Here's what Obama said about public financing of campaigns in November 2007, long before anyone thought he could win the Democrat nomination for President:
“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….If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election.”But after Obama secured the nomination with an early start from big money political action committees and bundling as well as dubious methods of getting around financing limits, he changed his mind and decided to go back on his pledge to accept the very campaign finance limits he was encouraging other candidates to accept.
-- Barack Obama, November 2007
After all, principles on issues are only worth something if they make it easier to win political power. Not the other way around. Right?
Good government watchdogs like Democracy 21 are rightfully concerned about how damaging Obama's actions will be to the system of public financing of campaigns that the group and many others have long supported.
Again, this raises the question of what Obama does actually believe in other than himself and his grasping for power?
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