Obama Poised To Turn Down Public Financing

CBSNews.com Reports: Democrat Would Be First Major Party Candidate To Do So In General Election; McCain Likely To Opt-In

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com political reporter Brian Montopoli.

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Eighty-four million dollars sounds like a lot of money to spend in just over two months. But for Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama, it may not be enough.

Obama, like presumptive GOP nominee John McCain, is eligible for public financing should he be named his party's nominee. But if he takes the money, which would be allocated after the Democratic National Convention in late August, Obama would have to agree not to raise or spend money on top of what the government has provided. And Tuesday night, the Illinois senator indicated that's a deal he may well turn down.

"We have created a parallel public financing system where the American people decide if they want to support a campaign they can get on the Internet and finance it," Obama said at $2,300-per-person fundraiser in Washington D.C., "and they will have as much access and influence over the course and direction of our campaign that has traditionally been reserved for the wealthy and the powerful."

Obama's "parallel public financing system," of course, is his robust fundraising apparatus. The Illinois senator raised an $40 million in March, bringing his total to more than $230 million; McCain, by contrast, took in about $15 million last month and has only taken in about $75 million overall. Hillary Clinton has also raised large sums - more than $175 million so far - and has said she would opt out of public financing.

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The Money Race
Check out February tallies for Clinton, Obama and McCain, including how much they've raised and spent since the campaign began.

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Perhaps it's no surprise, then, that while Obama appears to be shying away from public financing, McCain's advisors tell CBS News the Arizona senator is likely to embrace it - something every major party candidate has done in the general election since the system was created in 1974.

Obama didn't always feel this way. Last March, Obama spokesman Bill Burton said the candidate would "aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election." Obama also told the Midwest Democracy Network, in a questionnaire, that he would participate in the system, writing that he had proposed a system in which "both major party candidates...agree on a fundraising truce, return excess money from donors, and stay within the public financing system for the general election."

The Obama campaign has since suggested that Obama never vowed to take public financing, with Burton stating on Feb. 17 of this year that "there is no pledge." But McCain has hammered Obama for what he says is a clear case of the senator potentially breaking his promise.

“We both made a commitment to take public financing. There’s nothing to talk about. We either keep our word or we don’t keep our word,” McCain said in New York Wednesday.

"Obama is trying to claim the moral equivalency ground by saying his broad base of individual small dollar donors is roughly the same thing as public financing," said Rogan Kersh, associate dean of New York University's Wagner School of Public Service. "McCain is trying to say he promised to do one thing and now he's doing another. Obama is really hoping that he can make the moral assertion as opposed to being seen as a hypocrite or a flip-flopper."

[sjbj2322]

Well it appears we have another one to add to the list. Surprise....surprise!! http://www.audacityofhypocrisy.com/

[termtex01]

Still trust this guy?


"Obama didn''t always feel this way. Last March, Obama spokesman Bill Burton said the candidate would "aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election." Obama also told the Midwest Democracy Network, in a questionnaire, that he would participate in the system, writing that he had proposed a system in which "both major party candidates...agree on a fundraising truce, return excess money from donors, and stay within the public financing system for the general election." "

[unlocking-2009]

Good idea Barack.
In the future that''s how it should be. If the American public likes you they will give you money. Wish this was the case when George Bush was running then my kids would not have to memorize and say his name twice when learning the names of the presidents of the United States.

[metroduck75]

Every 4 years, Dem Party is stupid enough to push someone who would lose.

This year is no difference, they are pushing for Obama.

Think he could actually change the Electoral Map??

Do the math, you will know how naive those political pundits are.

[whatithink-2009]

metroduck75,

The democratics are not stupid. 98% of the GOP supporters are the stupid ones. They are shooting themselves in the foot by getting caught in the superficial (gay marriages, race, gender, etc.). Ever candidate the democrats have provide in the 2000s have been far superior than any of the GOP candidates. If the majority (which wasn''t the case in the 2000 election though) decide to vote against their own interests, they are the idiots.

I really hope Clinton or Obama do not win this election. Bush and Co have created a economic quagmire. I''d rather a GOP candidate get into office, so at least they''ll be blamed for the coming catastrophe. McCain admitted he was an idiot (he said it about economics, but I don''t think he is too bright overall in general). Economics will be the biggest issue in the coming decade. That''s a very wise move.

[jason_randon]

White people keep your mouth shut!

