Barack Obama Loses Supporters Over Broken Promises
Well, by now we have all heard that Obama has broken his “pledge” (his word) to accept public financing for the general election if his Republican opponent does the same. John McCain has kept his end of the bargain, but Obama sees a more politically expedient approach and is going to opt out of the public financing system, becoming the first presidential candidate since Nixon to do so.
Of course, this starts raise issues about his trustworthiness. Obama has made a great many promises to his supporters throughout this campaign, some of which are on a much grander scale than committing to public financing. Already we see his supporters having to call him to task over his recent pandering to the political center on the FISA bill, which he now says he supports even after promising to never compromise his values on such legislation only months ago. MoveOn.org has been sending their millions of liberal members emails asking them to make sure Barack doesn’t continue to break promises.
But, I never really thought he would lose support over breaking his pledge to accept public finanicing. While it is certainly a window into his character, it’s sorta a inside-baseball kind of issue. Not many people in the public carry public financing as their #1 issue.
I stand corrected:
Tags: Barack Obama, FISA, Hypocrisy, MoveOn.org, pledge, promises, public financing
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Obama losing supporters over his decision to not accept public financing? Maybe a few, but the vast majority of his supporters and many millions who are still deciding couldn’t care less about this. First, if anyone takes the time to read the “pledge” he signed, it clearly states that he has an out if he can’t reach an agreement with his opponent. This is what happened. It wasn’t a flip-flop at all.
Second, his goal has always been to implement real change in the political fundraising system-and that’s exactly what he’s doing-by not taking funds from special interest groups. His campaign will be 100% funded by small contributors. In the meantime, this whole thing will be forgotten by this time next week, and he will raise between $300 million and $500 million by the end of the general election-which he will win in the largest landslide in modern history. Republicans had no idea (they do now) just how weak a candidate they were nominating in McCain. This guy self-destructs every time he takes a mike and starts his now infamous “my friends” rambling speech. The only real question remaining about this election is how many senate and house seats the Obama landslide will bring with it in November.
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:35 pm
My view on campaign finance: Barack Hussein Obama’s money move lifts expediency over principle Rolling in dough, Democrat shifts course and spurns public dollars.
Barack Hussein Obama’s announcement Thursday that he won’t participate in the public financing system for this fall’s general election was no big surprise. He has been telegraphing the move for months. But it is disappointing nevertheless, particularly for a candidate who claims to be running as a reformer and a different kind of politician.
Real reformers don’t do it just when it’s convenient. The best way for Barack Hussein Obama to support public financing is not to fix it later, but to participate in it now.
Shalom,
— Leland Milton Goldblatt, Ph.D. ®
Distinguished Professor
http://drgoldblatt.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/miltongoldblatt
June 26th, 2008 at 9:14 am
This is awesome. It appears that Obama is shooting himself in the foot. Thanks for sharing!
Heather Berg
CR Chapter Chair-University of Utah