28 Feb
Posted by charles as commentary
Money. Is it all coming down to that? To cold cash? Crisp Greenbacks?
Well, for a presidential campaign that is supposed to be about “change” and about doing things in a new way (at least that is what Barack Obama says)-seems like the old root of all evil is taking center stage.
Come now. You’re not really surprised are you? You didn’t really get taken in by all of Obama’s fancy talk about bringing everyone together and practicing politics a new way, did you?
Shame on you. You should know better.
But, sadly, Sen. Obama seems to be backtracking on his earlier pledge to use public funding for the general election campaign.
Was a time when Obama challenged other candidates to forgo private funding in the general election and opt for public funding…about $85 million per candidate.
Only things have changed for Obama-Man. He has raised a ton of money-an estimated $100 million by some measures–enough to buy Newark, New Jersey if he wanted to!
But, his probable opponent, Republican John McCain doesn’t have that much in his bank account.
So, what does Obama-Man do? The “me-too” candidate now says there will be some conditions before he agrees to use only public money; McCain, of course, is pushing Obama to do so.
Obama…What Happened?
Obama dude, what is going on? Thought you were a different politician? You have all those 18 year olds believing all that talk of yours. But, it is just that, isn’t it? Just talk. No action.
You don’t want to use public money, fine. That is your right. All the power to you. But, be honest about it and come clean and admit you are no better and no worse than many other politicians.
You are not a Democratic Christ; but you may be a Democratic Judas.
Bloomberg
Quick note here.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he will not run for president afterall.
But, writing in the New York Times, he says he will support, with money no doubt, an independent whose ideas he thinks will help the country.
Let’s see what happens. Long way till November.
7 Responses
Raymond McInnis
February 28th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
1If Obama is really hedging on public funding, he has good reason.
With the Swift-Boater groups — now calling themselves Freedom’s Watch –, other 527 groups, the RNC, and who knows what else, poised to destroy him, his online sources represent an essential resource to defend his candidacy. This is going to get nasty.
It’s in the interest Obama’s supporters, not just Obama himself.
Now how about an Obama/Greenberg ticket?
Charles Feldman
February 28th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
2Now there’s a thought–Obama and Greenberg!
If Obama should stumble, Greenberg could just buy the whole freaking country!!
Raymond McInnis
February 28th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
3more thoughts:
remember, charles, in the debate, obama noted that he is not yet the nominee. maybe the matter of public funding is to be ironed out then.
how cooperative is mccain going to be? of course, mccain has his own problems with public funding. using it to pay-off loans.
i am still concerned, though, about the “bombs” obama can expect.
Ex: the rnc conducting focus groups to determine how much racism they can get away with, before public opinion yells “stop!”
Ex: freedom’s watch a $250 million war chest.
and if it looks tight, this will only be the beginning. no way, no way, will the repubs let obama win. With obama as president, they just have too much to lose.
for me, the only way that obama can fight back of racism is with the unlimited funds — coming from nickel and dime contributions like mine — and, again, if this isn’t fair, what is?
Charles Feldman
February 28th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
4The problem, Raymond, is that Obama NEVER said he was only talking about the general election till last week!
Raymond McInnis
February 28th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
5Charles, does that hold water? Tell me what parts of the public funding regs I am not aware of.
When does public funding kick in? Primaries? Election, ie, after the conventions? Has obama taken any public funding? Mccain has, obviously. But under what conditions? His campaign had sputtered, and it was a way of getting out of debt.
If obama is going to take public funding after he becomes the nominee, what does he do before, in the primaries?
Evidently you don’t believe in keeping the filed level.
Raymond McInnis
February 28th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
6charles, my apologies for seeming like such a jerk. I am ticked, though, because — to win fairly — obama needs a level playing field, something he is not going to get simply by getting the same funds as mccain.
there are just too many other foes, well-heeled, vicious, that will be working against him.
for me, that is enough reason to hedge on public funding
Charles Feldman
February 28th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
7Raymond, at this point it isn’t really about public financing law-though it might be at some point.
It’s about living up to the image Obama has carefully crafted–that of a “different” politician who doesn’t play by the old rules.
Well, then, he should stick to his own idea early on and state without qualification that he will use only public funds in the general election as long as McCain does so, too.
Otherwise, it’s hard for me to see how Obama is different from all the other politicos?
RSS feed for comments on this post · TrackBack URI
Leave a reply
Categories
Archives
Links
Administration:
The Feldman Blog
Editor:
Charles Feldman
Syndication
Recent Entries
Recent Comments
Most Commented
TheFeldmanBlog.com is Copyright © 2009. All Rights Reserved. Powered by WordPress - BloggingPro theme by: Design Disease