Obama didn’t realize he would be able to raise as much money as he did, and continues to do so. By opting out, he isn’t bound by fundraising and spending limits. It makes sense for him.

By breaking his promise, Obama’s action does undercut the long held belief of the Democrats to support public financing of elections at all levels, from local to national. It also undercuts the Democrats’ position when MCain-Feingold comes up for reauthorization. And, it also boosts any possible future legal challenge to McCain-Feingold. It can be reasonably argued that Obama’s ability to raise large sums of money precludes the need for such restrictions, and any campaign, when well-managed and well-financed does not need any protection from outside groups because it has the resources to respond and respond aggressively.

The other effect is that Obama, by opting out, is giving the perception (rightly or wrongly) that he’s open to influence in exchange for a contribution. And, we’ve been down this road many times.

The more you spin, the clearer it becomes that even YOU realize that Obama is nothing but a typical politician craving power and willing to do or say anything to get it.

It’s amazing that you are willing to toss any principles you folks claim to have under the same bus with Obama’s white granny.

Frankly I think both pols are… well… politicians. They will do whatever they need to for campaign cash. And both have black marks for their pompous piety about raising such cash… Obama for his public funds bit, his lies about lobbyist money when it was just a 3rd party lobby money, and McCain for McCain-Feingold and this campaign behavior.

Unfortunately for us, the only people who run for POTUS are consummate “politicians”. Professional mouthpieces for their backers. Or, the eloquent dummy to the ventroliquist.

Why did I say, “So what?” Let me explain:

McCain said he would take public financing for the Republican primaries. He used the promise of that public financing to help secure a loan for his campaign. After he wrapped up the Republican nomination, he then decided he did not want to be bound by the limits on campaign fund raising and spending that accompany public financing, so he announced that he had changed his mind.
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/02/11/politics/horserace/entry3819016.shtml
and:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/03/21/mccain_blows_by_public_spendin.html

But FEC chair David Mason sent McCain a letter saying that he cannot unilaterally opt out of the public financing system without FEC approval.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/21/AR2008022103141.html?hpid=topnews

If McCain cannot opt out of the system unilaterally, then he has broken the law by raising and spending funds in excess of legal limits— as he continues to do so each day. Yet none of you will even discuss this point. Further, if Obama were doing this, you guys wouldn’t be able to sleep and you would certainly be raising it as an issue.

Now even if McCain isn’t breaking the law, he has already broken “his word” on the question of whether he would take public funding for the primaries.

Therefore, Obama broke a promise, but so did McCain. Obama didn’t do anything unethical or illegal. McCain has done something unethical, and perhaps illegal.

‘So what’ if Obama backs out of Public financing given these facts; he and McCain both have done the two-step, while McCain has even ’stepped on toes’ during the dance.

The Obamatons don’t care whether their savior overturns every principle he previously claimed to hold dear. They don’t care whether he changes his mind on every issue, even one that was previously central to his campaign.

They don’t even care that they don’t really know who this Obama is. Either that, or they do know he’s a neoMarxist retread and guess what… they don’t care.

This is one of the best illustrations of what the Obamatons DO care about: power! That’s all. Nothing more.

If Obama suddently decided he wanted to invade Iran you can bet the Obamatons would be right there shouting AMEN!

P.S. The Washington Post “Fact Checker” has awarded Obama three “Pinocchio”’s for stretching the truth in his latest flip flop. I think it deserves four!

The Pinocchio Test
Barack Obama probably wishes that he had been more careful in the wording of some of his earlier statements about the public financing system. His carefully parsed retreat on public financing is similar to his hedging on an earlier promise to meet the leaders of Iran, Cuba, and North Korea “without preconditions” during his first year as president. In this case, however, the turnaround is even more blatant.
WaPo Fact Checker