McCain Knocks Obama Over Public Financing

GOP Frontrunner Suggests Rival Engaging In Washington Doublespeak On Issue

(AP)  John McCain accused Democratic presidential rival Barack Obama of engaging in Washington doublespeak over accepting public financing for the general election as the likely GOP nominee tried to turn a money issue into a character test.

"We either keep our word or we don't keep our word. I intend to keep my word to the American people," McCain said Wednesday, pressing the line of criticism anew a day after delivering a blistering critique of the Illinois senator as both won their party primaries in Wisconsin.

"I think the American people would expect him to hold to that commitment, especially if we want to bring about change," McCain added.

In an opinion piece published in USA Today on Wednesday morning, Obama wrote that he wants to work toward a spending agreement with the Republican Party's nominee.

"I propose a meaningful agreement in good faith that results in real spending limits," Obama wrote. He laid out a series of conditions, including, perhaps, limiting how much money McCain can spend for the general election while the race for the Democratic nomination continues.

"That's Washington doublespeak," McCain responded. "I committed to public financing. He committed to public financing. It's not any more complicated than that. I'll keep my word, and I want him to keep his."

Obama's spokesman, Bill Burton, hit back: "John McCain is in no place to question anyone on pledges when he abandoned the latest campaign finance reform efforts in order to run for the Republican nomination and went back on his commitment to take public financing for the primary election this year."

As Obama has lengthened his lead in the Democratic race, McCain has increasingly taken the one-term Illinois senator to task.

McCain, a four-term senator has started raising questions about Obama's experience level, seeming lack of foreign policy credentials, and, now, his character. In that process, McCain is espousing some arguments similar to those made by Hillary Rodham Clinton against Obama.

Obama's campaign, in turn, has started responding in force to the GOP's nominee-in-waiting.

In a conference call with reporters early Wednesday, Obama foreign policy adviser Susan Rice accused McCain of "misrepresenting and distorting" Obama's positions on Pakistan.

McCain, for his part, went on offense by again raising the spat over taxpayer financing of the general election. McCain clearly sought to raise a larger question: If Obama doesn't keep a promise on this issue, how can the public trust what he says he'll do in the White House?

A year ago, both McCain and Obama indicated that they would accept public financing for the general election if the other party's nominee did as well.

But Obama, whose fundraising has brought in record amounts of primary money, has hedged that position over the past week, giving McCain openings to pounce.

Last week, Obama said it would be "presumptuous of me to say now that I'm locking myself into something when I don't even know if the other side is going to agree to it."

McCain gave Clinton a pass on the issue, given that she never indicated she would forgo public financing.

A leading advocate of limits on campaign finances, McCain is turning down government matching funds for the primary to free himself to spend more money as he prepares for a general election contest.

As for accepting public money for the general election, McCain said: "I obviously would have to reevaluate if Sen. Obama or Sen. Clinton does not make that commitment."

Each major party candidate could get about $85 million in public funds for the general election, but they would not be allowed to raise any other money. Such a step would clearly give the advantage to McCain, who dislikes fundraising, and would hinder Obama and his widespread fundraising apparatus. Obama's campaign has said it raised a whopping $32 million in January.

Both candidates would have to rely on outside groups and on the national parties to supplement their spending if they accepted public financing. The Republican National Committee has been the only national GOP organization to out-raise its Democratic counterpart. But political finance experts say Obama, if he's the nominee, could significantly buttress the Democratic National Committee's fundraising.

[miles1967-2009]

McCain is a hypocrit who''s time in Washington is long past. He is a fear-monger who will continue the failed economic and foreign policies of the past 8 years. American cannot afford for McCain to win. The ship needs to be steered in a new direction, away from the waterfall. Obama is the best person of the 3 to do that. Obama in ''08.

[samthetvcat]

I suppose it''s a nice try on McCain''s part to avoid looking weak because he needs the government to support his campaign and Barack doesn''t, but I don''t think it''s working . . .

