Obama To Opt Out Of Public Financing

Obama announced that he will be the first Presidential candidate since the Watergate era reforms to forego Federal funds for the Presidential general election.

Patterico provides background on Obama's previous pledges to operate within the public system, as does The Politico.  I like this from Obama's response to the Midwest Democracy Network questionnaire:

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.

Apparently Obama has discovered that his vast network of donors is special, but not an interest.  My guess is that none of Obama's supporters will care, and that the various media outlets that are bemoaning this today, such as the Times and the WaPo, will endorse him in October, even though John McCain has been the champion of McCain-Feingold.  And after they do so, I presume they will continue to agitate for campaign finance reform, from a position of even more diminished credibility (Hmm, less than zero?).

The 2012 race will be interesting, unless Obama and a Dem congress can quickly re-write the rulebook to their own advantage.  With the Times cheering them on, of course.

Comments

[reliapundit]

can anybody tell me any issue upon which obama hasn't flip-flopped?

[Neo]

Obama did sell out the primary cause of his professional life, all for a tiny political advantage. If he’ll sell that out, what won’t he sell out?

Obama is now plain for anybody to see. He will say whatever it takes to get elected. And I do mean whatever.

Don't forget, this is the guy that out-Clinton-ed the Clintons .. remember that "middle-class tax cut" that never was. The Left should take a lesson from it too.

[Neo]

In 2000, it was any non-Clinton candidate, and America got Bush.

In 2008, it is the non-Bush candidate, and America will get what it deserves.

[Tina]

The Great Seal of Obamaland?

"Just above the eagle’s head are the words “Vero Possumus,” roughly translated “Yes we can.” Not exactly E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One), the motto on the presidential seal and the dollar bill. Then again, Mr. Obama is not the president."

Townhall has the new Obamaseal up now too.

[Tony]

"Mr. Obama said. “John McCain’s campaign and the Republican National Committee are fueled by contributions from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs."

Does anyone notice who's sitting next to him in the picture in the NYTimes?

[hit and run]

Heh... From the sitemeter counter on my blog:

Domain Name xxxxxx.net ? (Network)
IP Address 209.42.xxx.# (The NC Democratic Party)
ISP Intrex
Location Continent : North America
Country : United States (Facts)
State : North Carolina
City : Raleigh
Lat/Long : 35.6838, -78.6636 (Map)
Distance : 78 miles (local visitor)

I sincerely hope they were distracted!

[Buford Gooch]

"Just above the eagle’s head are the words “Vero Possumus,”??? Translates to "Real Possum".

[Steve]

Great site!

Would you like a Link Exchange with The Internet Radio Network? At the IRN you can listen to over 70 of America’s top Talk Shows via Free Streaming Audio! In addition you can email the President, VP and Congressional Leaders!!
http://netradionetwork.com

[Elliott]

I can already envision the "Very Presumptuous" photoshops.

[Elliott]

Obama is now officially a "posseur."

[Barney Frank]

The Great Seal of Obamaland?

"Just above the eagle’s head are the words “Vero Possumus,” roughly translated “Yes we can.”

Since his pop is from Kenya shouldn't they change the critter to the African water horse then his motto could be "Hippo Possumus".

[Elliott]

Barney,

That might invite comparisons to a certain church father from Hippo, whose autobiography chronicled his dissolute youth and eventual conversion. Too close to home.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Hey, does anyone recall a photoshop of the Obama "Hope" poster, with "hope" changed to "Obey"? If so, I'd sure love to find it again.

[Elliott]

Over at the The Weekly Standard's blog, John McCormack asks, "Is Obama's Great Seal Illegal?"

[Rick Ballard]

Great News For Congress!

There is absolutely no where to go but up. "Worst in 35 years" and running behind HMOs wrt public confidence is quite an achievement.

Nany and Harry must be very proud tonight.

Via Dan Collins at PW

[Sue]

The new politician, same as the old politician.

[qrstuv]

I wonder how much longer the Democrats will be able to cling to their claim that they are at a financial disadvantage compared to the Republicans?

(I know people who believe this.)

[Sue]

According to Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., Obama then said, “However, I need to make a decision in the next few months as to how I manage that since I’m running against John McCain, which takes a lot of time. If women take a moment to realize that on every issue important to women, John McCain is not in their corner, that would help them get over it.”

Via Hot Air

[kim]

Perhaps he wants women to assume their proper position in the revolution.
============================

[Paul Zrimsek]

I see the eagle is still clinging bitterly to that bunch of arrows. Economic insecurity, no doubt. The olive branch must represent religion, then.

