If John McCain had gone back on his promise to accept public campaign money, and instead set fundraising records that put him as many as fourteen points ahead in the polls with less than two weeks to go before Election Day, do you think there'd be a lot of media carping and whining about rich Republicans buying the White House?
Probably 24 hours a day, seven days a week until the final vote had been counted, correct?
Yet, despite Barack Obama having gone back on his campaign promise to accept public funds, and reports that he's now over $600 million in contributions, the Obama-loving press don't seem very concerned with liberals buying the presidency.
This obvious hypocrisy struck the Los Angeles Times' Andrew Malcolm Thursday (emphasis added):
Having now collected more than $605 million altogether, the freshman senator shows no concern over the appearance of buying the presidency. Imagine for a moment the national political conversation that could be going on now if rich Republicans had raked in that much loot for one campaign.
Yeah, just imagine.
On Sunday, as NewsBusters previously reported, the Washington Post's Howard Kurtz and Time's Mark Halperin briefly discussed this hypocrisy.
Why aren't more media outlets expressing similar outrage?
I know. They will...once the elections are over.
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All elections are
October 23, 2008 - 11:26 ET by Dan The Man 2All elections are bought.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
The MSM will remain silent on this at least until...
October 23, 2008 - 11:31 ET by PrairieSkyafter the election. Personally, I doubt that they will ever seriously investigate this...There is no upside in it for them. If Obama wins, then the MSM will have gotten what it wanted, and the fact that some likely ill-gotten money helped him win, won't matter in the least. It is now, and will be then, seen as a means to an end.
If Obama loses, I still don't think that we'll see much of anything on it either, because the massive amount of money raised would have helped him to almost win, and the money raising precedent set in this election by the Dems will be looked at as the standard for the next presidential election.
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan, January 20, 1981
Charitable contributions?
October 23, 2008 - 11:30 ET by Verbinator... and how much of that money is being donated to a-political charitable causes? Beuller? Beuller? Anybody?
Why aren't more media
October 23, 2008 - 11:33 ET by motherbeltWhy aren't more media outlets expressing similar outrage?
Because they don't care; in fact, as posted here a couple of days ago, they pretty much think it's a fantastic thing!
Half a billion dollars. And now this:
And, according to an e-mail plea to supporters, tonight's the absolute
deadline to donate $10 more and receive your special edition Official
Obama-Biden car magnet.
Come on, folks, half a billion dollars might not be enough. Cough up another $10 each!
Is this what he meant by "sacrifice"?
More money
October 23, 2008 - 12:43 ET by Snilwar4It is always more. The money being spent on the presidential, senatorial and congressional seats is obscene but that is freedom. I have listened intently for 2 yrs to what these campaigns have said and for all of the hullabaloo there is no there, there. It is all fluff. This nation has lost it's ability for higher thought. We wrestle over spending more money in the budget and we are worse than broke, we are in critical debt. This is just insane. We can't face the fact that we have augered ourselves into such a hole that we are going to experience great economic suffering.But, I didn't answer the question. Yes, if the Republicans spent that kind of money the Dems would have endless comitties to find out what wrongful acts were perpetrated on the weak, sick and the poor of spirit. The guilty always get so self rightious.
I read an article earlier
October 23, 2008 - 11:43 ET by dmntd1I read an article earlier about how, in Pennsylvania, Sen Obama's campaign won't give out "street money". Where's the outrage about the very concept of "street money" ?!?
"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy." - Winston Churchill
Never underestimate the
October 23, 2008 - 11:51 ET by bradbenj5952Never underestimate the power of the promise of a handout to secure votes.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31
You are correct!
October 23, 2008 - 16:58 ET by j. frank wilsonGov. Palin proved that in Alaska with her windfall profits tax on oil companies that was then distributed to the citizens of that state.
Frankie the oil belongs to
October 23, 2008 - 17:11 ET by Dan The Man 2Frankie the oil belongs to Alaska and the oil companies pay royalties to the state. There is no windfall profit involved, its like the last round of tax cuts ... it is across the board and fair. The profit the state made from the oil were given back to to the people who owns the oil in the first place. Alaska owns the oil, it was in the deal to make it a state. In most other cases the feds own the rights. Perhaps the feds should change the way business is conducted. But, to want an extra slice of teh profits in good times and not taking into account the bad times is a Windfall tax.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Dan the Man 2:
October 23, 2008 - 18:21 ET by j. frank wilsonThat is precisely what the State of Alaska did - tax profits. The higher the price of a barrel of oil, the higher the windfall profits tax.