[fairandbal]

Nothing, i mean nothing is too low for GOP candidates. Now that they''re finally getting beaten by campaign fund raising, they scream ''public financing! public financing!''. What a crock of hypocrites.
McCain is a horrible candidate, a horrible campaigner and a horrible fund raiser and now he''s trying to make Obama''s lead in fund raising sound criminal. I''m getting sick!

[fairandbal]

Typical republican posture... if you''re losing, change the rules.
If this is the best criticism McCain can come up with against Obama, he''ll get crushed in November. And deservedly so, the GOP is morally bankrupt and the only ideas they''ve had in the last 20 years have been ''cut taxes, kill Iraqis, and blame Clinton''.

[remco82]

I agree, Miles. We cannot continue the same saber-rattling policies of the past eight years. This country needs a whole new attitude in leadership. We need to rediscover the meaning of "diplomacy". McCain has a short fuse and would sic the military on anyone who didn''t dance to his tune. Our military is stretched to the breaking point now, so you can guess what would happen under McCain. It''s time the U.S. quit telling other countries what to do.

[taddles-2009]

""We either keep our word or we don''t keep our word. I intend to keep my word to the American people," McCain said Wednesday"

Which word you want to keep there Johnny? The one where you said that were not in favor of a repeal of Roe v Wade or the one where you said you were in favor of an overturn. Perhaps the word where you called Falwell and agent of intolerance but then you lauded him as a great man. How about the words you used when you were against the Bush tax cuts before you were for them. How about the words you used to describe Sam and Charles Wylys in 2000 as corrupt and funding Bush with "dirty money" before you sucked up to these same guys and begged for campaign money. How about the word on your own campaign reform bill before you abandoned it. Or maybe the word when you called Grover Norquist a "crook and a corrupt shill for dictators" but then turned around and sucked up to him when you decided to run for President. How about this one, the word where you publicly denounced torture but then voted for Bush''s torture bill. You were against presidential candidates campaigning at Bob Jones University before you were for it. You were anti-ethanol, now you''re pro-ethanol. You were both for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag. You have no principles, and no core beliefs that you will not pi$$ away in a pathetic attempt to mollify the right wing nut jobs.

I was for you before I was against you.

[denn034]

I voted for McCain but, I don''t support his going after Obama. McCain stands a better chance against Obama than slick Hilly so, McCain should limit his attacks to slick Hilly. Period!

[shingles1]

taddles, since McCain''s already got the media vote all sewn up, his serial flip-flopping, pandering, and hypocrisy will remain off limits and unexamined. Meanwhile, expect every burp and *** and ginned up "controversy" over Obama to get major and unlimited media play.

Just look at the painful example of the embarrassingly worshipful McCain coverage up above: "Some call him a hero, some a maverick." This might as well have been written by McCain''s campaign staff.

What''s next: "Some say McCain is great, some say he''s awesome."

[samthetvcat]

denn034, you make a good point.

As an Obama supporter also thinks Hillary is the worst choice of the 3, I don''t find anything wrong with this McCain attack because I can appreciate how it puts him in an awkward position to make the case that he''s for cutting back on government spending.

The attacks which I feel don''t help either candidate are the ones that make an issue of patriotism, like the Michelle versus Cindy line of argument. Because Bush used patriotism to silence dissent for the war in Iraq and when the same Republicans who were in support of the war try to claim that same banner people become livid.

McCain doesn''t win, Obama supporters don''t like it, it''s divisive - the far right may feel good about themselves because of it, but it''s snooty. It''s saying I can only be patriotic when I feel like you''re not.

I guess both the candidates wives are on a learning curve (as any of us would be) - probably something we can all have sympathy for . . . no need to make it harder on either of them :)

[taddles-2009]

"taddles, since McCain''''s already got the media vote all sewn up, his serial flip-flopping, pandering, and hypocrisy will remain off limits and unexamined.

