Obama Will Not Hang Himself With Federal Matching Funds

Posted by Nicholas Joseph on 06.27.2008

Commonsense dictates that Obama is too smart to allow himself to be saddled with a Washington system that is broken.

The Republicans are between a rock and a hard place in this election cycle. The conservative movement is sliding down a precipice, against the tide of a grassroots movement that is inspired by Obama's reassuring message of change and his pragmatic and sensible approach to politics.

Caught between Senator John McCain's constant wobbling on key issues, like his recent turncoat on offshore drilling and Bush's abysmal unpopularity, the lowest in history, the talking heads are desperately attempting to sidetrack voters with the non-issue of campaign finance. With the price of gas at $4.00 and skyrocketing, the American people are more interested in substance than with shameless politricks as usual.



As if they have found a new script, conservative commentators like David Brooks have clung on desperately to Obama's refusal to commit political suicide by accepting federal matching funds during this election campaign. As if on cue, they are fuming that it is a matter of his character and conscience. Listening to the talking heads in their obvious desperation to find Obama unworthy of the presidency, they have latched on to a perceived promise as Obama breaking his word. The Presidency is about "character," bellowed Sean Hannity, from his ever hate-fueling right-wing perch. "I think he (Obama) is a very dishonest individual," proffered the high priest of conservativism, adding insult to injury: The evidence to support this outrageous and outlandish accusation is that Obama has opted out of accepting federal funding for his campaign.

A careful check of the record, for those still interested in the truth, will show that Obama never promised to accept federal funding. He made it clear that it was something he would consider as a deterrent to the influence of big money in the electoral process. Objectively and rationally, Obama has crafted a unique funding model in this election that has prevented huge corporations from having any influence on his campaign. Ordinary people contributing an average of $91 form the bulk of his funding, to the tune of millions of dollars. That level of people participation in the process has ensured that Obama can compete at any level without the need for federal funding. Moreover, accepting federal funding would be like accepting a rope for him to hang himself. The "swift-boaters for truth" are lurking in the dark hoping he would be so dumb. But obviously, when Bill Clinton spoke of the "brilliant" Barack Obama many months ago, the former President, himself no intellectual lightweight, knew exactly what he was saying.

Contrary to the ridiculous conservative notion that Obama's non-acceptance of federal funding has much to do with his character, it is simply a practical and realistic political decision. The bigger issue of his character is that he has maintained his core belief in devising a unique method of funding his political campaign, without the undue corrupting influences of big money from huge businesses. To categorize this issue as a matter of character demonstrates the serious dilemma facing the Republicans.

In successive general elections, it is the Republicans who have exploited every single loophole to sidetrack the law to fund their campaign. In fact, the Republicans have made no bones about their dislike for McCain/Feingold, the legislation that sought to streamline the access of big money into political campaign financing. McCain too has sought clever ways to circumvent the laws, against his own once principled stance.

Commonsense dictates that Obama is too smart to allow himself to be saddled with a Washington system that is broken. As long as he remains true to his core principles and belief, he has every right to reject a system that attempts to stymie his forward and progressive march to the presidency. The conservative opposition can crow as loud as they want to about character, but Obama has shown that his character can stand the test of time when compared to those who took the country into an ill-advised war in Iraq. Interestingly, McCain supported going to war on a tissue of lies and has vowed to continue it for a hundred years. Talk about character?

Let me be blunt. There is absolutely nothing wrong with reconsidering one's options about an issue, when the facts clearly indicate that one needs to reconsider and analyze. After all, Barack is a brilliant person and an analyst. We need a President who is brilliant, analytical, pragmatic and thinks on his feet, don't we? In fact, it would be downright stupid if the evidence points to a need for new directions, yet one holds rigidly and myopically to old, failed, non-pragmatic positions, like John McCain and his 100 years in Iraq! Good leaders should not be scared or ashamed to admit that they were wrong, or to admit that the circumstances of a situation have evolved. Bush's reluctance to change course in Iraq in the face of a different set of facts makes him just plain ole Stupid George W. Bush. Little wonder his extremely low standing with the American people.

So, Obama's character and conscience are clear. Can't say the same for those who refuse to get the kids out of Iraq's quagmire after having sent them in harm's way on a tissue of lies and deceit.