Gee … it seems like months and months ago that this humble blog first blew the whistle on Barack Obama for breaking his campaign pledge to work within the limits of the public campaign-financing system during his presidential run.
Oh, wait. It was months and months ago. Back in June, actually. Our own Holly was really on top of things. And CNN’s Campbell Brown is just catching up.
Last night on her “No Bias, No Bull” show, Brown had this to say:
Without question, Obama has set the bar at new height with a truly staggering sum of cash. And that is why as we approach this November, it is worth reminding ourselves what Barack Obama said last November.
One year ago, he made a promise. He pledged to accept public financing and to work with the Republican nominee to ensure that they both operated within those limits.
Then it became clear to Sen. Obama and his campaign that he was going to be able to raise on his own far more cash than he would get with public financing. So Obama went back on his word.
He broke his promise and he explained it by arguing that the system is broken and that Republicans know how to work the system to their advantage. He argued he would need all that cash to fight the ruthless attacks of 527s, those independent groups like the Swift Boat Veterans. It’s funny though, those attacks never really materialized.
The Washington Post pointed out recently that the bad economy has meant a cash shortage among the 527s and that this election year they have been far less influential.
The courageous among Obama’s own supporters concede this decision was really made for one reason, simply because it was to Obama’s financial advantage.
(Click here for the video — Thanks to CNN’s rocket scientists for making the darned thing so hard to embed in Wordpress, by the way…)
I was most surprised by former U.S. Senator Bob Kerry’s frank admission in yesterday’s New York Post that Obama, a fellow Democrat, deserves to wear a scarlet “H”:
A hypocrite is a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue – who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings. And that, it seems to me, is what we’re doing now.
Yessir — Senator Obama is counting his money, and spending it. On infomercials that might delay the World Series for an extra half-hour tonight. (That’s bound to be popular…) Meanwhile, the rest of us can get busy figuring out how much our federal income taxes are going to go up, despite the candidate’s promise that they won’t.
Confused yet? Me too. But in just six more days, we’ll all be pleasantly reassured by someone that everything will be okay. It happens every four years, right?
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Dint trusted Obama a year ago and I still don’t trust him now.
Today I actually want Obama to lose. Not really for any partisan beliefs or anything like that. But I can just see liberal heads actually exploding like that guy in the movie “Scanners”. And that would be HI-larious.
Careful if your the type that thinks exploding heads are icky. It’s kinda gross. But not if you imagine it’s a filthy hippie. Then it’s just plain funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oep4mRpmrkQ
With some polls showing the race is actually getting tighter I hear some have already tied one end of a belt onto that rod in their closets.
This was an answer he gave to a question required on a form before he ran. He said he would be willing to discuss it with all the other candidates (during the primary also), but he NEVER promised to do it. Please get your facts straight.
Finally someone else picked up on this. Deceiver took note immediately yet the msm ignored it entirely. I guess with Fox bashing it to the right and MSNBC bashing it to the left, CNN finally has gone down the middle and is trying to be somewhat balanced.
If this was McCain spending all this money the news media would be screaming that he was trying to buy the election and investigating all his donors. But since its Obama they think its wonderful.
As I’ve heard said, don’t believe the polls, Obama is black and will always be the underdog and he needs as much as he can get to win this election. That’s why he needs to do what it takes to win.
Not my opinion but it’s what I’ve heard said. So it’s not hypocrisy, it’s strategy.
WTF, this woman is named “CAMPBELL BROWN”?
CAMPBELL? CAMPBELL? That is heinous.
Here in Australia, there is a big, burly, notorious footballer named Campbell Brown. What an unfortunate name to share with such a person.
CAMPBELL? SERIOUSLY? Why can’t she be called something nice and feminine like “Kate” or “Mary”?
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.
Rocko, I agree. And while attacks from crazies such as the swift boat vets “never really materialized,” what about the attacks from Palin, labeling him a terrorist? What about all the dumb people in America who think he’s Muslim and therefore bad?
And I feel like I learned that the public campaign financing is because we don’t want the future president to be indebted to big companies, etc. Most of Obama’s donations have come from regular people, in small amounts, meaning he’ll be indebted to regular Americans. Isn’t that the whole point of the presidency? That the president do things for all of us, and not just a few rich people?
let’s face it, most people don’t fact check anything they hear. that includes web sites that claim to debunk deceptions and lies. and, the game will not be delayed; it will begin around 8:30, as usual.