Posted by shingles1 at 03:37 PM : Feb 20, 2008"

Perhaps, but I think once the candidates are officially chosen and this gets down to a 2 person race that McCains serial hypocrisy will come back to haunt him in a big way. The question isn''t "can you do an ad campaign about McCains hypocrisy", it''s "can you get all that material into 60 seconds?".

[samthetvcat]

pt 2

McDork''s also welcome to try the ''irrational movement'' line of argument, but I think it sets him up to be taken down on policy. The reality is that there''s what I gauge to be like a 40 to 50 point IQ difference between Barack and McCain . . . if he can''t follow through the way Hillary wasn''t able to follow through he''s going to look out of it.

Just a warning because always awkward to see somebody get whooped in debates when they''ve set themselves up by underestimating the competition - awkward . . .

[samthetvcat]

PS And Hillary''s smart like Barack - just imagine when McCain not only fails to show that Barack is just ''all talk'' but also gets creamed . . . awkward . . . yikes!

[boatdocster]

taddles

WELL SPOKEN. McCain, Kerry and Romney could do a great TV series - "The FLIP FLOPPERS"

We can add Hillary "I was for NAFTA (when it was good for me as political points) before I was against NAFTA (when I running for office but all the jobs were gone due to NAFTA)" Clinton.

Only one problem - the four of them would be fighting over who was best at flip flopping back and forth, Washington D.C. style while Rome burned around their feet...

[realpatriot1]

Hey John, Obama never promised you anything and if you could outspend him you know you would!

Both candidates should negotiate this out privately and stop the posturing. If McCain can reel in the swift boaters then maybe something could be worked out to achieve effective parity but if he can''t(and we know he can''t) then Obama needs as much financing as he can get within the existing rules to counter the sewage that''s going to be coming his way.

[elsylee28]

MUST READ!!! CHECK OUT THE ARTICLES "RIGHT ON DAY ONE?" http://savagepolitics.com/?p=112 AND "BARACK OBAMA''S APOSTASY" http://savagepolitics.com/?p=101

BRILLIANT ANALYSIS!!!!!!!!!!!

[mbcsmith]

PS And Hillary''''s smart like Barack - just imagine when McCain not only fails to show that Barack is just ''''all talk'''' but also gets creamed . . . awkward . . . yikes!


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Posted by SamTheTVCat at 04:07 PM : Feb 20, 2008

Polish that crystal ball and tell us what you''ll do when McCain wipes the floor with Hussein Obama.

[elsylee28]

MUST READ!!! CHECK OUT THE ARTICLES "RIGHT ON DAY ONE?" http://savagepolitics.com/?p=112 AND "BARACK OBAMA''S APOSTASY" http://savagepolitics.com/?p=101

BRILLIANT ANALYSIS!!!!!!!!!!!

[Syndicate]

Make him eat his words John.

Susan Rice should stick to the facts. I remember Obamas comments. They were pretty stupid.

[candide777]

Greasing up the republican slime machine. How low will McCain go? All the way, I''m bettin''! Hopefully, Americans are growing tired of sleazebag repuglicans campaigning on their high horses by day while cutting secret backroom deals by night, in order to screw the American people, including their own constituents. McCain is simply another tool (like Bush) being used by the repuglican party to commit fraud one more time on this country. Bush is no more president than the Queen is Prime Minister. Wake up, America.

[repdemapart]

It''s typically OBAMA STYLE - always accusing its critics of MISREPRESENTING AND DISTORTING Obama''s positions on ANYTHING.

EVERYBODY IS WRONG EXCEPT OBAMA....

[repdemapart]

I''m a DEMOCRAT but if Obama wins the nomination - I''D VOTE MCCAIN.

MCCAIN IS MORE MODERATE THAT LIBERAL OBAMA

[kesac4650]

Obama made public funding and issue. He accused those of raising other money af being in cahoots. He can''t say now that he doesn''t know what the other candidate will do.
I was raised Democrat, but I will not vote for a man promising to run from the enemy when elected.

