Yesterday Barack Obama said that he was no longer going to seek public money for the campaign. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/19/obama.public.financing/index.html Awesome, right? He won't take the public's money. Or, is it a good thing? Didn't he make a promise to do so a few months ago? Now, he has given this a great spin by saying the money he is seeking is from private individuals who give $5, $10, $25 dollars and he needs to raise as much as he can from them to beat the evil Republicans. Public money just is not enough to beat back the Republican machine, he needs as much as possible to CHANGE America. Now, if 1,000,000 people gave $25, how much would that be? Right $3,000 er...I mean $25,000,000. Obama though has raised 272 million dollars since January. NEWS FLASH: All of this money isn't coming from people giving $25!!!
I am going to throw Obama a bone here and agree that sometimes you have to work within "the system" to change the system. In fact, I think it's mandatory. That is one reason I think it is silly when politicians say they aren't going to work with the evil lobbyist, and then have to fire their entire campaign staff the next day. It's just stupid, but I will save the lobbying debate for another day. Obama is right that sometimes you have to perform the same old tricks to win in order to make the changes desired. However, where he went wrong is he made a PROMISE to only use public money by working with his Republican counterpart to form an agreement, so neither candidate would be at a disadvantage. If McCain said no, Obama was within his promise to NOT accept public money and get it from supporters, instead. This would ensure that private interests did not affect the candidates if both candidates accepted the agreement. Very noble of Obama. Instead, though, Obama did not seek an agreement with McCain (who probably wouldn't mind public fundraising right now, since the Republicans are having trouble raising money) and went right past GO to collect as much money as he could from private individuals and companies (yes folks, let's not be naive, companies too).
Obama's entire message is about CHANGE. Many don't really know what this change is, but they know they want it. I probably can describe it most simply as people are tired of how politics works in this country. Where politicians care more about gamesmanship and building up power within a political party, than actually making some tough decisions that will piss off your supporters and your enemies in order to fix the country. Obama has showed he does not represent this change. I can hardly blame him, since almost no politician actually represents this type of change. It's nearly impossible, especially since you have to work within the system first to then change it later (and piss off many, ruining chances for reelection). But, Obama goes around preaching that he is better than all the other politicians, that he really is this savior, that he runs a clean campaign.
Unfortunately, all I have noticed in this campaign by both parties is politics as usual. The same tricks, the same distorting of the truth, the same backpedaling when a promise made six months ago no longer seems attractive...or while it's the right thing to do....it may cost you the election. This is the point when every politician starts to see the gold at the end of the rainbow. They imagine themselves in the White House, moving in the new furniture, calling the shots. They imagine all the good and change they will do. Then they say, no matter what the cost, do whatever it takes to win. Who can blame them? I just don't like when a politician comes out and won't admit what he or she is really doing...or worse, try to claim they are DIFFERENT, grabs the hearts of so many in the country, and then uses the same bag of political tricks.
If Obama is going to say he is about CHANGE and makes promises to do something...I expect him to keep them. If he turns the other way because it's EASIER or it gives him a better chance to WIN...then he is like the rest of them...and his message is one big LIE. Surprise!
(Editor's note: I will attack McCain one of these days...but Obama is just giving me too much material)
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