Amanda,
Assuming you are correct and the $600 million dollars he raised are from the regular people just like us. Then I think that’s a pretty good sign that the economy is not nearly as bad as Obama and the rest of the government is trying to make us believe. Second, Obama has received way more donations from big corporations than McCain. Sooo…how do you explain that part? Not to mention Obama says he’s not raising taxes on the middle class, but he’s going to let the Bush tax cuts expire without renewing it. You can say it however you want, but after 8 years of paying lower taxes, THAT is a tax HIKE! Alright, fine, raise taxes on the big corporations. It’s true, they can afford it. That’s because they don’t pay the taxes. YOU and I do when we buy a good or service from them. THAT is a tax INCREASE on regular middle class Americans. Fine, increase taxes, but where is all that money going? All that extra income that OBAMA is getting from the tax on the “rich” isn’t going back to the American public. It’s going to go into “programs” that some people (Americans or not) need and most don’t. I seriously doubt that money is coming back us “regular” people. The federal government needs to get back to the basics. The Constitution says the government is there to establish Justice (enforcing the law), insure domestic Tranquility (reduce crime), provide for the common defence (National defense/military), promote the general Welfare (ensure clean air, water, safe foods, safe housing, etc.), and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity. No where does it say the governement decides how much money you make and whether it’s not enough, enough, or too much. Earn your living and decide for yourself what and how you want to spend most of your money. Don’t wait for OBAMA to decide for you.
“CAMPBELL? SERIOUSLY? Why can’t she be called something nice and feminine like “Kate” or “Mary”?”
Aren’t you Aussies big on naming boys “Kim”?
Facts:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/jun/01/obama-skips-public-financing/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/586/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25259863/
http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/templates/media/MDNPresidentialQuestionnaire.pdf
[quote]If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election.[/quote]
here’s a video if reading is too much: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25268275#25268275
“Most of Obama’s donations have come from regular people, in small amounts, meaning he’ll be indebted to regular Americans.”
Bull. F–king. Sh-t. You’re just making facts up, just like all the other nuts who drank to Obama Kool-Aid and must praise his name at all time by sowing lies until the truth is buried.
Less than a week to go, and honestly, I don’t know who to vote for. It’s like picking between hemmeroids or sores in your mouth. Both choices suck!!
jic: Its Kylie. They like their Kylie’s
I thought the Republicans said public financing was an ebil gubbermint plot anyway? Oh, so that was before Obama came along out-raised them. I seem to recall it wasn’t a big deal in 2002 (or other election years) when they out-raised Democratic people.
Hypocrites: they’re not limited to one party.
a man who lies to the american people one time finds its easier to lie the next time, pretty soon, hes a liar. or a politician. next, any person who gives any money to any politician is a fool. better to take it to a casino,at least then you have a small chance of winning.
Uh-huh.
Wow. McCain lies. Obama lies. Politicians lie. Who’d-a-thunk it?
I’m sorry, this is too funny. You’re whining about Obama deciding to take advantage of a fundraising differential? Please. McCain has already dropped every bit of campaign finance reform he could, legal or illegal, and would do the same in a 72-year-old-heartbeat.
Get over the faux outrage. Until you sign on the dotted line, you’re allowed to change your mind.
All politicians lie. You just have to pick the politician whose lies you like the best.
Moses,
So when Obama raises taxes on everyone that will be OK with you? He hasn’t signed any tax cuts into law yet.
Obama is such an empty suit that scientists exclusivelyuse him when they need to replicate the conditions of outer space for their experiments, because he is so perfectly vaccuous. Seriously.
Watching people defend him on this broken pledge is laughable to the point of making some cry, even though it is expected that Lefties will defend him and others like him in the face of such undeniable truth. Well, I admit, I forgot to say “reasonably undeniable truth”. I hope my apology will be accepted.
Re: Kelli and jic.
Yes, we in Australia name our men ridiculous names like “Shannon” and “Ashley” and there are a good number of 35-45 year old women in this nation named after our singing budgie, Kylie Minogue but seriously, people.
