
Posted by: Jackie | June 23, 2008, 12:50 am 12:50 am
Questioner,
According to a commentator on ABC This Week today the $$ from “small donors” is only 45% of his total donor volume. You can believe whatever numbers you like, though, because Obama is immune to vetting.
========================================
Obama, no vetting please!!!
We are all Weary Possums!!!
========================================
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | June 23, 2008, 12:55 am 12:55 am
The Dems are fine with this as long as it’s the Dems sitting with most of the money. This election the Dems are the Wall Street darlings for a change and the one’s sitting with the money so I guess what’s important is not campaign reform but rather winning. It’s comforting to know the Dems are no different then the Repubs and that it’s old politics as usual. And those of you who think Obama’s campaign is made up 100% of donations under $200 from regular people, do your homework. Who kept his campaign afloat before all those small donors came on board? Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, UBS, Exelon,
British Petroleum, Exxon Mobil, “advisors” and “consultants” to lobbyists and “bundled” money from friends and family of lobbyists and so on. Wasn’t one of the points of public financing to limit the influence of special interests? The Dems certainly don’t have high expectations for their Repub opponent but I would think they would for their own candidate in particular when he claims to be about “change” and “new politics” and promises to always be upfront with the American public. It turns out he’s no different then a Clinton or McCain, just the same old politics we’ve seen over and over again. The Obama camp has done an impressive job in attracting small donors and breaking records (Clinton also broke some records) and no one should take that away from them but the reality is that had Clinton pulled in as much money as the far more organized and up to date Obama camp did there is no doubt we wouldv’e seen the powers that be within the Dem party rally behind Clinton. That type of fundraising capacity trickles down to all levels of the Dem party and that can’t be ignored in regards to it’s importance. Obama contributed more money to the campaigns of superdelegates then Clinton did and Obama will have the capacity to outspend McCain in this election and as Dems we should be so proud that it all comes down to money and not principle and that those who voted in the Democratic primaries bought into false hope. Whether McCain flip flops or not is not as big of a deal when we jump on board a candidate who promised and promises so much and yet turns out to be nothing more than an “old politics”
politician. There is no hope for change with Obama.
Posted by: alpaig | June 23, 2008, 1:27 am 1:27 am
to Jackie,
No the point is that if you live in a glass house don’t throw stone.
Posted by: Justwords | June 23, 2008, 3:31 am 3:31 am
Of course McCain is going to misstep on finance. He has Phil Gramm as his financial manager.
Posted by: Scott | June 23, 2008, 4:14 am 4:14 am
Posted by: J | Jun 23, 2008 6:07:33 AM
i liken him to the wizard in the wizard of oz…sounds like an authority with grand powers, lots of smoke and mirrors, but when you pull back the curtain you find a little man with no ideas or clue what to do.
Posted by: tr | June 23, 2008, 6:20 am 6:20 am
Posted by: tr | Jun 23, 2008 6:20:23 AM
You are so right
Posted by: J | June 23, 2008, 6:24 am 6:24 am
I find this at the very least . . . . . .disturbing.
Posted by: DAVID NH | June 23, 2008, 7:48 am 7:48 am
You expect it from the
Republicans.
But some Clinton supporters
who have not been able to
reconcile themselves with the
results of the Democratic
primaries are talking up
McCain – his virtues and
abilities that are non-existent.
Posted by: anon | Jun 22, 2008 6:54:23 PM
————————————-
We think we should be JUST like the BOTS!
Vote for McCain the same is better than the SAME!
No change is coming from BO, propaganda, BS, and lies from the king of flip flopper’s!
Posted by: HP Boston | June 23, 2008, 8:26 am 8:26 am
It does not matter how McCain wins as long as he wins!
He can get his money from anywhere he chooses he is a politician just as BO is a mere politician.
We do not want change just the same old same old politics as usual, how would we know any thing different?
Lie, flip flop, bundle donations, our crappy candidates are the SAME!
The one with the best money machine, lies and the biggest flock of sheep WINS!
