Obama Says No to Public Campaign Money

Thu, June 19, 2008 - 11:25 AM

Sen. Barack Obama’s decision this morning (see his video announcement here) to forego public financing for his presidential bid put the Democrat’s campaign on the defensive after his earlier rhetoric in favor of public financing.

Speaking to reporters within an hour of Obama’s Web video statement, Obama campaign aides repeatedly called the public campaign finance system “broken” and deflected questions suggesting Obama did not try to broker a campaign financing deal with Republican Sen. John McCain as Obama had pledged to do during a primary debate.

Click the play button to hear Obama communications director Robert Gibbs and counsel Rob Bauer on the slippery slope of trying to reign in third-party spending from so-called 527 groups, like the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth who helped derail John Kerry’s 2004 candidacy.



McCain’s campaign spokeswoman fired back in a statement.

“The true test of a candidate for President is whether he will stand on principle and keep his word to the American people. Barack Obama has failed that test today, and his reversal of his promise to participate in the public finance system undermines his call for a new type of politics,” Jill Hazelbaker said.

-- Neil Simon