Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Giving McCain a wedgie

By

What’s up with John McCain these days? Sure, he’s known for his temper, but wasn’t this a little much? Said McCain to Obama:

“I’m embarrassed to admit that after all these years in politics I failed to interpret your previous assurances as typical rhetorical gloss routinely used in politics to make self-interested partisan posturing appear more noble.”

Well, McCain and Obama are “chummy” again.  Isn’t that sweet? But one still has to wonder what got under McCain’s skin so much that he wrote that nasty letter to Obama.

To my mind, it’s pretty clear that the Democrats’ plan for public financing of elections has gotten under McCain’s skin. It represents a threat to his simultaneous status as a “reformer” (which I truly believe he is) and as a protector of GOP campaign finance advantages (which I also believe he is). As a party loyalist, McCain is trying to straddle that fence, and Durbin, Dodd, Obama et al are making him choose one side or the other. To use another metaphor, the Democrats have raised the bid — not just called.

Democrats need to be all over this. Not only is it timely because of Abramoff: Campaign finance is the most important environmental issue; it’s the most important health care issue; it’s the most important fiscal issue; it’s an extremely important defense issue; etc. There is simply no way for Democrats to keep pace with the Republicans financially under the current system. For campaign contributors, Republicans are simply a much cheaper date than Democrats. Time to stop playing a game that’s designed for them — and taxpayers, and people who breathe air or drink water — to lose.

Please share widely!
fb-share-icon
Tweet
0

Comments

  1. Charley as someone who is admittedly skeptical about public financing of elections, I completely agree with this post.  I wish there was some way we could take out every last dime, without funding the races … but thats neither here nor there.

    <

    p>
    I wanted to point out a great post by Mark Schmitt, who has another angle on the Obama/McCain duel.  Basically, he said this was McCain trying to claim his ground and keep the locktight grip he has on “bipartisanship” … so basically this is the senatorial/washington version of a pissing match.  Nice.

    <

    p>
    Here’s Mark Schmitt’s post

    <

    p>
    http://markschmitt.typepad.com/decembrist/2006/02/who_owns_bipart.html

    <

    p>
    and for the record, in a battle of Obama vs. McCain, I like our chances – – rhetorically and politically.

  2. $326 million to Bush’s $367 million (a 12.5% advantage). In fact, he raised so much he still had $16 million on hand after the voting was done. It it correct to argue the Republicans have a significant financial advantage? (I’m willing to be convinced). Maybe, to some degree, but I think organizational, message, and backup (i.e. think tanks and other third party groups) advantages have more to do with the current Republican dominance at the federal level than fundraising. This also suggests public financing for elections would not significantly change the electoral balance.

Archives