Posted by: HP Boston | June 23, 2008, 8:34 am 8:34 am
Obama breaks his promise and McCain gets attacked by the media. Too bad SNL is on haitus. All these “small” donors don’t need the money I suppose. You all can easily afford $4 gas. Obama’s lie means you won’t get your money refunded. i wish someone would ask Obama a question as to why he feels these people do not need the money?
Posted by: geevill | June 23, 2008, 9:35 am 9:35 am
It took a remarkable amount of hypocrisy from McCain and his minions to attack Obama’s retractions. At least Obama’s flip flopping stayed within unquestioned legal parameters, unlike McCain’s.
He opted in to public financing by securing a the 5M first, which he then used as collateral for the Fidelity Loan along with the donors’ list. Using a donors’ list for a loan raises privacy issues, perhaps legalities.
As long as McCain didn’t use the 5 million from public financing, he didn’t have to commit to public financing for his nomination. So in effect, it was used as insurance. After his campaign and donations improved dramatically, it wouldn’t been to his advantage to use the system with its restrictions on donations, so he opted out. But for the presidential election, given how flushed the RNC is, it’s to his apparent advantage to get back in to public financing.
So now McCain has earned some well deserved bipartisan scrutiny over his opting in with the contingency to opt out, which he chose because things improved. When he opts back in, Obama gets attacked for opting out to his advantage, which is precisely what McCain did earlier.
All this opting in and opting out is a tiresome thing to contemplate for very long. But flap about flip flopping is becoming an enduring trait of this presidential election. Finally, my previous assertion about Cindy McCain paying off his loan was incredibly stupid. Thanks for deleting it.
Posted by: kat | June 23, 2008, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
That all had nothing to do with the general Election, Obama PROMISED to go the Public financing route for the General Election if the republican candidate did, and McCain decided to take Obama up on his pledge and Obama as usual double stepped, because he will be financed by the like of Soros and the Terrorists!! (the same way all those Chinese immigrants donated to Hilary) Obama is getting it the same way from the Muslims!!
FEC should look into that!!!!
Obama is a liar there is no doubt about that, he was a state leg and now running for President. No Experience, He goes to a racist church and then claims if people bring it up they are racist.
We are in a world of trouble if Obama wins in November!!
Posted by: spock | June 23, 2008, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm
Republicans = Me Me Me
Democrats = We We We
I am so glad Obama opted out of public financing. This is the most important election of my lifetime. War vs. Peace. Fearmongering vs. Open Discussion. Exclusivity vs. Inclusivity. Saber Rattling vs. Diplomacy.
If he had been dumb enough to stay with public financing because of anything John McCain had to say about it, I would worry he wasn’t bright enough to be President. He has done the right thing. He has to win this one or we might as well finish the shredding job Bushco has done to the Constitution. Now if only he will filibuster the FISA bill this week! (If you don’t know about this, you might want to look it up. It allows retroactive immunity to the telecoms who can spy on YOU any time, as well as expands Bush’s wiretapping and surveillance powers. Goodbye 4th amendment.)
Obama ’08
Posted by: Dizzy Izzy | June 23, 2008, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm
The media’s memory is short indeed if McCain’s lack of censure has been cut away from its collective memory.
Obama is not continuing to abide by the campaign finance pledge. It is true now as it was in the primary. It is not a new story either.
It has to be said McCain’s lack of ability to raise money has as much to do with his campaign finance reform past as it does with this current election. It is not accurate to suggest he is in worst stead than Obama because he has a record on this issue. Feingold stayed within the boundaries of this reform and had just as bad time on raising money as McCain is having now.
Stating that both politicians are having a difficult time complying with the principle of reform is not the same as reporting what the context of raising money means to a new or an incumbent politician. It is not good with McCain “the agreement did require McCain to reapply for federal matching funds if he withdrew from public financing and lost early primary contests” or Obama is choosing to adapt some elements of reform but still ignoring spending limits. Life is too complex to have part of the story.
Posted by: Genna | June 23, 2008, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm