Broken Promise

[starsapphire]

From CNN''s Campbell Brown....

(CNN) -- You may have heard that Wednesday night Barack Obama will be on five different TV networks speaking directly to the American people.

He bought 30 minutes of airtime from the different networks, a very expensive purchase. But hey, he can afford it. Barack Obama is loaded, way more loaded than John McCain, way more loaded than any presidential candidate has ever been at this stage of the campaign.

Just to throw a number out: He has raised well over $600 million since the start of his campaign, close to what George Bush and John Kerry raised combined in 2004.

Without question, Obama has set the bar at new height with a truly staggering sum of cash. And that is why as we approach this November, it is worth reminding ourselves what Barack Obama said last November.

One year ago, he made a promise. He pledged to accept public financing and to work with the Republican nominee to ensure that they both operated within those limits.

Then it became clear to Sen. Obama and his campaign that he was going to be able to raise on his own far more cash than he would get with public financing. So Obama went back on his word. He broke his promise and he explained it by arguing that the system is broken and that Republicans know how to work the system to their advantage. He argued he would need all that cash to fight the ruthless attacks of 527s, those independent groups like the Swift Boat Veterans. It''s funny though, those attacks never really materialized.

The Washington Post pointed out recently that the bad economy has meant a cash shortage among the 527s and that this election year they have been far less influential.

The courageous among Obama''s own supporters concede this decision was really made for one reason, simply because it was to Obama''s financial advantage.

On this issue today, former Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, an Obama supporter, writes in The New York Post, "a hypocrite is a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue -- who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings. And that, it seems to me, is what we are doing now."

For this last week, Sen. Obama will be rolling in dough. His commercials, his get-out-the-vote effort will, as the pundits have said, dwarf the McCain campaign''s final push. But in fairness, you have to admit, he is getting there in part on a broken promise.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Campbell Brown.

 

[purrfectpear]

Did he say "I promise....." or did he say "I will...... or I plan to......"?

I wasn''t there. Anyone know? To me you can say what you will do or what you plan to do, and then have a change of plans or action, as long as you are upfront about the change. It sounds like that''s what he did. Thought he would do one thing, then reevaluated and had the flexibility to see it was more supportive of his campaign to do another thing.

So, a broken promise is when you say "I promise to do x". Did he?

 

[Ellen]

I''m going to try and dig it up, I thought he said he would sit down and discuss it with McCain. If he went back on his word, no, it''s not right. And when you can find me a politician who hasn''t done that, I might eat my hat.

 

[purrfectpear]

I''ll join you at the table. Pass the salt please.

Politician = person who has danced with the devil

 

[luckystar112]

This is the pledge he made:
Obama wrote: "In February 2007, I proposed a novel way to preserve the strength of the public financing system in the 2008 election. My plan requires both major party candidates to agree on a fundraising truce, return excess money from donors, and stay within the public financing system for the general election. My proposal followed announcements by some presidential candidates that they would forgo public financing so they could raise unlimited funds in the general election. The Federal Election Commission ruled the proposal legal, and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has already pledged to accept this fundraising pledge. If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election."

http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7Bfb3c17e2-cdd1-4df6-92be-bd4429893665%7D/MDNNATIONALRELEASE.PDF

Campaign response when he flip-flopped:
“Today, Barack Obama has revealed himself to be just another typical politician who will do and say whatever is most expedient for Barack Obama. The true test of a candidate for President is whether he will stand on principle and keep his word to the American people. Barack Obama has failed that test today, and his reversal of his promise to participate in the public finance system undermines his call for a new type of politics. Barack Obama is now the first presidential candidate since Watergate to run a campaign entirely on private funds. This decision will have far-reaching and extraordinary consequences that will weaken and undermine the public financing system.”

 

[Ellen]

Date: 10/29/2008 1:04:08 PM
Author: purrfectpear
I''ll join you at the table. Pass the salt please.

Politician = person who has danced with the devil

*passing salt*


Here''s some interesting info. I went in search of the answer to my latest question, assuming Obama had actually agreed to it, instead of saying IF they reached an agreement, he would use it. And that question was, could McCain have opted out also? Seems he could, and actually asked to do just that. But because he had used matching funds against it in the primaries, the FEC voted (according to the rules) that he couldn''t withdraw. Sooooo, it seems he''s being a bit misleading in his accusations against Obama. Imagine.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/19/obama.public.financing/index.html

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 10/29/2008 1:34:37 PM
Author: Ellen
*passing salt*


Here''s some interesting info. I went in search of the answer to my latest question, assuming Obama had actually agreed to it, instead of saying IF they reached an agreement, he would use it. And that question was, could McCain have opted out also? Seems he could, and actually asked to do just that. But because he had used matching funds against it in the primaries, the FEC voted (according to the rules) that he couldn''t withdraw. Sooooo, it seems he''s being a bit misleading in his accusations against Obama. Imagine.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/19/obama.public.financing/index.html

Oh, Ellen, I''m shocked . . . SHOCKED, I tell you!!!

