Presidential hopeful Barack Obama wants to keep the public financing option open should he win the Democrat nomination. He has already said he will forgo public financing for the primary election.
Obama is asking the Federal Election Commission for an advisory opinion on whether he can begin raising private donations for the general election and return them if he ultimately opts for the public cash (should he win the nomination).
Ben Smith’s blog at The Politico is following it here.
He reported Wednesday…
“Contrary to media reports today, Sen. Barack Obama is trying to leave open the option of accepting public financing for his expected presidential bid.
“Obama, D-Ill., last week asked the Federal Election Commission whether he could raise contributions that would disqualify him from receiving public financing, but return them later if he decided he wanted to receive taxpayer money for his campaign.”
McCain, who continues to refuse to “talk straight” with the American people about his intentions on this issue has never loved Obama so much.
Why?
For the sake of stating the obvious, the reason Mr. Campaign Finance Reform is remaining silent on the public financing question is because he’s trying to avoid being labeled a hypocrite on the very issue that defines his political career — that is so-called “campaign finance reform” (aka assaulting the First Amendment).
And, Obama’s FEC request just may provide McCain a false sense of political cover.
You see, Obama’s request states that the Illinois Senator “would not, if the law allows, rule out the possibility of a publicly funded campaign if both major parties’ nominees eventually decide, or even agree, on this course.”
If the FEC rules in Obama’s favor, look for McCain to try to unsuccessfully weasel out of his little predicament.
Mr. McCain, we got news for you; After years of assaulting the First Amendment rights of We the People, it ain’t gonna work.
McCain has made his own bed. His refusal to now sleep in it for the sake of political expediency has already earned him the hypocrite label he is so desperately trying to avoid.