[hit and run]

Charlie:
Hey, does anyone recall a photoshop of the Obama "Hope" poster, with "hope" changed to "Obey"? If so, I'd sure love to find it again.

I took a quick look and didn't find it. I do recall it, but can't remember where it was...

So, here's a quick stab at it. Not professional, but serviceable, and you are welcome to it...

[Scrapiron]

The seal may not be illegal but is shows what as ass he is and that he has no respect for the office of POTUS.

Nothing new to Hussein opting out of public financing. He just exercised his right as a democrat to be a liar, time after time. Not to worry, the democrat MSM will cover for him.

[Sue]

I find the use of the seal offensive. But then, I find Obama offensive so I'm probably not objective on the issue.

[clarice]

I think his campaign is making such a play for the MTV crowd it risks looking positively adolescent--and then there are those 527 ads...urgh...

[ben]

"In 2008, it is the non-Bush candidate, and America will get what it deserves."

That's true, and it will probably be McCain.

[eightnine2718281828mu5]

Whinging about campaign artwork?

Well, if that's the best material you've got (and after seeing your candidate on the stump, I may have to join in that conclusion), I say, have at it.

link

---
Barack finally has his bounce. For weeks many political experts and pollsters have been wondering why the race between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain had stayed so tight, even after the Illinois senator wrested the nomination from Hillary Clinton. With numbers consistently showing rock-bottom approval ratings for President Bush and a large majority of Americans unhappy with the country's direction, the opposing-party candidate should, in the normal course, have attracted more disaffected voters. Now it looks as if Obama is doing just that. A new NEWSWEEK Poll shows that he has a substantial double-digit lead, 51 percent to 36 percent, over McCain among registered voters nationwide.

--snip--

For now, however, Obama is running much stronger at this point in the race than his two most recent Democratic predecessors, Sen. John Kerry and Vice President Al Gore, who both failed in their bids to win the White House. In a July 2004 NEWSWEEK Poll, Kerry led Bush by only 6 points (51 percent to 45 percent). In June 2000, Gore was in a dead heat with Bush (45 percent to 45 percent)—which is essentially where he ended up when that razor-thin election was finally decided.
---

[clarice]

Really, his fund raising is down..gallup has the two candidates in a dead heat, Michael Hirsh and Newseek are so full of it.

[Sue]

Except he only raised $22 million in May. Not on track for 1/2 billion in June?

[eightnine2718281828mu5]

---
Newseek are so full of it.
---

You like Rasmussen better?

link

---
The Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator (see methodology below) shows Barack Obama leading in states with 200 Electoral College votes while John McCain leads in states with 174 votes. When leaners are included, Obama leads 284-240. On Friday, June 20, Colorado moved from Leans Democratic to Toss-Up but Ohio did the reverse, moving from Toss-Up to Leans Democratic.
---

[clarice]

Hang on to that thought. 89.

[Sue]

2004 anyone? Not that I think McCain will win. I just remember everyone saying the same thing in 04 about Kerry. However, the press has gotten better at propping Obama up.

[Ralph L]

Won't other Democrats be angry that Obama is taking money that might have gone to them? Doesn't his decision thus help the Republicans?

[kim]

Newsweek failed to disclose to you, eightnine, that Obama's big lead was among voters registered Democratic.
============================

[Porchlight]

Here's the report on May fundraising:

Obama: $22 million, $46 million cash on hand
McCain: $21 million, $31.6 million cash on hand

DNC: $4 million cash on hand
RNC: $53.5 million cash on hand

From the article:

McCain and Obama have almost equal amounts in the bank to spend during the months between now and their party conventions in late summer — a level of parity between the two candidates that would have been unfathomable just a few months ago.

Considering Obama had to outspend Clinton 3 to 1 in order to barely defeat her, and now he has to negotiate with her on a way to retire her debt, I'm thinking his lowest ever fundraising month this year is making him a little nervous.

[hit and run]

Yup, campaign artwork is the best we got.

Well, that and using his race against him.

Oh wait. We don't do that. He only accuses us of it.

So, $22M in May for Obama. Well -- he won't be paying off Hillary's debt with that, and he won't be making up the shortfall for Denver. He spent $26M for the month.

Pathetic.

89, why are you so stingy? Get out your wallet and give until it hurts...

[Sue]

Ralph brings up an interesting point. Isn't Obama taking money away from other democrats by not taking the public financing?