 

[mimzy]

Date: 10/29/2008 1:07:37 PM
Author: luckystar112
This is the pledge he made:

Obama wrote: ''In February 2007, I proposed a novel way to preserve the strength of the public financing system in the 2008 election. My plan requires both major party candidates to agree on a fundraising truce, return excess money from donors, and stay within the public financing system for the general election. My proposal followed announcements by some presidential candidates that they would forgo public financing so they could raise unlimited funds in the general election. The Federal Election Commission ruled the proposal legal, and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has already pledged to accept this fundraising pledge. If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election.''


http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7Bfb3c17e2-cdd1-4df6-92be-bd4429893665%7D/MDNNATIONALRELEASE.PDF


Campaign response when he flip-flopped:

“Today, Barack Obama has revealed himself to be just another typical politician who will do and say whatever is most expedient for Barack Obama. The true test of a candidate for President is whether he will stand on principle and keep his word to the American people. Barack Obama has failed that test today, and his reversal of his promise to participate in the public finance system undermines his call for a new type of politics. Barack Obama is now the first presidential candidate since Watergate to run a campaign entirely on private funds. This decision will have far-reaching and extraordinary consequences that will weaken and undermine the public financing system.”

i wish they could have elaborated a bit more. seems pretty vague and.....dare i say, a bit dramatic?

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 10/29/2008 1:34:37 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 10/29/2008 1:04:08 PM
Author: purrfectpear
I'll join you at the table. Pass the salt please.

Politician = person who has danced with the devil

*passing salt*


Here's some interesting info. I went in search of the answer to my latest question, assuming Obama had actually agreed to it, instead of saying IF they reached an agreement, he would use it. And that question was, could McCain have opted out also? Seems he could, and actually asked to do just that. But because he had used matching funds against it in the primaries, the FEC voted (according to the rules) that he couldn't withdraw. Sooooo, it seems he's being a bit misleading in his accusations against Obama. Imagine.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/19/obama.public.financing/index.html

I heard that on CNN too last night; you are good at diggin up that info Ellen

 

[starsapphire]

Campbell Brown is the one with the CNN article questioning this.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/28/campbell.brown.obama/index.html

 

[Ellen]

Date: 10/29/2008 1:36:59 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl
Oh, Ellen, I''m shocked . . . SHOCKED, I tell you!!!

I know, what''s the world coming to??

Thanks Skippers!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 10/29/2008 1:41:40 PM
Author: starsapphire
Campbell Brown is the one with the CNN article questioning this.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/28/campbell.brown.obama/index.html

That''s weird, since CNN is the one who wrote the article I posted. Maybe the left hand doesn''t know what the right hand''s doing?

 

[fleur-de-lis]

Date: 10/29/2008 12:47:21 PM
Author:starsapphire
From CNN''s Campbell Brown....

One year ago, he made a promise. He pledged to accept public financing and to work with the Republican nominee to ensure that they both operated within those limits.

Then it became clear to Sen. Obama and his campaign that he was going to be able to raise on his own far more cash than he would get with public financing. So Obama went back on his word.

Well, it''s an op-ed piece, but going to the source is always a good thing when trying to verify the foundation of such statements. From the debate with Hilary Clinton during the primaries, about 60% down the transcript:

(from http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/02/complete_transcriptdemocratic.html )

RUSSERT: Senator Obama, let me ask you about motivating,
inspiring, keeping your word. Nothing more important.

Last year you said if you were the nominee you would opt for
public financing in the general election of the campaign, try to get
some of the money out. You checked "yes" on a questionnaire.

And now Senator McCain has said, calling your bluff, let''s do it.
You seem to be waffling, saying, well, if we can work on an
arrangement here.

Why won''t you keep your word in writing that you made to abide by
public financing of the fall election?

OBAMA: Tim, I am not yet the nominee. And what I have said is,
when I am the nominee, if I am the nominee -- because we''ve still got
a bunch of contests left, and Senator Clinton is a pretty tough
opponent -- if I am the nominee, then I will sit down with John McCain
and make sure that we have a system that is fair for both sides.
Because, Tim, as you know, there are all sorts of ways of getting
around these loopholes.

Senator McCain is trying to explain some of the things that he
has done so far, where he accepted public financing money but people
aren''t exactly clear whether all of the t''s were crossed and the i''s
were dotted. Now, what I want to point out, though, more broadly is
how we have approached this campaign.

I said very early on I would not take PAC money, I would not take
money from federal registered lobbyists. That was a multi-million-
dollar decision, but it was the right thing to do. And the reason we
were able to do that was because I had confidence that the American
people, if they were motivated, would, in fact, finance the campaign.

We have now raised 90 percent of our donations from small donors,
$25, $50. We average -- our average donation is $109. So we have
built the kind of organization that is funded by the American people
that is exactly the goal and the aim of everybody who''s interested in
good government and politics that works.

RUSSERT: So you may opt out of public financing. You may break
your word.

OBAMA: What I''ve said is, at the point where I''m the nominee, at
the point where it''s appropriate, I will sit down with John McCain and
make sure that we have a system that works for everybody.