%u201CA delegate from Chicago talked to her neighbour%u2019s children who were climbing in a large tree in their front yard with no parent to be seen. She called to them and asked them to quit playing in the tree like %u201Clittle monkeys%u201D. The children%u2019s mother called the police on her. Obama%u2019s campaign office called her and demanded her resignation from being a democratic delegate. Why? Because the children were black and she was white. She received a TICKET for disorderly conduct. (see Chicago Sun Times for complete details) Obama, overzealous political correctness and a sign of the future. Be black or keep your mouth shut.

if you want race relations to go backward elect Hussein Obama

if you want this country on the right track again elect Hillary

[dante805]

This is just another reason why this guys character has to be called into question. His word isn''t worth squat. So what if he made a promise last year, so what if he likes the hate pastor Wright, so what if he agrees with Louis farrakhan SOME of the time, so what if he agrees with West Virginia Billionaire Senator Rockefeller view about McCain, so what if he won''t leave a black separatist church...so what if the American people don''t vote for him...so what.

[truth-hurts]

*

*** SEE PREVIOUS COMMENT***

Expect a whole lot more of this

if Obama is elected!!!!!

[ouronlyhope]

Common Sense as always Sen Obama! A practically UNKNOWN would have to be a moron not to embrace public financing. But, as we ALL know, he is NOT an unknown anymore! I totally agree with his change of heart. "The People" support Barack Obama!

McCain ALSO flip-flopped on this...didn''t you see the recent article where he RETURNED donor money? He had to return the $3 million he ILLEGALLY raised so he would qualify for the $84 million. McCain made the mistake of thinking he would be able to make enough ''big donor'' contributions. Guess he''s not as popular with ''THE PEOPLE'' as he thought!

[bgwinnett]

I expect rightwing conspiracy theorists will start posting that he doesn''t public money because the Oil rich Arabs and Hamas are secretly backing Obama.

[jockh]

At least he is not like that tight fisted money grabber Hillary Clinton. She LOANS her campaign 5 million. If she has 109 MILLION banked why doesnt she give it to her campaign instead of loaning; and put her money where her mouth is; like Mitt Romney who put millions of his own money into his own campaign.

But she knows she is going to lose so she would rather spend donors money and keep hers nice and safe !!

[whatithink-2009]

OurOnlyHope,

Good point. Only an idiot would stay the course on every topic, even if new information means his old way of thinking was wrong. Yes, we''ve had an idiot in office for eight years. Seems enough people will still be happy electing other idiots.

[whatithink-2009]

Posted by bgwinnett at 08:30 AM : Apr 10, 2008

LOL.

[truth-hurts]

''WHITE PEOPLE KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!!"
posted by Jason_Randon @ 8:09am

Expect a whole lot more of this if Obama is elected.

[jockh]

The Clintons are tight fisted money grabbers. Despite lining their pockets with 109 MILLION, Hillary merely LOANS her campaign 5 MILLION. Why doesnt she GIVE it to her campaign instead of LOANING and put her money where her mouth is? After all, other candidates like Mitt Romney put millions of their own money into their own campaigns.

That way she would be showing that she has complete confidence in her campaign and this in turn would encourage other donations.

However, she loans instead of gives to her own campaign because she knows she is going to lose so she would rather waste donors money in her futile campaign and keep all her millions nice and safe; so she can sleep in a solid gold bed with a mattress stuffed with 100 dollar bills. And solid gold pant suits for herself and Chelsea !!

[kat1park]

Good for him! McCain has to accept public financing or risk being prosecuted because he used the promise of public financing to secure a loan to keep his campaign alive during the Republican primaries. No reason for his legal issues to become Obama''s problem. Initially, he was also saying he would evaluate whether or not to accept public financing until he found out that he might face charges if he didn''t accept it.

[kat1park]

BTW, Rev. Wright is not an issue in the general election. There is no way he''s racist. His mom is WHITE! There is racism everywhere, anybody who tries to go from place to place to get away from it is wasting their time. That doesnt mean I believe Rev. Wright is racist. Many of his comments were taken out of context. You would know this already if you weren''t relying on sound bites from Cable News to get your information. McCain has several pastor problems. Many of them have made remarks far worse than those of Rev. Wright. In a general election, McCain wants to stay as far away from this as possible, for his own sake.

[whatithink-2009]

liberalbias1,

If you compare who has been more damaging for America - Bush or Obama? The question is an easy one. Unless you are fighting against the person who has gotten us into a never-ending war, who is destroying the middle class and who has destroyed our credibility abroad, you are doing nothing more than blowing hot air.

EIGHT YEARS OF GOP CONTROL and all you can talk about is Barack.

Hilarious!

[whatithink-2009]

truth-hurts,

Quit playing the race card.

[metroduck75]

Every 4 years, Dem Party is stupid enough to push someone who would lose in the G.E.

This year is no difference, they are pushing for Obama.

Think he could actually change the Electoral Map??

Do the math, you will know how naive those political pundits are.