[candide777]

I''m a DEMOCRAT but if Obama wins the nomination - I''D VOTE MCCAIN.
MCCAIN IS MORE MODERATE THAT LIBERAL OBAMA
Posted by repdemapart at 05:00 PM : Feb 20, 2008

You are a fool if you think McCain will be running the country -- the same group of thugs will be in charge, not McCain -- he''ll be out shopping for Depends.

[samthetvcat]

mbcsmith - game on! :p

ah ha ha - you know times have changed when Charles Barkley can call Evangelicals ''fake Christians'' and get universal thanks.

I think pride makes the Right confuse the lack of any viable defense to claims of lack of ''patriotism'' with acquescence of their claims to the ''patriotism'' mantle. I think the majority of the country are salivating at the prospect of knocking big-mouths like Rush Limbaugh off that mantle and into the dirt where he belongs.

(My dad was diagnosed with Parkinsons a month before Rush made a mockery of the disease, so he can stick it where the sun don''t shine for all I care)

Repubs are going down!

[vmcneal2]

I know not everybody can be Obama when it comes to delivering a speech but John"more of the same"McCain is like watching paint dry. What''s worse is that everything he says is right out of the old, tired Republican play book. Wake up..the Republican party is dead for now. You can thank Bush for that.

[mcvet]

Obama made public funding and issue. He accused those of raising other money af being in cahoots. He can''''t say now that he doesn''''t know what the other candidate will do.
I was raised Democrat, but I will not vote for a man promising to run from the enemy when elected.


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Posted by kesac4650 at 05:09 PM : Feb 20, 2008
+ report abuse

Right! You are a supporter of the WORST President in US History and everyone on here KNOWs it! You Nazi''s will stoop to any level to maintain your hold on power and for the life of me I can''t figure out why. You can''t govern, you''ve proven that OVER and OVER! Real Democrats do NOT vote for someone who wants to give EVEN more of our jobs away. Sieg Heil Bush!

[truthspeake2]

I know not everybody can be Obama when it comes to delivering a speech but John"more of the same"McCain is like watching paint dry. What''''s worse is that everything he says is right out of the old, tired Republican play book. Wake up..the Republican party is dead for now. You can thank Bush for that.

Posted by vmcneal2 at 06:08 PM : Feb 20, 2008

Great post and I agree that GW messed things up for his entire party for at least the next 8 years. McCain will probably get that 25% that continues to admire GW but McCain will, like Bob and Elizabeth Dole, go the way of the dinosaur. McCain and his wife can go and count their $$$ at their ranch in Sedona AZ and look after her inheritance her father left her (Helmsley Liquor Distribution) here in Phoenix...he''s done, and he has GW to thank for it...but nobody''s talking about that though.

[downsteamjim]

McCain Feingold etc. has been enacted to limit the amount of money in elections. The only thing that was limited was freedom of speech. Look at the amount of money spent especially the devious 527''s. All contributions should be allowed, but who gave what needs to be public record.

[candide777]

McCain is simply another tool (like Bush) being used by the repuglican party to commit fraud one more time on this country. Bush is no more president than the Queen is Prime Minister, and McCain will be controlled by the same group of thugs that throw Bush a treat when he rolls over on command. Wake up, America.

[the74blaster]

Now we are supposed to feel sorry for a candidate who represents the GOP!! Its too bad bush is not able to try for a third term. In this match up he would set a record for loss margin.

I have respect for John McCain and its really a shame he is going to be the focus of our anger at Bush and the GOP for what they have done to our country. Lets make an exception to the rules and let Bush run so he can take the beating he really deserves!

Go Obama!!!!!

[Cas2dy]

Doesn''t this man know that when you try to publicly rip into Obama, your supporters will leave you and go over to Obama''s side?????

[jwind11]

Doesn''''t this man know that when you try to publicly rip into Obama, your supporters will leave you and go over to Obama''''s side?????

Posted by Cas2dy

they will?? how do you know this?