Hmm, that makes it seem as if Campbell Brown and the media may have twisted a candidate''s action to make it seem more severe/iron-clad/"blood pledge" than it was (Is checking a box indicating future intent during the opening days of a primary campaign an iron-clad promise than cannot be changed, or merely a checkbox on a form so that the governing body can prepare for the demands that may or may not be put on it?); in addition, there is also a logic that "I will sit down with John McCain" indicates merely an opportunity being presented to work out an agreed-upon plan, and NOT that Obama pledges to work solely within the confines McCain sets for him. In both instances, comparing the transcript to Campbell Brown''s piece shows a bit of twisting of facts/statements into a "new truth", which he then attacks. Any time I see that, I personally find the strength of the argument suspect.


To analogize, I''ve said that it''s one of my plans to someday acquire a 5 carat emerald cut diamond in the D-E color range to be made into a cocktail ring; if I choose at a later date that those funds could be better spent putting my as-of-now unborn kids through university, does that make me a liar whose life is filled with broken promises?

 

[trillionaire]

I hate lying, and there has been plenty enough of that in this campaign season. (on both sides)

That being said, I can respect that Obama decided against the "public finance system" to opt for "direct public funding." I have donated to his campaign and his decision to me was about his commitment to his supporters, and doing every thing he can to bring about change. I don't think you can buy an election, but if you are the new kid on the block, you are the first black guy with a chance to be president, and you are running against someone that everyone already knows about, you are at a disadvantage, period.

Obama said he would sit down with McCain to talk about whether he would take the money or not. That didn't happen, and that is a shame. (that, to me, was the lie, not the rejecting of public funds) He could have at least told John his intentions personally, not that it would have gone over well. However, when someone takes responsibility for their actions, I can respect it. That is largely what I have wanted from McCain/Palin throughout this election season, but they tell blatant lies and are incapable of saying, you know, I changed my mind on this particular issue or policy. It is IMPOSSIBLE for politicians to be on the right side of every issue 100% of the time, and it is ridiculous that we would set that kind of a standard. I look for a candidate who can thoughtfully explain why they chose whatever position that they did at the time, and why they changed later. I would like to hear what McCain has to say about his reversals on immigration and torture, for example, or why he worked to suppress info about POWs and MIA soldiers. I'm reasonable. If you can give me a reasonable explanation (that is honest), then fantastic, we can move on.

If Obama had opted out of public finances, and had raised less than the $84M given to McCain, we would all be laughing at his decision and calling him stupid. Fortunately for his supporters, he made a brilliant call.

 

[starsapphire]

Well, this just proves to me that the media is fickle.

 

[Erin]

Jealous.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 10/29/2008 4:41:25 PM
Author: Starset Princess
Jealous.

STARSET!!! Wherever have you been, dahling?!?!

 

[goobear78]

Date: 10/29/2008 4:41:25 PM
Author: Starset Princess
Jealous.

LMAO!!

 

[Erin]

Planning and executing a 500 employee and family member Family Fun Day, Board of Directors, and our largest Expo trade show of the year - all taking place within six days. Now it''s time for deep breaths, some days off around Thanksgiving and PS!

Seriously, if this man can get average donations of $100 from people like you and me and accumulate mass amounts of money, what''s the problem?

I liked what Trillionaire said, "If Obama had opted out of public finances, and had raised less than the $84M given to McCain, we would all be laughing at his decision and calling him stupid."

 

[sklingem]

So I guess that means that when it comes to financing the elections (or his election bid), McCain is in favor of burdening the taxpayers??? If there is an example for hypocritical, then this may just be a good one. Oh my.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 10/29/2008 4:56:26 PM
Author: Starset Princess
Planning and executing a 500 employee and family member Family Fun Day, Board of Directors, and our largest Expo trade show of the year - all taking place within six days. Now it''s time for deep breaths, some days off around Thanksgiving and PS!

Seriously, if this man can get average donations of $100 from people like you and me and accumulate mass amounts of money, what''s the problem?

I liked what Trillionaire said, ''If Obama had opted out of public finances, and had raised less than the $84M given to McCain, we would all be laughing at his decision and calling him stupid.''

WOW, you''ve been busy! Glad to have you back, though!

 

[Rank Amateur]

Date: 10/29/2008 1:57:26 PM
Author: fleur-de-lis


You checked ''yes'' on a questionnaire.

What he meant, like any politician, is yes - IF IT SUITS MY INTERESTS.

BHO soon figured out that he would be BIG $$ ahead to talk his way around the ''yes'', letting those measly chips fall where they may.

He got it dead on right and collected some 700 million in return for a minor welch on his word. He played it like any good lawyer / politician and came out way WAY ahead.

 

[purrfectpear]

"welch on his word"?

LMAO at that.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 10/29/2008 4:59:22 PM
Author: rob09
So I guess that means that when it comes to financing the elections (or his election bid), McCain is in favor of burdening the taxpayers??? If there is an example for hypocritical, then this may just be a good one. Oh my.

Agreed.