Analysis: Obama money dooms current public finance

Yahoo News ^

[French_for_Bush]

WASHINGTON – It wasn't Barack Obama's most critically acclaimed moment. When the Democratic presidential candidate reneged on his pledge to take public financing for the general election, campaign watchdog groups and newspaper editorialists pounced. They all hoped he would help salvage a broken campaign finance system. Instead, he created a whole new one, and he destined the current system of public financing to the trash heap.

[FormerACLUmember]

“Campaign Reform” is only meant to hamstring and destroy Republicans.

[FlingWingFlyer]

America now has the best elections money can buy.

[Nathan Zachary]

"Instead, he created a whole new one, and he destined the current system of public financing to the trash heap."

Yeah, he created one where terrorists, enemies of the nation are allowed to donate without question to their person of choice.

[DemonDeac]

Public finance and CFR are stupid ideas anyway. Anybody should be able to raise and spend as much as they want. Its called free speech.

[A_perfect_lady]

Anybody should be able to raise and spend as much as they want. Its called free speech.

No, I'm sorry, "free speech" now applies only to porn.

[SierraWasp]

"“Campaign Reform” is only meant to hamstring and destroy Republicans."

I think it's sadly ironic that McCain is being forced to learn this terrible lesson on top of the lesson that one can never depend on the character of a renegger!

We Republican conservatives in CA sure learned our lessons about this kind of thing with Arnold Schwartzenrenegger!!!

[ken21]

i wonder if john mccain ever regretted his mccain-finegold?

[skeeter]

America now has the best elections money can buy.

There was a time not long ago the press was highly critical of the role money played in politics.

How things have changed - Obama is virtually portrayed as a superhero for raising so much dough. How effective! How charismatic! What a campaigner!

[norton]

"People will look back at 2008 as the year that Barack Obama once and for all destroyed public financing as we know it," (snip) "It will be very difficult four years from now for any candidate to make the case that they should participate in public financing given the obvious financial advantage that Obama has received by opting out."

Nope:
BHO's early triumphs would or will include very strict campaign finance reform:
Because if he gets the office we've likely seen the last open election we're going to get.
Unless the next generation takes it back.

[Rome2000]

Anybody who believes a word this crypto-muslim says is an imbecile.

This red SOB will raise taxes on the middle class just like Klintoon did.

[torchthemummy]

Instead, he created a whole new one, and he destined the current system of public financing to the trash heap.

For once Yahoo News got something right. Obama, win or lose, has ended the idea of matching federal funds and staying within a stautory limit if said money is accepted. No Republican candidate can be chided for disavowing a funding limit EVEN IF the Dem does. Needless to say the Dem may change their mind and the liberal press will, like this article, chide the reversal but then deny the inherent advantage that the flip-flop provided.

[09Patriot]

sooooooooo mccain’s campain finance reform was a boon to the dems. all I know is I will be miserable the next 4 years. yeah mccain wins and at least we can say he isnt out right socialist just indirect socialist.

[09Patriot]

always look at the bright side. thats why we are in the this situation. you would be like well they are going to kill me my choices are drinking drano or a shot to the head....I will take a shot to the head its quicker.