You’re detracting attention away from the true crime here.
THE FACT THAT A WOMAN IS CALLED CAMPBELL.
CAMPBELL BROWN, to be exact.
Why can’t you appreciate the hideousness of this?
Jre: In all seriousness [and I asked this before, but on a separate post] WHAT IS KOOL AID?
Moses, you miss the point, which is Obama hasn’t been elected yet and he’s already breaking promises. Heck, at least Clinton waited until Jan 23 before he started breaking promises.
McCain and Obama’s tax policies, side by side courtesy of the Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/09/ST2008060900950.html
Both McCain and Obama are full of it. With the $700billion bailout/rescue…whatever… now they are talking about another tax rebate and with a recession tax revenues are going to drop, taxes or the deficit have to go up and the deficit is already sky high.
Lyteup,
Kool Aid is a flavoring mix you combine with sugar and water (kids are supposed to like it). It is also the drink the preacher..Jim something or another…laced with poison and forced hi followers to drink.
LYTEUP: Kool-Aid is an inexpensive powdered drink mix (it’s cheap because you add your own sugar, so this cuts the cost).
The reason it’s constantly mentioned is because more than 900 people committed suicide by drinking poison mixed in with a drink mix similar to Kool-Aid. Why? Because a man named Jim Jones told them to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones
So the term “drinking the Kool-Aid” tends to mean that you are a brainless drone who does what people tell you to do, usually in reference to doing something that seems to defy logic.
If anyone has a better definition, feel free to add on.
More from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kool-Aid#.22Drinking_the_Kool-Aid.22:
The saying “Do not drink the Kool-Aid” now commonly refers to the Jonestown tragedy, meaning “Do not trust any group you find to be a little on the kooky side,” or “Whatever they tell you, do not believe it too strongly.” Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly is famous for using the term in this manner.
Having “drunk the Kool-Aid” also refers to being a strong or fervent believer in a particular philosophy or mission — wholeheartedly or blindly believing in its virtues.
Hope that helps!
So wait, I dont get it. Americans would be THAT upset that a stupid baseball game would be held up (it never was) because someone PINING FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF YOUR UNITED STATES has something to say for 30 mins? Really? That’s a valid point in your argument? THAT?
Why do you think John McCain wanted only public funding, because republicans always get the most out of public funding – if they didn’t, he never would’ve agreed to it. Barack got more funding from private donations – why aren’t you upset at the people DONATING EN MASSE to this man – their credibility comes into account as well.
One of his policy points is that people/businesses earning more than $250,000(!) will see an increase in taxes, guess where else this system of taxing occurs? PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE! Of course those that make more should be taxed more, it makes no sense for someone making a couple million a year to be taxed as if they made $45000 a year. Wake up people, stop grasping at straws, it’s unattractive.
From wikipedia:
Alma Dale Campbell Brown
“Alma Dale” was her grandmother’s name, while “Campbell” was her mother’s birth surname.”
With those choices, I might go with Campbell too.
hey darek, you from australia? do me a favor, stay there!!! don’t interfere in my taxes or my politics. i won’t do it to you. strange, i never looked at aussies as europeans. i fought side by side with the aussies in vietnam, good men all. but we never talked politics or religion, that way we remained friends.of course, you could be a euro who moved to australia. there are a few americans left that believe the individual should solve his own problems, not the government. an obama government will be socialistic, and no matter what he says, raise taxes on all of us, rich or poor. all socialism does is spread the misery around, ask the euros, or the kings of socialism, the former commies.
Hey darek, Americans prefer baseball to the joke our elections have become. You get to pick between to hypocritical morons. I know I should be lucky to live in a country that even allows elections but this election year has been emotionally and intellectually difficult. No matter who wins, it seems like nothing good will happen.
I’ve always thought McCain and Obama were extremely poor choices for a leader of our country. Both of them are hypocritical garbage to me. It’s interesting and kind of disgusting that the mainstream media allows such information to wisp by while the pregnate teen daughter of the vice presidential republican nominee is so severely harassed and her mother is claimed a hypocrite for it. Thanks deceiver for being a reliable source to call out the bullshit when its there.
