Letters to the Editor
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Public Funds
Wrong. Every Democratic presidential nominee has accepted public financing. NO republican presidential nominee has accepted public financing.
Are you speaking of this election or all elections since 1976, when Public Funds became available?
Every candidate of both parties has accepted public funds for the general election.
Starting in 2000, Bush started the trend of not accepting public funds for the primary.
No major candidate left in the race is using public funds for this primary.
McCain at one point accepted, then declined primary matching.
Obama did NOT promise to accept public financing. He said that if he is the nominee, he will try to persuade the republican nominee to accept public financing with him.
From Bill Burton, Obama campaign spokesman.
If Senator Obama is the nominee, he will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election.
Obama's personal replied to the Midwest Democracy Network questionnaire.
Question: Will you participate in the presidential public financing system
Yes. ... 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. ... The Federal Election Commission ruled the proposal legal, and Sen. John McCain has already pledged to accept this fundraising pledge. If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election.
Obama even had lawyers check on the validity of his proposal, and it was found to be legal.
If someone asks you if you will do something and you reply yes, that's a promise.
And John McCain will sprout wings and fly to Mars before he accepts public
He's already accepted it. While he has left open the option to opt out if the Democratic candidate doesn't accept, McCain will accept otherwise.
It's doubtful that McCain could even raise the 80 million plus, so public funds help him.