[valentin73]

ON A NEUTRAL GROUND:
WHO WOULD MAKE A BETTER PRESIDENT ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS?
JOHN MCCAIN, who has Military Experience
OR
OBAMA, a young dazzler, with no Military Record

You be the Judge of that.

The global picture is crucial at this time in history.
America must look beyond its borders.
There will always be problems at home. That does not matter.
What will this "change" ,so spoken here, do to the world picture and the position of power The United States has long maintained?

That is the question to keep in mind when voting in the November General Election.

[tibu987]

McCain who now directs his mud-slinging at Obama, claiming more experience; yep, McCain has more experience alright, as a Bush toady, an old member of Washington''''s "good ole boys" club. Unfortunately for McCain, that is not what the people want, they want change, something that McCain cannot provide.

[the74blaster]

That is the question to keep in mind when voting in the November General Election.

Posted by valentin73,

Your question has significant importance.

However, we no longer have the economy to support police actions that are funded entirely on tax dollars.

The other question you need to ask is how many times did McCain vote to oppose the Whitehouse during the last 7 years?

It is clear the McCain is watered down version of George Bush (Sort of like Bushlite).

If you like things the way they are, vote for McCain. If you want to change things vote for Obama.

[tibu987]

Under no circumstances should McCain be allowed to give amnesty to the illegals in this country. They must return to their country and use the legal immigration route to enter the U.S. permanently.
To give blanket amnesty would create a two-headed monster.
1. What would amnesty say to the many foreigners waiting years to gain legal entry to the U.S.?
Giving amnesty to illegal aliens would be a slap in the face to them.
2. Giving amnesty would create a run on the borders by many more illegal aliens who, logically, would hope that they too, one day, would be given amnesty.
A vote for McCain is a vote for a Bush ally and more of the same.

McCain: "I don''t think Americans care if we are in Iraq for 10 years, 100 years, or 10,000 years."

Well, this Americans sure cares and if McCain would read a bit more, most Americans want an end to the civil war in Iraq. It is obvious that McCain does not have his hand on the pulse of America.

I am a 72 year old white male, veteran, and I will vote for change.
Obama in ''08.
"Yes we can".

[mrvolleyba11]

experience??? ...isn''t that what presidents have advisors for? I don''t want a president who thinks they know it all because they were a 4 term (24-years) senator!

24 years doesn''t mean you''ll be a good president, it means your part of the "same ol system" that has been sticking it to working class people for the last century!!! Republican are the brokers & backers for the big corporations who keep getting richer and richer while breaking the backs of the American workers, they (corporations) are why WE don''t have health care for everybody. It would cut into their billion dollar profits!!!

[mrvolleyba11]

valentin73 who''s more likely to go in guns a blazing when we have a disput? McCain who was a fighter pilot or Obama who speaks against war?

Foreign affairs, we need to tend to America instead of sticking our nose into EVERYBODY elses business!!!

[alburbooks]

This is a beautiful history about old politicians...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/us/politics/21mccain.html?pagewanted=4&hp

[j-whitman]

There''s a scandal brewing for John McCain -- A 10 year old love affair with a lobbyist -- It''s god Legs

[pilgrimsway-2009]

If there was a secret radical Muslim in the white house as president what would He do? Would He make it easy for terrorists to get into this country to over through this country? Would He make the laws lax for any of His kind? Would He hang out with those who supported tyranny? Would He impose martial law? Could He start unjust wars for His hidden ideology? Could His decisions change the course for America? Believe me when I say there are no one with hidden agenda%u2019s in this world! If there was a secret radical Muslim in the white house as president what would He do?

[walt1944-2009]

"Bagdad" John McCain is pouncing on Obama about public financing.

What might be of more interest to voters would be if both McCain and Obama promised to run a CLEAN campaign with no "smear" tactics and to address the issues that concern the citizens of the US(SA). Issues like the economy, jobs, health care, immigration, Iraq, with "terrrrrrrorism" coming in a dead last.

