Why Obama CANNOT Accept Public Financing

[Skwmom]

We keep hearing about how much money Obama has raised and how much he has spent in comparison to Clinton. For example, the media made a big deal about how much Obama spent in OH (and now PA)in comparison to Clinton. However, what they have failed to discuss is the value of the "attack ads and favorable ads" promulgated by the media. In OH they showed Clinton's attacks on Obama 24/7, and in NH they showed the Murdoch's fake attacks on Clinton (she's so yesterday and she's in a panic) and Bill Clinton playing the gender/age card (I can't make her taller, I can't make her younger, I can't make her a man) 24/7 which rallied the sympathy vote for Clinton. They also showed Clinton's 3 a.m. ad around the clock.

The imputed value of the favorable promoting of a candidate and the attacking of their opponent has to be in the hundreds of millions.

After the 2000 election, the Carlye Group went into the swing states such as Ohio and purchased local media because they understood this would make any public finance reform meaningless. Until something is done about media consolidation and the trampling of the fairness doctrine, campaign finance reform is a MOOT issue. Now that the media has so much power in pushing and trashing presidential candidates it is imperative that average Americans be able to push back against this abuse by donating to the candidate of their choice.

NOTE: I edited the following to clarify my point.

If Obama accepted public finance reform he would be at a big disadvantage because:

1. McCain will receive millions of dollars of favorable press from his media allies.

2. McCain's media allies will spend millions of dollars of air time attacking Obama (can you imagine the imputed attack ad value of Fox News Network alone). Obama is trying to get rid of the big money special interest control of our government. Some of those same special interests own our media (creating a major conflict of interest). Plus, Obama would have to rely on 527s to counter these attacks rather than having his own money to respond rapidly.

3. McCain would prefer to spend little money and have the media give him favorable press while having the 527s attack Obama. He can claim he is not favored by the GOP, he isn't the big money candidate, and he can disavow the 527 attacks on Obama. I think the plan is not to give money directly to McCain but to the 527s.

4. If Obama had to rely on 527s, he would be unable to control his message and rapidly respond to attacks.

To accept public financing would allow corporate controlled media (which includes media with direct ties to the GOP - e.g., the Carlye Group) and 527s to silence the voices of the average Americans backing Obama's candidacy. In addition, Obama would be running the race with both hands tied behind his back.

[leftofcool]

1. Numbers 1 and 2 are going to happen

regardless of campaign financing. NcCain will get favorable press from all networks because they are Republican controlled and his allies/followers/supporters will spend millions ofn 527's. Obama will not be able to control the message no matter what he does with your contributions.

[Skwmom]

2. Of course they will happen. But it would be STUPID not to have the $$$$$$

to combat their attacks. Having money will help you put out your own message.

Note: I edited my original post to clarify.

[Romulox]

3. #2 = "It became necessary to destroy the village in order to save it."

[4themind]

4. I think it,in part depends upon..

how long this process goes, if this thing goes to the convention, he'd only have about 8 weeks to the G.E. anyway. At that point, it may not be worth risking the P.R. hit (as unjustified as could be argued) to assume that he'd be able to raise more than the 85 million dollars that he'd get in public financing for that time period anyway (although if you combine this month and last month he would have raised 10 million more than that)

[Skwmom]

5. Why would it be a PR hit? I think Americans are smart enough to understand

that the media is hardly an honest broker in American elections. The IMPUTED VALUE Of media attacks on Obama (look at the Wright coverage) and promotion of McCain will be in the hundreds of millions. He has to have the money to drown out the media noise machine or he will be sunk.

The media is owned by corporations making millions from the war and who benefit greatly from big money special interests controlling Washington. I think Obama should come out and point this out. That way, when the Obama media attacks start, many people will just tune them out.