Either way, Its going to be another long miserable 4 years. Hopefully in 2012 we’ll have much better options.
The baseball game wasn’t pre-empted, Obama just paid for the slot that was slated for the pre-game folderol.
By the way, loved the Obama-mercial.
The few questions that I’d liked asked to both candidates are:
How are you going to fund all of the programs you propose without raising taxes?
How are you going to fix the energy crisis?
How are you going to fix the economy?
Will you direct the A.G. to go after the Wall St. Raiders and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law?
I think that these are fair questions that neither Obama or McCain have answered. Obama always reverts to his standard lines and never answers the hard questions, though the mainstream press does not ask Obama any of them. McCain just spouts and bables.
Of the two, I would rather go with McCain than Obama. I lived in the UK and saw first hand how socialism (doesn’t) work.
One other question for both:
What are you going to do about the illegal immigration issue? I mean illegal is illeagal and if they break the law, shouldn’t they be punished and deported?
Jre–I didn’t make up facts, and I don’t think I asserted that I was right. I certainly wasn’t an a$$hole about it, either. I meant to make it clear that I wasn’t sure, but apparently I didn’t. Anyway, I heard on the news that most of his contributions came from regular people, like in small amounts. And when I say most, I mean, more donations, not more money. Clearly, I’m not angry about it or I would have looked further.
SC–I don’t know exactly what to believe from either candidate, because politics is a bunch of BS, and I think we all know that. Further, just because they say something in their campaign obviously doesn’t mean that they’ll follow through. But, do I believe that the current republican party will do anything to help middle class americans? No. They haven’t in a long time. Do I think that the democrats will? Probably not. I doubt anything will really change.
No kidding.
No kidding.
Hey Anti-control.. that whole statement was vacuous. I’ve never seen such a well constructed statement say absolutely nothing of value. it’s like you’ve taken pseudo-intellectualism to a whole new level. It’s amazing.. even when they use big words, McCain supporters still sound like idiots. Thanks for reminding me why I’m happy being a dem.
1. Obama: Shhh… I’m going to roll back Bush’s tax cuts and not call it a tax increase.
1. McCain: Shhh… I’m going to abandon most of the programs I’ve promised and then blame the Democratic Congress for wanting to fund them anyway.
2. Obama: I’m going to import less oil from the Middle East and more from Venezuela. Chavez is a peach.
2. McCain: Drill, baby, drill!
3. Obama: I’m going to nationalize every industry I can. It’s a secret plan I like to call “France 2.0.”
3. McCain: I’m going to privatize every government program I can. It’s a secret plan I like to call “Enron 2.0.”
4. Obama: I think it would be better for everyone if we let that problem fester so we can blame the Bush administration for at least two more years, don’t you?
4. McCain: I think it would be better for everyone if we let that problem fester so we can blame the Bush administration for at least two more years, don’t you?
5. Obama: I’m glad you asked. I think it’s important that we register as many new Democratic voters as we … Wait, what was your question?
5. McCain: I’m a Senator from Arizona, remember. “Illegal immigration” is one of those fancy Gringo words that divide us. I’m a uniter.
I LOVE people that bitch about the people that run for office as “horrible choices”. No politician ever got elected telling the honest truth, get over it. We’re the ones that are putting these people in place we ( oh that’s right it a democracy so “the government” we bitch about is really us) decide to really educate ourselves and elect the people that we complain we’re not getting ( by the way.. the people that complain about candidates every year..tend to be complainers with no solutions or ideas as to what they really want) then we need to stop whining.
Oversneer, unfortunatley, your response is right on the money. I’d still like to have the McCain/Palin in the house. At least Palin would be a VPILF vs M. Obama. SHe seems like an Angela Davis/Patty Hearst wannabe!
jimmyd – i’m canadian; from every european, australian and canadian ive ever spoken to, they’re quite happy with the taxes they pay and how the wealth is “distributed”, no one is happy that taxes have been paid (who is) but it just makes fiscal sense that the more money you make, the more taxes you pay
bigmama – i certainly hope your election has been mentally draining because politics, whether their local government, state government or federal government, should require you to think where you will be checking your boxes. anytime you have an easy choice – it means one of two things, you’ve been lied too or the choice was made for you. i’d be more upset at the latter than the former personally, but the way your country is going to be run is something that SHOULD have you up at night and something that SHOULD have you exhausted after elections, it means a fight was had and hopefully won.
well darek, if you are canadian then fine, but leave me, my politics, and my taxes alone. i will do the same for you. in fact, i couldn’t care less about you, your taxes, or your government.and i plan to keep it that way.