Unfortunately, McCain is an older clone of the Great Emperor Bush II and whenever he is confronted with a topic he doesn''t know or want to talk about, he pulls a "terrrrrorist" out from behind a tree!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, McCain????

[myidoncbs]

"We either keep our word or we don''t keep our word. I intend to keep my word to the American people," McCain said Wednesday, FORGETTING THAT HE HAS FREQUENTLY FAILED TO KEEP HIS WORD IN THE PAST.

First he was against torture, because he had been tortured at the Hanoi Hilton. Now he''s FOR it, because (well, there really can be no sane reason for it). That''s not the only thing he''s flip-flopped on, but it''s a BIG ONE.

The slathering idiots who vote repug want torture so they can feel "safe", the GOP wants torture so they can pretend to be "tough on terrorism", and Bush/Cheney/et.al. want torture to be the law of the land so they can escape prison for violating existing law. (The only problem with this strategy is that torture is illegal in the US and throughout the civilized world, and someday, somebody is going to charge them with war crimes, and no matter how many crooked lawyers they get, they''re going to be tried and convicted. Bragging about your crimes is NOT a successful defense, though lots of dictators have tried it!)

[kissamaarse]

McCain''s skeletons are starting to come out of the closet with his past ties to the corrupt Charles Keating and his affair with a lobbyist at the time of his last presidential run. McCain should choose carefully what type of mud he is trying to fling, because the media is just now unearthing McCain''s not so stellar past.

[tbweb]

There''s a scandal brewing for John McCain -- A 10 year old love affair with a lobbyist -- It''s god Legs

Posted by j-whitman at 08:53 PM : Feb 20, 2008,,,

I like Sen. McCain, he does not deserve an ounce of unfair treatment. But with all due respect when the story first broke about the Lobbyist Vicki Iseman, I thought they are out to get McCain, digging up dirt. But the relationship between Sen. McCain and Vicki Iseman is authentic, whether it escalated into a romantic affair or not is still unknown, but one thing is clear, Sen. McCain''s staff reports they had to intervene on behalf of Sen. McCain to protect him from himself, that left to his own devices he could not pull himself away from Vicki Iseman! I think the story is true, if you look at Vicki Iseman, she looks like a younger, sweeter version of his current older wife! No way John McCain resisted Vicki Iseman of his own free will but I think her strong resemblance to his current wife is what weakened him and got him in hot water! The real issue is did McCain do any political favors for Vicki Iseman?

[pilgrimsway-2009]

If there was a secret radical Muslim in the white house as president what would He CHANGE? Would He CHANGE the way to make it easy for terrorists to get into this country to over through this country? Would He CHANGE the laws for any of His kind? Would He hang out with those who supported tyranny? Would He impose martial law? Could He start unjust wars for His hidden ideology? Could His decisions CHANGE the course for America? Believe me when I say there are no one with hidden agenda%u2019s in this world! If there was a secret radical Muslim in the white house as president what would He CHANGE?

[nickyscrews]

obama should tell his bride to shut her mouth !!!

[notopennshut]

Let''s forget about his private "affair" with the lobbyist if indeed there was one. Let''s look at what he did for the lobbyist and what kind of benefits were accorded due to his intevention. There is no smoke without fire, and for McCain now to be holier than thou, that takes a lot of chutzpah. He can speak with forked-tongue, listen to his words but do not see what he had done. What about campaign finance now? Let''s fill the coffer of the lobbyists first-after all that was 8 years ago and should not matter today. Ethics?? Where art thou?? Gosh, I really "love this country!"

[b-easy63]

What''s to knock? Each said they would do it--if the other made a move first. Neither is making the first move--so what is the deal? Get Buck--McCAin --either put up or shut up-then if you go for public funds and Obama does not--then you can talk--before then, you are trying to shout you want the other guy to blink first. LOL

[greenfun]

McCain is starting to look good to me. I am sick of all these vacuous Obama followers. If he offers you Kool aide-go ahead and drink it.