…for breaking this campaign promise. “Public” financing is really taking tax dollars from people who don’t support and candidate, and dumping them directly into that candidate’s campaign coffers. Taking “public” financing is tantamount to using stolen money to fund your campaign.
Sadly, the article mentions that Obama is still a huge supporter of public financing, just not it its current form. Either way, I’m glad that my tax dollars won’t be going to fund a candidate I don’t support.
Reality said
Barack Obama never promised to use public financing. He is correct in that the GOP is notorious for gaming the system (aka breaking the law) when they take public financing. Obama is a sensation and, increasingly, Clinton Democrats, independants and a surprising number of Republicans are moving into his court. This means the GOP will spend huge sums of money in an effert to destroy his candidacy – and the man himself, if need be. So he cannot tie his own hands with public financing rules.
Obama supports the kind of public financing that any progressinve who wants to end special interst purchasing of our goverment does. Require all candidates to use public funds and individual donors (with rather low caps), while prohibiting taking money from corporations, lobbiests, and PACs.
I’m wondering what makes you think that using money from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund is “using stolen money.” I’m also wondering where you got the idea that the PECF is “your tax dollars.” The PECF is funded by VOLUNTARY election by taxpayers to divert $2 of the income tax they pay to the fund. So, inasmuch as you obviously do not elect to do so, none of YOUR tax dollars goes toward public financing of the presidential election.