McCain’s reversal on campaign finance makes Obama’s decision [updated to include video]

With the announcement today that Senator Barack Obama has opted out of the public campaign financing system some will spin it as Obama going back on a promise (some already are.) In fact, Senator John McCain reversed his decision on financing and backed out of the public system – the FEC is still pondering the legality of that reversal (or attempted reversal.) That rejection of Obama’s offer set the stage.

 

Obama had stated publicly, “If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election…” but once the Republican nominee found big money too tempting and changed his initial request for public campaign funding, he freed the most prolific Democratic fund-raiser in history to show him how fund-raising works.

Opponents and spin-meisters will continue trying to make it look like Obama failed to honor a commitment, but spin won’t cover up that on one of McCain’s most crucial decisions in the process he changed course mid-campaign, and history may not be kind to McCain about squandering his chance to run on a level playing field and walk the walk of reform. Obama had extended the offer, conditionally; he was unambiguously rebuffed.

Senator McCain has evidently been tempted by the RNC theory that money – advertising – can trump discussions about issues: that voters can be bought. The man who would be maverick has tied himself back to the grand old party. The Republicans are staying the course and testing cash from big oil and other special interests against the Obama grassroots juggernaut. McCain’s decision forced Senator Obama’s hand, but I’ll venture Obama isn’t worried about the outcome.

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