Darek – Please don’t try to speak for all Europeans and Canadians. If you’re trying to tell me everyone is happy-go-lucky with the current socialist systems in these countries, you’re either naive or incredibly self-deluded. If everyone is SO happy with the shift left, why have even France and Germany elected governments more closely aligned with the U.S. and the political right in recent years?
My step-father is British, and my family and I holiday over there almost every year, and every time I’m down at the pub all I hear are the same 3 issues: Muslim immigration/terrorism, how the European Union is pissing them off that week, and how much they hate the socialized medicine system (and some shit about soccer, but I’ve learned to tune that out). You think the father I talked to who’s son had to wait 6 months just to get his tonsils removed was ‘quite happy with the taxes they pay and how the wealth is “distributed”’? I bet he’d tell you he’s not happy at all about how his money is being spent, and would much rather have it in his pocket to pay for a decent private doctor.
Do Americans cross into Canada to get prescription drugs? Yeah. Do Canadians come to the U.S. to get prompt and competent care? Happens every day. See, that’s the problem with socialized medicine (well, the BIGGEST problem, not the only one by far) – as long as there is a country in the world that doesn’t have socialized medicine, your best and brightest will leave and go where they can actually make enough money to make an 8 year degree and hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans worth it. That’s why France, the UK, Canada, ect. have constant shortages of qualified doctors. They come to the U.S. where they can actually make decent wages. But yeah, other than that, great system you’ve got there.
And thank you for that substantive rebuttal.
Amanda~
Exactly what kind of “help” is it that the middle class want from the government? The the candidates keep saying they want to “help” the middle class. My question is…what “help” have we asked for? What is it that we need help on? As a solid “middle class” I haven’t really seen anything I needed the government’s help on. As long as they keep the roads in good shape, keep bad guys (foreign or domestic) away from me so I can live my life without fear and do my job and live my life, I’d say the government has done a pretty good job. And for those things that I’ve just mentioned, I don’t mind whatsoever paying the taxes that pays that “help.” I don’t need government to tell me what health care I should have, whether I’m middle class, rich, or poor. Even the burger flipper at McDonald’s can buy health care through their employer. Other than ensuring employers provide a safe work environment for me, the government really shouldnt’ butt in on how much an employer pays. All these minimum wage increases don’t really improve quality of life, all it does is raise the cost of living across the board. An employer has to pay a higher salary now? Okay, the cost of the goods just went up and you’re still getting the same goods to cost ratio. The “poor” is still only able to afford the same amount of stuff, for everyone else who didn’t get a “raise”, they’re now paying more for the same items (inflation). I can’t say I agree with either candidate, but I COMPLETELY DISAGREE with everything Obama wants to do with this country. A few people will be helped in the very short run. EVERYONE will be worse off in the long run.
Be honest Swede0319 Michelle Obama is kinda hot too. She always looks like she’s ready to smack somebody, but some guys dig that.
I can tell you want her to smack you BAD hard Pasta..
Player PLEASE!! Between the two prospective first “ladies”, MO looks ready for the MMA ring. CM looks like Drone Rivers from all the plastic that has been implanted in her. As for getting smacked by somebody, not into the S&M thing. However, if the FSM directs it from His Noodly apendage, so be it,
Ramen
If there’s smackin’ to be done, count me in! I’m there baby!
Lisa and California Dave: Thankyou SO much for those definitions, I was so confused with all the references to Kool-Aid when people were attacking someone else’s post but now I understand.
That’s so interesting with that crazy Jim Jones guy, all we have here in Australia is Milo.
Thankyou! Seriously appreciate it.
Queen Bee: I dunno, I’m still pretty iffy about the “Campbell” thing. Google Campbell Brown, the footballer I was referring to and you’ll see why. Total ponce.
Swede0319: I don’t care who she looks like she would hit, Michelle Obama is smokin’!