The ARR tax is on top of the permanent fund. It is a windfall profits tax - the very same tax supported by Sen. Obama and opposed by Sen. McCain. However, in his political career Sen. McCain has never permitted himself to be the least bit hampered by a previous position - and that's one thing about him that doesn't ever change...
The Reagan Revolution is now complete
October 23, 2008 - 11:52 ET by Anchor89Reagan started the transition of the Republican party from one that had the wealthy as its base to one that has the middle class as its base. The Democrat party has subsequently taken the wealthy ground that the Republican party used to occupy. Obama's huge fundraising effort among coastal limosine liberals signifies that the transition is now complete. Case in point, when I drive through wealthy neighborhoods (million dollar plus homes), I mostly see Obama signs. When I drive through middle class neighborhoods, I most see McCain signs.
Republican party icons: Joe the Plumber and Sarah Palin
Democrat Party icons: George Soros and William Buffet
It's Warren Buffet, Anchor,
October 23, 2008 - 12:20 ET by IamTinmanIt's Warren Buffet, Anchor, but you're dead on.
Politics is a strange creature. The democrats were the slave owners, the party of the KKK and George Wallace, but look what party Afro-Americans flock to today.
How many democratic members of the senate are millionaires?
Obama and Biden want to "Spread the Wealth" but a quick peek at their charitable spending reveals them to be tighter than Ebaneezer Scrooge.
If this election does anything it should show people that:
A.) Character does count
B.) Talk is cheap. Actions (or lack of action) count
C.) The past is a good predicter of the future
Sen. McCain did go back on his promise
October 23, 2008 - 12:17 ET by j. frank wilsonto accept public financing. His letter to the federal elections commission withdrawing from public financing may be found on their website.
Hey Fwanky, who publicly
October 23, 2008 - 12:21 ET by Scuba DudeHey Fwanky, who publicly stated that he would join the Republican candidate and accept public financing but then had a change of mind and went back on that promise?
Wasn't Sen McCain.
Frankie the proof is in the
October 23, 2008 - 12:51 ET by Dan The Man 2Frankie the proof is in the pudding, McCain is bound to the public financing and Obama is a weasel that said one thing but did another. The agreement was that both sides accept public financing and McCain believed Obama and took him at his word. Which show's anyone who has the eyes to see exactly what Obama's word is worth.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Any links?
October 23, 2008 - 13:11 ET by mvfreemanShowing McCain stuck with public financing?
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/06/how-mccains-pub.html
http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=213&sid=1430854
Public Funding from the
October 23, 2008 - 16:26 ET by Dan The Man 2Public Funding from the horses mouth so to speak. McCain is a man of his word, well more than the lying weasel Obama.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Sen. McCain is not
October 23, 2008 - 16:56 ET by j. frank wilsona man of his word. He's proven that numerous times.
In this case, he was in before he was out. And he tried to be out before he was back in.
Additionally, he used the fact that he was going to accept public funding to get on the ballot during the primaries - avoiding the signature gathering process. No mention of that fact in either of your two links.
Frankie he did not need any
October 23, 2008 - 17:19 ET by Dan The Man 2Frankie he did not need any signatures to get on the ballot in the primaries, only unknowns or also rans like Ron Paul need them. Recognized public figures and contenders dont. Public funding has nothing to with the primaries.
Waht does matter is Obama agreed to use public funding and then weaseled out. You know weasels, they try to twist and turn the truth and skew the facts.
BTW I included one link, perhaps you are seeing double and pink elephants also?
I will say that men are men and not perfect, so I am sure McCain has sinned including lying. I am sure he will tell you that. But lying on teh important stuff in life is what matters. Obama fails this test and McCain passes. I am not thrilled about McCain as much as his running mate. I no longer have to hold my nose to vote.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Dan the Man 2:
October 23, 2008 - 18:31 ET by j. frank wilsonIt's obvious you've never worked on a political campaign. And you don't understand how the process works.
Of course people have to qualify for the ballot. Here's a detailed presentation - source cited at the bottom.
While each state is different, there is a process that must be followed. Typically, in Ohio Sen. McCain tried to have it both ways...
Qualifying for the presidential primary ballot in Ohio is a complex process, requiring a candidate to gather over 100 signatures in each of the state’s 18 (Congressional) districts, using separate petitions for each county within the district, which must be filed with local election boards around the state.
Additionally, the candidate must gather still more signatures statewide, all under some very complicated rules and local interpretations. Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton went through this process, at considerable time and expense. With a filing date of January 3, this was done by these campaigns at precisely the moment McCain was desperately borrowing to keep his campaign afloat, lacking the money and resources to organize and gather the signatures necessary to legally be placed on the Ohio ballot.
