Clinton Campaign Accuses Obama of Breaking Word

Feb. 17, 2008— -- The Clinton campaign says Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is breaking his word by refusing to commit to taking public financing, should he become the Democratic nominee.

On a conference call Sunday afternoon with reporters, Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson accused Obama of going back on a pledge they say he made last year, to participate in public financing if the Republican opponent would also agree to do so.

"He was very clear. There was no hedging," Wolfson said. "And recently, Sen. Obama has decided to go back on this pledge. He broke his pledge. It now appears that he made a promise to the American people that he's not keeping, and that is wrong. And it's certainly not change you can believe in."

The Obama campaign, meantime, called the whole thing an artificial argument over a position that, they argue, has been consistent.

On their own conference call with reporters, Sunday, Obama spokesman Bill Burton said he didn't understand why the Clinton campaign was attacking Obama on this, and said they didn't "need lectures" from the Clinton camp about campaign finance issues.

In a questionnaire for the Midwest Democracy Network, the details of which were released on Nov. 27, 2007, Sen. Obama was asked, "If you are nominated for president in 2008, and your major opponents agree to forgo private funding in the general election campaign, will you participate in a presidential public financing system?"

He answered, "Yes. I have been a long-time advocate for public financing of campaigns, combined with free television and radio time, as a way to reduce the influence of moneyed special interests."

But later, in his answer, he also said, "If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election."

Last week, Burton indicated that public financing was more of an "option" than a "pledge."