… Obama’s as big a liar as any of them.
It wasn’t really surprising that Barack Obama decided to forego public financing of his presidential campaign.
He’s this year’s champion fundraiser — raising $265.4 million so far to John McCain’s roughly $96.7 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Why not maintain that advantage, rather than accepting the $84.1 million spending limit that comes with public funds?
The trouble is that Obama promised to take the public financing if his Republican opponent were to do the same.
McCain, like every major party presidential candidate since the money first became available in 1976, is taking it.
So, Obama is breaking his first promise as a presidential candidate BEFORE he takes office.
His excuse, that he needs the extra money to counter the “smears and attacks” he anticipates from GOP-leaning independent groups, is, of course, absurd.
Left-leaning independent groups are raising money hand over fist.
Not that I want anybody taking public funding. It’s a silly system.
In fact, Obama’s fundraising has been impressive: Small donors inspired by a candidate helping him win election with their $25-$200 donations.
But Obama’s embrace of the kneejerk liberal mantra that money is evil and should be squeezed out of the system is troubling for two reasons:
1. It’s silly. As his campaign shows, fundraising can be a good indicator of a candidate’s strength. Individuals tend to invest their money only when they really believe in a candidate.
2. It appears to have been solely self-serving. Obama was willing to live with spending limits because he assumed he would trail his Republican opponent in fundraising.
Now that he’s ahead, that promise gets broken.
An agent of change he aint.