[eightnine2718281828mu5]

Well, gonna go watch a movie with the family.

Have a good evening, all.

[JM Hanes]

Elliott:

"Is Obama's Great Seal Illegal?"

A hefty fine and 6 months in the slammer sounds just about perfect, no? We've got yr poetic justice right here!

[HoosierHoops]

ok 89 is back!
Dude..you do try so much..Numbers don't mean anything right now..The battle hasn't yet begun..The dance in front of the bon fire has yet to happen. Numbers mean absolutely nothing.
Some people think money will win an election..and it helps..But i think image and ideas win..But anyhoo..my trip to nashville this weekend got canceled and mrs.hoopsters trip to NY with the girls has long departed...Shopping in NY..oh lawd..WE did that so long ago...So my friends..I'm blogging here all weekend with several bottles of Napa Valley Merlots..( BV)
And prayying to gawd i don't say anything to get banned,, :)

[JM Hanes]

"Barack finally has his Methodology bounce."

FIFY.

[hit and run]

Hoopster:
my trip to nashville this weekend got canceled

mrs hit and run and the kids just got back from Nashville tonight.

[Ann]

Who would of thought that 89 had a family? That is scary.
They are probably watching RECOUNT on HBO. Ha Ha

[jimmyk]

Who would of thought that 89 had a family?

Don't most 14-year-olds have families?

[HoosierHoops]

hey hit!!
I'll bet all the oil in ANWAR that mrs. hit wasn't just returning from printers alley in Nashville.. :)
great web site you got hit...

[hit and run]

Well you are right about that. She was suburbanizing it up out in Brentwood.

And thx for the compliment.

[Jim Glass]

Is an old joke about politicians worth a small animated .gif?

Of course, as Homer often said, it's funny because it's true.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Hit, that was so perfectly what I was thinking about it kind of freaks me out.

[JM Hanes]

"My guess is that none of Obama's supporters will care, and that the various media outlets that are bemoaning this today, such as the Times and the WaPo, will endorse him in October, even though John McCain has been the champion of McCain-Feingold."

The Times is doing more tut-tutting than bemoaning:

Mr. Obama’s power to excite average donations of less than $100 also is admirable, and his concerns about his opponent are understandable. The Republican Party is raising a great deal of money, and shadow groups known as 527s have tens of millions to spend. Mr. McCain knows the power of these groups since they slimed him out of the 2000 Republican primaries. Now that he’s the presumptive nominee, however, he is inviting them into the fray on his behalf.

Am I the only one who missed that invitation? What are these ominous "shadow groups known as 527s"? Apparently, they didn't seem so slimy back when they were spending that thar money on sliming Petraeus in the NYTimes. Our favorite Editorial Board must feel so conflicted! They know they've got to say something:

But Mr. Obama’s description of public financing as “broken” is only half true.

And the Times' condemnation is quite possibly even less than half-hearted. They give Obama a pass on opting out of the half that's not broken with a stern admonition to....Russ Feingold! They are "counting on Mr. Feingold’s vow to hold Mr. Obama to his promise to make public financing reform a high priority if he wins." That's the ticket! Lest they seem harsh:

Commendably, the Obama campaign has cut off lobbyist donations to the Democratic National Committee and discouraged donors from helping the freewheeling, 527 shadow operations of liberal sympathizers.

You got that right? Republican shadow ops are slimy, liberal shadow ops are freewheeling.

Between Mr. Obama’s decision to rely on private money and Mr. McCain’s cynical invitation to 527 mayhem, it would be a shame if it also goes down in history as the year public financing died.

Allow me to translate: Why should Obama have to shoulder the blame for dealing the death blow to public financing when we can find a way to pretend that McCain is equally responsible?

The forthright Washington Post supplies a welcome palette cleanser:

Politicians do what politicians need to do. But they ought to spare us the self-congratulatory back-patting while they're doing it.

When they dispense with admirable/commendable/understandable qualifiers altogether, I'm guessing the thrill is gone. Perhaps the Post's endorsement will not be the gimme we expect.

[JB]

"Barack finally has his Methodology bounce."

A Registered voter poll with 23% Republicans and 89 has the nerve to show his face here with that weak carp. No wonder he hightailed it out of here. Drop a turd and run.

[JB]

"Barack finally has his Methodology bounce."

A Registered voter poll with 23% Republicans and 89 has the nerve to show his face here with that weak carp. No wonder he hightailed it out of here. Drop a turd and run.