But Ohio has an alternative means of getting on the ballot – you can simply present your FEC matching funds authorization to the Secretary of State, and go straight to the ballot, without petitioning. And this is what Senator McCain did. According to the Politico, the McCain campaign, now contend[s] "that the Secretary of State agreed to put him on the ballot simply on the basis of his "qualification" to participate in the public financing system." though he was informed by letter from the office of the Ohio Secretary of State that the Ohio statute (R.C.3513.121A) specifically refers to a candidate for the office of President who is "eligible to receive" Federal Matching Funds payments.
Senator Thompson, Mayor Giuliani, Governor Romney, Senator Clinton, Senator Obama, and several other candidates were all "qualified" for the funds, but because they never entered the program as McCain did, they had to spend time and money to petition to get on the ballot. The other candidates, who also "qualified" for the funds in terms of meeting the statutory requirements of eligibility, were not permitted direct access to the ballot. The Ohio Primary was held on March 4, yet it is McCain's postiion that he withdrew from the Matching Funds Program almost a month before that date on February 6.It seems an either/or question with both results being bad for McCain.
http://www.progresso...
My bad
October 23, 2008 - 18:37 ET by mvfreemanI got confused between the primaries and the general election.
At first McCain wanted out of public financing back in February and didn't agree to accept public financing until June 19.
http://www.sfgate.co...
How much did you donate?
October 23, 2008 - 12:17 ET by guttermouthSeriously, considering neither candidate is using public financing, this isn't even an issue. If it's a matter of Obama saying he'd do something and later backed out of, well guess what - it's called changing your mind! And people do it every day, including John McCain.
But if it's an issue of Obama having more money than McCain, it's because of 1 reason - Obama's supporters have donated more money. So come on guys, if you really believe in the GOP candidate, dig deep into those pockets and send in a check. It's not too late for McCain to win this thing, but he needs your help. SEND MONEY NOW!!!
guttermouth:
October 24, 2008 - 09:59 ET by j. frank wilsonSen. McCain is using public financing.
And remember the conservative theory - pushed here on NB - that Sen. Obama would be so busy raising money that he would not have time to campaign?
And nearly half of that is untraceable
October 23, 2008 - 12:22 ET by retroconAnd nearly half of that is untraceable donations of $200 and less (the Obama campaign has stated outright that they don't keep records of donations less that $200)...
I can see George Soros and a hall full of sub-minimum wage laborers in south america giving $199 donations on Soros accounts over and over and over and over.
Soros alone could be into Obama for $200 Million bucks alone. And don't forget the early reports of Palistinians raising money from the west bank.
But we'll never know. If Obama loses, we all forget. If Obama wins, it get's buried.
BHO slams McCain...
October 23, 2008 - 13:03 ET by Prester John...for really being for Joe the Hedge Fund Manager rather than Joe the Plumber even though he, Obama, has received almost 40% more money than McCain from the Investment/Financial industry.
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/select.php?ind=F07
No shame, no honor, no nuthin'.
Post-election Slush fund?
October 23, 2008 - 14:15 ET by In_AweI seem to recall in the past that if a member of Congress accumulates a large pool of political contributions, he/she can convert them to personal use upon retirement from Congress. Has that changed? Could Obama potentially be sitting on $100MM+ of funds even if he loses and later convert them to personal or future non-Congressional use if he leaves the Senate?
I believe it was changed a
October 23, 2008 - 16:29 ET by Dan The Man 2I believe it was changed a few years ago. There were a lot of politicians sitting on war chests amassed to the tune of millions. The law was passed and there were lots of politicians that retired just before they had to give the money up.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Spread the wealth
October 23, 2008 - 15:03 ET by donsalimanThe Prince says to "spread the wealth," and the Prince is kissed by his followers and the mighty Prince turns into a frog
Buying the election
October 23, 2008 - 16:07 ET by jessieHJessie R. Hamby I wonder if all of the money came from the bailout money. Maybe Pelosi & Frank stuck a little back for rainy days. Maybe Opra is giving it to him. ( the money, I mean). Maybe he is taking a little out of everybodys FICA tax. Maybe he earned it (cough, cough). Maybe the washington mafia gave it to him. Maybe Bin Ladin gave it to him. We know it didn't come from us. The govt. just gave it all to the banks. Unless we make him come forth with the truth about everything he is lying about, WE, the People of the United States, are screwed......