McCain neutralizes Obama’s fundraising for the general election?
posted at 7:15 pm on February 15, 2008 by Allahpundit
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If only. Read LJ’s two posts on the subject, first and second, paying special attention to the use of the word “pledge.” Did the Messiah promise not to do any fundraising for the general election by accepting public funds? Given the difference between the cap on public money — around $85 million — and the kind of bank he can expect to make if he opts out, that’s a huge win for Maverick in eliminating the Democrats’ fundraising advantage. McCain’s been hammering him on it all week. Which leaves Obama with five options:
1. Abide by the pledge and give up that moneybomb advantage. Not a chance.
2. Deny that he ever “pledged” to take public funds and weasel out of the deal. Possible.
3. Offer McCain an alternative deal which he’ll never accept because it plays too much to Obama’s advantages. See the “$150 contribution” proposal in LJ’s second post.
4. Accept the deal and shunt the moneybombs off onto 527s:
As the two campaigns dueled, people on both sides said it was possible that they would agree to accept public financing and then simply have each political party spend unlimited amounts on behalf of its candidate, including money for voter mobilization efforts and television commercials, as allowed by law.
5. Admit that he “pledged” but has to break his pledge now because he’s got a movement thing going that people want to be part of and, goshdarnit, it wouldn’t be fair to them to deny them the fun of donating. Weak, but still preferable to number one.
Exit question: Which’ll it be? Regardless, his weaseliness might make for a nice campaign ad.
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Well this is a minor detail to the general public. Barak will say “Hope doesnt come cheap” or some other such nonsensical slogan. Truth is most expect all politicians to be somewhat dirty when it comes to money. The American people have accepted it as part of the game.
William Amos on February 15, 2008 at 7:19 PM
This would also play well with McCain’s refusal to submit earmarks for his district. Spin Obama as a hollow shell willing to do what politicians do; put a touch of tarnish on the mystique…
Theworldisnotenough on February 15, 2008 at 7:19 PM
Oh yeah, people really tend to get all fired up about whether or not acceptance of public funds for a primary race implies a promise not to raise money for a general election.
Legislators.
Meh.
Deety on February 15, 2008 at 7:34 PM
This coming form Mr. Weasel himself, McCain. It’s almost comical. Obama should take gramps up on it. No one will work for McCain for free :-).
TOPV on February 15, 2008 at 7:42 PM
And this is one of several places where McCain shot his foot off before he even ran for President. If Obama is smart, this is exactly where he will go…because McCain helped create them. Without McCain-Feingold, this would have worked for him like a charm. It still may, if Obama misses the point. I hope Obama misses the point.
AUINSC on February 15, 2008 at 7:43 PM
Sounds like a move right out of the Huckster playbook. LOL (and we know where that got him). Way to go Gramps.
TOPV on February 15, 2008 at 7:49 PM
One could merely shred all the limits on domestic contributions, so money would no longer be an object.
Kralizec on February 15, 2008 at 8:32 PM
Hope needs a hope chest. Money is sometimes referred to as a money chest. Close enough for Obama.
SouthernGent on February 15, 2008 at 8:35 PM
Doesn’t matter. Obama can crush McVain through the free media. It will be worse than Dole v. Clinton.
Valiant on February 15, 2008 at 9:38 PM
If McCain can do no better than dump on Obama for what will strike much of the public as an esoteric point, he’s in more trouble than even his critics have thought.
To the degree that they even pay attention to this craptacularly boring line of attack, people will assume — correctly — that McCain is just seeking to deny Obama his huge fundraising advantage.
Look, I’m not voting for McCain, so he’s unlikely to take advice from me. But here it is anyway: Get your doctor to write out a prescription for Aricept, and then concentrate your mind on the big picture. Omit the fatigued, and fatiguing, talking points, which thrill no one but the editorial writers at the New York Times, and speak to issues of public interest. (Note in the margins: A hundred years in Iraq isn’t one of them!)
If you think you’re going to beat Obama and his empty but uplifting rhetoric by riding your hobby horse of campaign finance, you’re even more debilitated, and debilitating, than any have imagined.
Good grief! How vicious a beating is that codger about to endure? Though I loathe him, I still don’t think I can bear to watch.
paul006 on February 15, 2008 at 10:01 PM
Dude, you don’t get it. This is called “Socialism” maybe you’ve heard of it.
Did breaking treaties ever lose Hitler any support? As the new messiah of the liberal religion, Obama is the most recent personification of the Zeitgeist. Demostrating that he’s above such pedestrian concerns as “truth” and “falsehood” doesn’t hurt his image. That will only increase his status among his followers.
logis on February 15, 2008 at 10:21 PM
The average Obama groupie doesn’t give a hang about how the campaigns are financed or even what Barak’s social programs will cost. They will be thrilled if we can transfer our Iraq war costs into a U.N. tax, artifical job creation, free college tuition for eneryone, etc. This isn’t about saving money, or even budgeting income to meet expenses. It is the ultimate manifestation of BDS by voters.
a capella on February 15, 2008 at 11:44 PM
Obama’s got more change than McCain.
(Barack’s campaign strategy: If it doesn’t make sense, it must make dollars.)
profitsbeard on February 15, 2008 at 11:57 PM
I don’t think Obama will have any problems breaking his pledge. After all, isn’t this the same guy who promised that he wouldn’t run for President during his first term in the Senate?
AZCoyote on February 16, 2008 at 3:01 AM
For those who hope to gain freebies from his message of Grand Theft Money, this is a non-issue. Period!
OldEnglish on February 16, 2008 at 6:48 AM
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