From The Road
December 23, 2007 1:36 PM

Obama Continues Criticizing 527s

(CBS)
From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

DES MOINES, IOWA -- Barack Obama continued to hammer John Edwards for not doing more to get an independent pro-Edwards group to stop airing TV ads on his behalf.

“My attitude is if you can’t get your former campaign manager and political director to do what you like then its going to be hard to get the insurance companies and the drug companies to do what you like. My hope that he takes this seriously,” Obama said during a campaign stop at a Des Moines diner. He was referring to Edwards and the group Alliance for a New America, which is being run by his Edwards' 2004 campaign manager.

Yesterday, however, Edwards said he was asking the group, called a 527 organization because of it's classification under the tax code, to cease airing the ads.

“I do not support 527 groups. They are part of the law, but let me be clear: I am asking this group and others not to run the ads. I would encourage all the 527s to stay out of the political process," said Edwards.

When questioned this morning if he would take a pledge not to accept help from 527s, Obama dodged the question.

“You know the problem with 527s is you have no disclosure and you have no campaign laws. And my sense is if we want to increase transparency and accountability in how our campaigns are run then we should have monies funneled through channels where the people know who's funding the campaigns and who's accountable for the ads.”

Obama said that right now, he would tell a union to stop advertising on his behalf.

He was asked if he would accept support from 527s if he was the nominee but Obama did not give a definitive answer. He said he hopes to get Republicans to come up with an agreement on how to operate. However, Obama added, “I'm not going to endanger the Democratic party’s ability to win races by letting the other side outspend us by two or three hundred million dollars."

When asked if he is naïve in thinking that he can reach out to Republicans and stand up at to them at the same time, Obama said, “I’m not the one who has to apologize consistently for votes I’ve made not standing up to Republicans.”
Tags:
Obama ,
Edwards ,
ads ,
527
Topics:
Barack Obama
Add a Comment
by borockabomo December 24, 2007 10:54 AM EST
Well, when you see the content of some of those 527 ads: they''re gross and negative. And they''re not subject to anyone''s responsibility. On the positive side of things:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9plsVThX6U
Reply to this comment
by sthinker December 23, 2007 8:17 PM EST
In response to amc2271:

Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy both died in office...TWO PRESIDENTS.

I think the country could survive a President''s "SPOUSE" dying, if that happened.

By the way, you do know that you don''t have to have "CANCER" to die, don''t you, so anyone who would "shy away from" John Edwards just because his wife has an illness, is very UNintelligent.
Reply to this comment
by sthinker December 23, 2007 8:14 PM EST
Obama''s still in the U.S. Senate. If he cares so much about 527s, he ought to introduce some legislation to override the SUPREME COURT RULING that says that 527s ARE INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATIONS that can spend money however they wish.

For him to even act like John Edwards has anything to do with these 527s IS "RETARDED."

Any group that creates a 527s IN FAVOR OR OBAMA OR EDWARDS or anyone else is a supporter of that candidate.

As long as they are not EMPLOYED BY THEM RIGHT NOW, it doesn''t matter whether they know them or used to work for them.

Obama is an idiot.
Reply to this comment
by amc2271 December 23, 2007 7:01 PM EST
I don%u2019t really care about this 527 business. What I%u2019ve been thinking more and more about is the health of Edwards%u2019 wife. I know it%u2019s not PC to say, but she has had a relapse of cancer (it spread to her hips). Does this country really want to face the prospect of her passing away while in they%u2019re in the oval office? The country wants to know what role the first lady is going to play in shaping policy, how the %u201Cfirst kids%u201D are doing, what designers the first lady is wearing, and stuff like that %u2013 both serious and frivolous. Not worrying about whether she might pass away from a serious illness. Any thoughts?
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