Public funding for election?
By estherlou
@estherlou (5015)
United States
June 22, 2008 10:54am CST
When Obama said he would opt out of public funding of his campaign, McCain said that was disturbing. I didn't understand what they were talking about. In an article I read, this is what I found..."Under the public financing system, which was established in the wake of the Watergate scandal, candidates are barred from raising private funds or spending their own money on their general-election bids. The lump sum they receive from the Treasury is the only money they can spend once they are officially declared their party's nominee." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/19/AR2008061900914.html Okay...it's a rule. Now I understand. And some are saying private funding means you "owe" favors to special interest groups. Okay...I've heard that before too. So, if it is a rule, how can Obama opt out?
2 people like this
8 responses
@shoffman2000 (560)
• Alexandria, Virginia
23 Jun 08
obama gets his money from the people in small amounts rather than special interests
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
22 Jun 08
I have given up questioning why Obama gets away with doing and saying anything he wants and no-one takes a stand against him.
1 person likes this
@zeloguy (4911)
• United States
23 Jun 08
I think a lot of us are taking the same thing. It was a long time ago when Mccain said that he would not take any private funding and now that Obama is the democratic candidate all the sudden he changes his mind and decides that he's going to do the same thing as Mccain.
It doesn't make any sense to me there, but then again there a lot of things that happen in politics and I don't understand.
Wonderful post
Thank you,
Zelo
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
23 Jun 08
I think the rule was made to keep out deep pockets of special interests who give mega bucks. I understand that by taking only public funding McCain can only get $85millions. But since Obama's campaign has already raised a whole lot more they don't need the public money. Most of his donors give small amounts. I am not sure, but doesn't this Public Funding come, at least in part, from people who give some money on their income tax? I don't really understand the whole thing myself.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
23 Jun 08
Normally it wouldn't matter what choice the candidates made on public financing. The reason this issue made the news is that McCain and Obama both agreed to go by the public financing system before the primaries began. Once Obama became a moneymaking machine he decided to go back on his word and ditch the public financing system. There's nothing wrong with what he did by legal standards. It's just a matter of Obama going back on his word when it suits him. Personally, I'm not surprised at all.
@trell8402 (274)
• United States
23 Jun 08
So, hypothetically, if someone said they were going to give you $1000, then changed their mind and said they wanted to give you $5000, would you make them stick to their first offer of $1000? I'm just trying to enjoy the discussion. I'm not trying to make you mad or anything...
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
23 Jun 08
Don't worry, I don't get mad about postings on mylot. There's far more important things in life for me to get worked up over. Your example however is invalid.
Obama and McCain both made clear agreements that they would go by the public financing system. Unlike your example, public financing didn't offer Obama more money. If it did, he'd be following what he agreed to. Instead, he chose to completely ditch the public financing entirely, and chose a completely different method to get his money after determining it would be more lucrative.
As I said, what he did is perfectly within the rules and completely legitimate. It's only an issue because he went back on his word. If he can't keep his word with public financing, we must ask ourselves, will he keep his other campaign promises, or ditch those as well when it is no longer convenient?
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
23 Jun 08
He had a choice.
He pledged to use public funding if McCain did, and now he has backed out on that pledge.
In other words he lied... he backed out on a promise that he made.
He has made much about special interests, lobbyists, and McCain's connection to them... yet he has plenty of special interests pulling his strings as well.... such as the labor unions.
We have already seen Obama caught in previous lies, and this is just another to add to the list.
So what exactly is this change he keeps talking about?... because so far he's doing the same things politicians have done for years... making and breaking promises.
@syeryn (573)
• United States
23 Jun 08
Hey he is just showing us how he act if he should get elected. He will tell you he will do one thing and then do just the opposite because it benefits him personally.
Typical politician and not my idea of a good candidate but then again neither is McCain.
