Reply #21: I think it is because democrats have worked so hard for finance reform

[Evergreen Emerald]

to attempt to take big money out of politics and avoid conflicts of interest. It is a liberal issue and that is why Feingold doesn't like it.

Here is what Obama said:

* UPDATE: The pledge I am referring to came last September in Obama's answers to a questionnaire by the Midwest Democracy Network.
The question was: "If you are nominated for President in 2008 and your major opponents agree to forgo private funding in the general election campaign, will you participate in the presidential public financing system?"

Obama checked: "Yes" and wrote:

"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. My proposal followed announcements by some presidential candidates that they would forgo public financing so they could raise unlimited funds in the general election. The Federal Election Commission ruled the proposal legal, and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) 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."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/04/obama-prepares.html