Yeah, I Think I'll Pass
With all the "Will he? Won't he?" ponderings about whether Barack Obama will accept public financing, check out this comment from the senator last night at a Washington fundraiser:
"We have created a parallel public financing system where the American people decide if they want to support a campaign they can get on the Internet and finance it, and they will have as much access and influence over the course and direction of our campaign that has traditionally reserved for the wealthy and the powerful," Obama said, reports NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan.
John McCain's team has made an issue of Obama's suggestion that he'd consider public financing, in large measure, of course, because McCain hasn't shown nearly the fundraising prowess. It's a fair plea, however. A person can't change the influence of money on politics without opting out of the broken system. But Obama's comment signals with some finality, finally, his intention to bypass the system.
Frankly, Obama is not taking money from PACs and Washington lobbyists, and his camp can show that Obama's effort has largely been floated by small-dollar contributions. What would he have to prove by signing up for public financing?
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Frankly, Obama is not taking money from PACs and Washington lobbyists
Au contraire, he is most certainly has taken money from PACs and Washington lobbyists:
A Bit More on Barack (Harpers, Oct. 26, 2006)
PACs and lobbyists aided Obama's rise
Data contrast with his theme (Boston Globe, Aug. 9, 2007)
Obama’s Lobbyist Line
A “more complicated truth” on campaign contributions (Columbia Journalism Review, Feb. 15, 2008)
Sen. Obama finesses his lobbyist ties (The Hill, Apr. 19, 2007)
Obama liked PAC money before he didn't like it (The Swamp, Nov. 28, 2007)
Obama's Oil Spill
Obama says he doesn't take money from oil companies. We say that's a little too slick. (FactCheck.org, Mar. 31, 2008)
Since January 2005, he has given three times as much to federal candidates (sitting Senators and Representatives and, possibly, challengers) as Sen. Hillary Clinton (HILLPAC). Remember, those incumbent Democrats are super-delegates in August. And how much do you want to bet that those donations are to Democrats who haven't yet endorsed a candidate?
Obama takes money from both lobbyist clients, and from the lawyers who represent them, i.e., who lobby on their behalf. When Obama talks about not taking lobbyist money, he is insulting the voters’ intelligence. The fact that Hotline swallowed that canard without question tells me a bit about their IQ as well.
"will have as much access and influence over the course and direction of our campaign that has traditionally reserved for the wealthy and the powerful"
Leaving aside the political question, Obama's quote brings up an interesting legal point: the entire system of campaign finance regulation is based on the principle that you must avoid the appearance that wealth is influencing elections. That is the only justification for the explicit limitations on protected political speech -- the First Amendment gives way when people think wealth undercuts the vote.
So if Obama is correct in his analysis, his thinking not only justifies avoiding that limited part of the campaign finance system which involves public financing, it undercuts the entire constitutional rationale for the system altogether.
That IS fresh thinking, and it's not the type one would ordinarily envision from a liberal Democrat (or his followers).