[bgwinnett]

Come on conspiracy theorist kooks, you know he''s getting money off Hamas and Oil rich Arabs don''t you, rich off our money BTW, so I guess you can say he is getting public funds but indirectly though.Come on just say it.

[whatithink-2009]

liberalbias1,

KEEP religion OUT of politics. PLEASE!

[whatithink-2009]

liberalbias1,

You are an idiot if you think I need to watch the media in order to see the disaster called the Bush presidency. You are even more of an idiot if you think his incompetency is media driven. You are brainwashed, I hate to tell you.

[metroduck75]

The Media is Obviously biased towards Obama who has the Least experience and bad jugdement. And Hope that he could lead us out of the Hole.

[whatithink-2009]

liberalbias1,

You have gotten yourself caught up in the UNIMPORTANT. You are focused on whether Obama really was against the war instead of focusing on how we got into the war. You let people lie to you if you like them. You should read the book The Political Brain. Your dislike of Obama has more to do with you than it has to do with him. You will support Bush to the end, also more because you don''t want to be seen as having been stupid for the last eight years.

[whatithink-2009]

liberalbias1,

I didn''t say I was against religion. I did say that more harmful things have gone on in this world in the name of religion than anything else. We don''t need other heathens invoking religion to get elected. If you believe every man is a sinner, you''d also stop trying to make some seem more holy because they invoke words about their faith.

[whatithink-2009]

"For one you''''re doing the good ole liberal tactic of bringing Bush into a conversation when this article is about Obama
Posted by liberalbias1"

I guess I learned from eight years of you bringing up Clinton when the topic was Bush. There is no really good time to speak about Bush is there?

[enaudnella]

No where have I heard Church and State violated as harsh as with Obama.....Clearly his friends are the only dish anyone can find on him because "he" is clean. Well all you who have gay , alchoholic, sexual addicts , or cheaters for friends......Such are you Im assuming......lol
Obama 08

[whatithink-2009]

"You''''re allowed to make judgments on President Bush and call him whatever you''''d like, but how dare anyone make discernments and judgments on Barrack Obama.
Posted by liberalbias1"

As someone not from the state of Illinois, I have not been paying Obama for the last eight years to make correct decisions. As an American citizen, and someone who didn''t vote for Bush twice, I have every right to make comments. I have had to pay taxes to support his bad policies and the poor decision making of the people who voted for him.

[blackspirit3]

I REFUSE TO ALLOW MY TAXES TO PAY 120 MILLION TO RUN MCCAIN OR HILLARY, IF YOU FOLKS LIKE THEM DO AS MANY OBAMA SUPPORTERS HAVE DONE, PUT YOUT MOMENY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS. IFD YOU LIKE MCCAIN THEN INVEST IN HIM IF YOU LIKE HILLARY THEN INVEST IN HER, STOP WHINNING.

[truth-hurts]

Not only did Obama NOT leave Trinity Church, but in 2005 & 2006, he gave them $27,500.
NY Times 3-26-08

[jack3213]

"Obama is really hoping that he can make the moral assertion as opposed to being seen as a hypocrite or a flip-flopper."
TOO LATE. BOTH OBAMA & CLINTON ARE THE EPITOMY OF FLIP FLOP. BOTH OBAMA AND CLINTON DO NOT KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT MOST ISSUES AND CANNOT KEEP THE US SAFE- FIRST PRIOROTY.

[whatithink-2009]

liberalbias1,

Your posting name doesn''t hold you up as a person who is bipartisan and impartial. When you change your name to liberalconservativebias, I might respect more of your postings.

[obama8years]

GO READ THE TRUTH AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR OBAMA THEN AT LEAST YOUR INFORMED. TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS AND DONT LET ANYONE CALL YOU A RACIST FOR AT LEAST GETTING THE TRUTH OUT, THAT THE MEDIA DOESNT WANT TO or CANT DO.
------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ --

OBAMA NUMBEROUS LIES - 70+ HE LIES MORE THAN HILLARY

audacityofhypocrisy.com

-- ------------- ------------- ----------
THE OBAMA FINANCIAL SCANDALS HOSPITAL

obamatruth.org

---------- ------------- -------- -----------------
AND OBAMAS LINKS TO HAMAS

canadafreepress.com/index.php /article/2462

---------- ---------------- ------------- ------------

[whatithink-2009]

JACK3213,

Do you really think McCain is intelligent?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaR1CnfyrEo

This is someone who said he wished INTEREST RATES WERE ZERO and wants to keep inflation in control!

This guy is an idiot!

[whatithink-2009]

liberalbias1,

Where is my double standards?

You have a right to speak against Obama but I don''t have a right to disagree with you?

If you want to defend Bush, go ahead. It just makes you look silly. The discussion about Obama is a what if. The discussion about Bush is a here and now.

