Monday, November 10, 2008

Pinocchio, Obama and Campaign Finance



Hilary Clinton was right. Obama reversed his pledge to take public financing. With the amount of money he raised in this election he can never claim that private interests were never part of his campaign.

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.

The Obama campaign has said different things at different times on the issue of public financing. While there may have been a little wriggle room in some campaign statements, Obama's affirmative answer to the Midwest Democracy Network seems unequivocal. Now that Obama is raising $1 million a day, his enthusiasm for public financing appears to have waned."

It didn't wane. It evaporated into thin air like most of what he said during this campaign. If you check the QVC site you can probably buy a packaged Obama. He has little experience, lacks the knowledge to run the most powerful economy on the planet, no military experience yet he will be in charge of the most powerful military powerhouse on the third rock from the sun, knows little about healthcare, never championed energy conservation to my knowledge, etc. etc. etc.

When the euphoria settles and the realities of a time in this country never experienced before rises above the fairy dust America will once again search for answers. Already the second stimulus package is doomed in this lame duck session.

We will be waiting for our money just like we've been waiting for Ed Rendell's tax rebate from the casino money. While we were distracted from our state affairs by this national election a sobering story emerged about Pennsylvania's finances. Senators predict $3 billion budget shortfall in wake of national economic crisis

"Minority Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Vince Fumo, a Democrat from Philadelphia, says a tax increase is inevitable with a $3 billion dollar hole in the $28.3 billion dollar state budget."

Let's see. Democratic Governor, Democratic Controlled House... I guess the euphoria is setting into some stern realities. BTW. how are those Democrats doing in Luzerne County?

Please don't take this post to be a Republican vindication. It is exactly the opposite. For you see, these facts follow what I have been saying all along. Our problems are neither Repulican or Democrat created. They have been created by both parties. Washington and Harrisburg are the problems. The sooner we all stay on the same side rather than bickering about George Bush or Nancy Pelosi the sooner we can return our government back to us.

If you do end up with an economic stimulus check I suggest that you save it. Vince already told us it's spent.

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