Campaign Fraud

In an attempt to quickly dispel any notion that he might have meant anything he said about bringing a new kind of politics to Washington, Barack Obama today pulled out of the public financing system that he'd indicated he would take part in:

Democrat Barack Obama announced he won't accept public financing for his presidential campaign, calculating that he can raise far more than the $84.1 million he'd get in government funds.

Convenience over principle - Barack's Profile in Courage:

Democrat Barack Obama announced he won't accept public financing for his presidential campaign, calculating that he can raise far more than the $84.1 million he'd get in government funds.

It's fun seeing the new kinda politics in action, isn't it?

While saying he still supports ``a robust system'' of public financing, Obama's decision makes him the first major party candidate to opt out of the taxpayer-funded structure for the general election campaign since it was created after the Watergate scandal more than 30 years ago.

How disappointed will his supporters be? Not very. They don't mind how old school the change candidate may be, as long as his lying and manipulations serves their purposes, getting an anti-war candidate into power who is not planning to withdraw our troops.

Obama had promised to pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to accept the public money and the spending limits that go with it. That was before he began pulling in record amounts of donations, and doing so would have meant surrendering a significant advantage over Republican candidate John McCain. Strategists from both parties say Obama likely can outpace McCain in fundraising by more than $100 million for the general election.

The system was just fine for Barack in November, but that was a long time ago, wasn't it?

In Response To A 2007 Questionnaire, Obama Said He Would Accept Public Funding In General Election. Question: "If you are nominated for President in 2008 and your major opponents agree to forgo private funding in the general election campaign, will you participate in the presidential public financing system?" Obama: "Yes. 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." (Sen. Barack Obama, "Presidential Candidate Questionnaire," Midwest Democracy Network, www.commoncause.org, 11/27/07)

Here's what Barack's website says about his leadership on this issue.

Support Campaign Finance Reform: Obama supports public financing of campaigns combined with free television and radio time as a way to reduce the influence of moneyed special interests. Obama introduced public financing legislation in the Illinois State Senate, and is the only 2008 candidate to have sponsored Senator Russ Feingold's (D-WI) tough bill to reform the presidential public financing system.