[bgwinnett]

AND OBAMAS LINKS TO HAMAS

Posted by Obama8years at 09:18 AM : Apr 10, 2008

Let me guess their the ones secretly funding him via Iran.Thats why he don''t need public money.

[xlib]

whatithink-if obama is in the Senate he is making policy that does affect the entire nation. If you are part of this nation then you are affected by his decisions. Then again,since he has done little more than vote present and attend a hateful church maybe we''re safe.
However, this empty suit wants to be POTUS so, we need to take a good, hard look at him and how he stands on important issues. So far, we know little because people like you and your msm are not allowing that hard look.
That''s not a good thing.

[whatithink-2009]

liberalbias1,

Again, I am judging McCain by what HE SAID. I am not judging him by anything any of his friends have said including the one who hates Catholics. If you found something idiotic that Obama said, I''d agree with you.

- Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran
- Stay 100 years in Iraq
- Make interest rates zero while controlling inflation

These are not friends of McCain''s words. These are McCain''s words.

[whatithink-2009]

Xlib,

Who did you vote for in 2004?

[mike71067]

Republicans are not enthusiastic about McCain right now. When when the DNC selects their candidate, whoever it is, you will see Republicans begin throwing money to McCain like never before. They may not like McCain, but they REALLY don''t like Obama or Hillary.

[jack3213]

IF OBAMA WERE NOT BLACK WOULD HE STILL BE SO POPULAR? IF CLINTON WERE NOT A WOMAN WOULD SHE HAVE HALF AS MANY VOTES? ANSWERS: NO. WHY? NEITHER IS QUALIFIED AND IF THEY WEREN''T WHO THEY ARE THEY WOULD BE SERIOUSLLY MOCKED FOR BEING SO INEXPERIANCED.

[pepperp1]

More talk talk talk talk, new kinda of politics what a laugh, here he has an opportunity to drive REAL CHANGE and not just TALK about the evils of money, by keeping the hords special interest money out of the process no matter what he spins one of the most serious problems today in governance, and Obama again JUTS kidding said that on the camping trail have and had no intention it just sounded good.

This guy stands for nothing, yack yack yack...nothing there Obama dose not walk the talk ever

[truth-hurts]

NBC, MSNBC etc. General Electric Excelon(nuclear power) *** Cheney Obama

[whatithink-2009]

liberalbias1,

This post about Bush is a posting about you. I want to know whether you were digging up stuff about Bush as well to figure out whether to vote for him or not? Did you vote for him - in 2004 as well? Did you know he bankrupted two companies before running for office? Did you know he had no foreign policy experience before running for presidential office? Did you know he had no passport before running for presidential office? You guys have lost all credibility in my book. You should abstain from voting this election because you''ve done so much damage already.

[prinzowhales]

So What? He has sufficient contributions from the Corporate Imperialists who are backing Clinton and McCain.

This clown is going to continue the Iraqi occupation.

This clown has called for attacks on Pakistani soil without the consent of the Pakistani government.

His chief foreign policy advisor is Ziggy Brzezinski whose jihad funding strategy destroyed the secular government of Afghanistan while trying to inspire the Moslem world to wage jihad against Russia.

This is the man who supported the US backing of the Khymer Rouge mass murderers in Cambodia.

Obama, along with Clinton and McCain, is the scum of the earth...all of these people have TRilateralists and CFR minions of the Oligarchy around them. Obama''s economic adviser, Austan Goolsby is a Skull & Bones brother of George Bush who reassured Canadians that Obama''s talk against NAFTA and free trade was just campaign rhetoric.

[whatithink-2009]

liberalbias1,

I brought up Bush because as someone who voted for Bush, you have no credibility in judging other people''s credibility. If you to dig into Obama''s record, I can did into your record as well. You''ve done more damage to this country than Obama has.

[princemilo]

Obama supporters will agree with him. McCain supporters will agree with him.

This issue will not be a deal-breaker or king-maker on either side.

[whatithink-2009]

liberalbias1,

There is nothing to refute but the straws you are grasping at because you don''t like the candidate. Unfortunately for us, if you hadn''t liked Bush maybe you could have convinced some of your other idiot friends and we could have avoided many deaths, many maimed, many billions lost, the dollar would still be strong and oil would be at $30 a barrel like it was right before the invasion.

[truth-hurts]

OBAMA voted for the CHENEY Energy Bill, which paved the way for 29 new nuke plants in the U.S.

EXCELON, biggest producer of Nuclear Power Plants.

EXCELON, Largest Contributor to Obama since beginning of Obama''s political career.

GENERAL ELECTRIC, Big investor in EXCELON.

NBC, MSNBC and many other media outlets, owned by GENERAL ELECTRIC

(follow the money....)