Obama Elaborates On Public Financing Question In Op-Ed
(AP)
While Obama reiterates his earlier promise to "aggressively pursue" a public financing agreement with the Republican nominee – likely John McCain – if he wins the Democratic nomination, Obama also says that such an agreement needs to go beyond accepting public funding: It also needs to include a promise by both candidates to "commit to discouraging cheating by their supporters; to refusing fundraising help to outside groups; and to limited their own parties to legal forms of involvement."
Those conditions weren't part of Obama's original statement on accepting public financing in November 2007, when he said in a Midwest Democracy Network questionnaire, "I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election." Now, it appears Obama wants that publicly financed general election to be relatively free of outside influences as well.
Campaigning in Ohio, McCain signaled he'd make Obama's financing an issue, particularly if the Illinois senator opts out of the public system. "We either keep our word or we don't keep our word. I intend to keep my word to the American people," he said, according to the Associated Press. "I think the American people would expect him to hold to that commitment, especially if we want to bring about change."
If Obama were to accept public financing as the Democratic nominee, he would have more than $80 million at his disposal to spend over two months – more than enough, even by this race's standards. But McCain would have the same amount, giving Obama no advantage for the final two months of the election. Still, Obama would be able to raise and spend money freely up until the moment he formally accepts the Democratic nomination, likely giving him an edge headed into what would be the campaign's home stretch.
BRILLIANT ANALYSIS!!!!!
Than 10 minutes into speech, she is talking that Barack has a plan or she would not be there today and speaking? (So he wants to be a Part Time President?). So why now have a plan, while he has been Senator of ILL. they have the highest foreclosure rate in the Country(KPBS had a special), talking to the REAL regular people, who are loosing their home, and how there are no good paying jobs, no factories or manufacturering companies who pay well since Obuma has been their Senator.Than Michele Obama 10 minutes into talking how they have bills, now starts talking about keeping the elderly healthy like her mother, so they can be gramas?, and in the same sentence, Michele Obama says her and Barack are LUCkY they no longer have anymore BILLS(so 10 minutes of being a regular American was enough?). What happened to they have bills, and student loans, all lies to what WOW us. AMERICA NEEDS A FULL TIME PRESIDENT, ONE COMMITED TO THE PUBLIC, NOT ONE WITH HIDDEN AGENDA''S AND FANCY SCRIPTED SPEECHES WHERE TO SAY THIS ONE AND WHAT CHURCH AND STATE TO SAY THAT ONE.Obama doesn''t drive to work, doesn''t pay for his GAS, we don''t have security detail follow us. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING RINGS TRUE FOLKs
1989, the Lincoln Savings and Loan Association of Irvine, Calif., collapsed. Lincoln''''''''s chairman, Charles H. Keating Jr., was faulted for the thrift''''''''s failure. Keating, however, told the House Banking Committee that the FHLBB and its former chief Edwin J. Gray were pursuing a vendetta against him. Gray testified that several U.S. senators had approached him and requested that he ease off on the Lincoln investigation. It came out that these senators had been beneficiaries of $1.3 million (collective total) in campaign contributions from Keating.
This allegation set off a series of investigations by the California government, the United States Department of Justice, and the Senate Ethics Committee. The ethics committee''''''''s investigation focused on five senators: Alan Cranston (D-CA); Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ); John Glenn (D-OH); John McCain (R-AZ); and Donald W. Riegle, Jr. (D-MI), who became known as the Keating Five.
After months of testimony revealed that all five senators acted improperly to differing degrees, the senators continually said they were following the status quo of campaign funding practices. The only member of the Keating Five still in the U.S. Senate is John McCain.... The man with all the experience...