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JUST ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
In the debate over what Senator Obama meant when he pledged "to aggressively pursue an agreement to preserve a publicly financed election," much of the attention has focused on his most expansive statement, in response to a questionnaire put out last fall by the Midwest Democracy Network, a fabulous coalition of five state-level reform groups that agreed to work together on a more comprehensive vision of reform. Although the groups agreed not to comment on the substance of the answers the candidates provided, today they put out a press release:
While the focus of the questionnaire has centered on answers submitted by Senator Barack Obama's campaign, it should be noted that the campaigns of Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John McCain, Governor Mike Huckabee and Congressman Ron Paul have yet to answer a single question from the questionnaire.
Yes, only Obama and John Edwards bothered to respond to the extensive and well-designed set of questions about lobbying reform, congressional redistricting, media policy and election procedures. The two candidates who are now on the attack didn't even respond. The reform groups have asked the other campaigns to respond by February 26.
And, speaking of reform groups, have you seen the press release from Democracy 21, the Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, Public Citizen, the League of Women Voters and U.S. PIRG urging Senator McCain to keep his commitment to public financing and stop manipulating the matching funds system for the primaries? No? Me neither. I'm sure it's coming any. day. now.
-- Mark Schmitt.
COMMENTS (14)
Not sure how McCain and Clinton not making a pledge somehow makes it ok for Obama to break his.
Posted by: Rob | February 19, 2008 1:15 PM
Not sure how McCain and Clinton not making a pledge somehow makes it ok for Obama to break his.
Without conceding the premise of your comment, it doesn't. What it does do is say that Clinton & McCain are in no position to criticized and should, therefore, STFU.
Posted by: Glenn | February 19, 2008 1:27 PM
Rob makes his point too politely. This is Obamabot analysis.
Posted by: CMike | February 19, 2008 1:34 PM
Not sure how McCain and Clinton not making a pledge somehow makes it ok for Obama to break his.
Which pledge, again? I haven't seen one, so I'm a little confused.
Posted by: T. Paine | February 19, 2008 1:36 PM
The pledge to aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee on public financing after he secures the Democratic nomination?
I know McCain's calendar on the decision has been foreshortened by his creative banking, but Obama is still working on the Democratic nomination.
Posted by: Benjamin | February 19, 2008 2:30 PM
His pledge was to run on public financing in the general election, if his general election opponent would agree to do the same.
And, John McCain hasn't said what he would do - so... big freakin' deal. He hasn't broken any pledge at all. So this whole story is just a campaign hit piece.
Posted by: Chris | February 19, 2008 5:06 PM
Pointer to said pledge please. Argument by assertion lacks impact.
Posted by: Ivan | February 19, 2008 5:21 PM
I'm disappointed to see Rob breaking his pledge.
Posted by: Whispers | February 19, 2008 6:35 PM
See http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/templates/media/MDNPresidentialQuestionnaire.pdf for all the answers by Former Senator Edwards and Senator Obama.
Here is Senator Obama's response to the question and his pledge:
Question I-B:
If you are nominated for President in 2008 and your major opponents agree to forgo private
funding in the general election campaign, will you participate in the presidential public financing
system?
Yes ___ No ___
OBAMA: Yes. I have been a long-time advocate for public financing of campaigns combined
with free television and radio time as a way to reduce the influence of moneyed special interests.
I introduced public financing legislation in the Illinois State Senate, and am the only 2008
candidate to have sponsored Senator Russ Feingold’s (D-WI) bill to reform the presidential
public financing system. In February 2007, I proposed a novel way to preserve the strength of the
public financing system in the 2008 election. My plan requires both major party candidates to
agree on a fundraising truce, return excess money from donors, and stay within the public
financing system for the general election. My proposal followed announcements by some
presidential candidates that they would forgo public financing so they could raise unlimited
funds in the general election. The Federal Election Commission ruled the proposal legal, and
Senator John McCain (r-AZ) has already pledged to accept this fundraising pledge. If I am the
Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to
preserve a publicly financed general election.
Posted by: Matt | February 19, 2008 7:34 PM
How has anyone broken a pledge that is based on the question "[i]f . . . nominated for President in 2008 and your major opponents agree to forgo private funding in the general election campaign, will you participate in the presidential public financing system?"
Has Obama been nominated? If yes, have his opponents agreed to forgo private funding in the general?
Maybe a Hillarybot can explain this to me.
Posted by: Anonymous | February 19, 2008 7:42 PM
How has anyone broken a pledge that is based on the question "[i]f . . . nominated for President in 2008 and your major opponents agree to forgo private funding in the general election campaign, will you participate in the presidential public financing system?"
Has Obama been nominated? If yes, have his opponents agreed to forgo private funding in the general?
Maybe a Hillarybot can explain this to me.
Posted by: Another Matt | February 19, 2008 7:43 PM
Fred Wertheimer is in the tank for John McCain:
"Fred Wertheimer, who filed the ethics complaint on behalf of Common Cause that led to the Senate's Keating Five inquiry, said: ''Senator McCain's national leadership on the campaign finance reform issue in my view transcends any notions of just responding to the Keating Five problems he encountered. Senator McCain's commitment on the issue has been real and deep, and his leadership has been courageous in publicly challenging his own party and Senate colleagues.''
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F05E7D9123CF932A15752C1A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2
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