Clinton Campaign Accuses Obama of Breaking Word

[MethuenProgressive]

Source: abcnews.go.com

The Clinton camp accused Sen. Obama of flipping on public money (ABCNEWS) BY KATE SNOW, ELOISE HARPER, DAVID WRIGHT AND SUNLEN MILLER
February 17, 2008 1:06:49 PM PST

The Clinton campaign says Senator Barack Obama is breaking his word by refusing to commit to taking public financing, should he become the Democratic nominee.

On a conference call Sunday afternoon with reporters, Clinton Communications Director Howard Wolfson accused Obama of going back on a pledge they say he made last year to participate in public financing if the Republican opponent were also to agree to do so.


"He was very clear. There was no hedging," Wolfson said. "And recently Sen. Obama has decided to go back on this pledge. He broke his pledge. It now appears that he made a promise to the American people that he's not keeping and that is wrong. And it's certainly not change you can believe in."


Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4303783&page=1

---

Obama breaks his word once again.
Expect applause from Obama's supporters, and attacks against Clinton for pointing out his hypocrisy.

[Earth_First]

1. However, correct me if I am wrong...it is Clinton going back on HER word on Florida and Michigan...

No?

[ladywnch]

8. bingo!!!!!!

[Vinca]

11. It doesn't count.

:rofl: Just like all those "little" states.

[L0oniX]

22. Uhm ...where is Micigan and Florida?

Ask Miss Teen USA 2007 - South Carolina.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww

[stray cat]

2. I am absolutely in favor of dems losing the election to McCain

as long as they agree to take public financing and stick with it. I heard a quote where Obama agreed to consider public financing. Is there a different recording where he committed himself to take public financing or is this falsely spinning the earlier quote by the News media and now the Clintons?

[L0oniX]

23. The trick is to first make a false quote and then quote the qoute.

[msongs]

3. well at least he wasnt breaking wind :-) nt

[MethuenProgressive]

9. When he does, his DU supporters inhale deeply.

And then go on post-a-thons about how sweet it was.

[Tellurian]

32. Well, that... and how the topic is ALL about Hillary!

The Obamacans have a hard time staying on point and addressing the facts!

I don't know why! :rofl:

[Buns_of_Fire]

31. That was the way I read it at first. I need new glasses.

"Clinton Campaign Accuses Obama of Breaking Wind" -- followed by...
"Obama Campaign Accuses Clinton of Scratching Armpit" -- followed by...
"Clinton Campaign Accuses Obama of Patting His Own Butt" -- followed by...
"Obama Campaign Accuses Clinton of Picking Her Nose" -- followed by...
"Clinton Campaign Accuses Obama of Having Spinach on His Teeth" -- followed by...
"Obama Campaign Accuses Clinton of Burping During Speech" -- followed by...

May this primary season pass quickly, before they get down to the level of checking each other's underwear.

[Blue State Bandit]

4. Accepting public financing now, would be suicide.

This was before it became public knowledge that Ari Fleisher and 'Freedom's Watch", a republican 527, had a war chest of nearly $150,000,000 (150 mil) to be used against who ever the Democratic nominee turns out to be.

In light of this fact, I would be an idiot to allow Obama to even attempt to run against that kind of opposition on public funds.

If he were to take the nomination in light of this information, what would you have him do?

It would guarantee a republican win. And if I'm not mistaken, Clinton made the same promise. She would have to break that agreement as well. Would that make her a hypocrite?

[Yossariant]

30. You are "mistaken" --- advocating, actually. She did not make Obama's promise

and is, therefore, not accountable for him breaking his promise.

Moveon is a 527, so the Freedomwatch excuse is what it is.

An excuse for a lie.

[Tellurian]

33. No, You are Mistaken.. "MOVEON" is a 501 c (4) ..

It is illegal for a 501 c(3s+4s) to support or become involved in any way with a political candidate of either party during an election. If I were working for the Clintons, I'd insist they report "MOVE-ON: to the IRS and have them SHUT Down and heavily penalized for Violating the spirit and protection afforded Non-Profits as Tax deductible donations and their status as a Non-Taxable Non-Profit.

[Yossariant]

34. Really? LINKS:

MoveOn comprises two legal entities, each organized under a different section of U.S. tax and election laws:

MoveOn.org Civic Action, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, formerly known as MoveOn.org, primarily focuses on education and advocacy on national issues.

MoveOn.org Political Action, a federal political action committee, formerly known as MoveOn PAC, gives contributions to candidates across the country to advance causes in Congress and help elect selected political candidates.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MoveOn

Examples of 527s include Americans for Dr. Rice, Americans for Honesty on Issues, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Texans for Truth, The Media Fund, America Coming Together, the Moveon.org Voter Fund, the Progress for America Voter Fund, United American Technologies, American Right To Life Action and the November Fund.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_group

The Moveon 527, which receives major support from billionaires Peter Lewis and George Soros, is called the Moveon Voter Fund, and has not run any ads in four months, according to Trevor Fitzgibbon of Fenton Communications, which represents Moveon. A third entity, called Moveon.org, is a 501c4 committee and is allowed to do political advocacy work.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0825/p01s02-uspo.html

[Tellurian]

36. Iregardless... MoveOn.org as a 501 c (4) cannot support a political candidate in any election..

Read the IRS Rules on Non-Profits..and whatsmore, as early as a few months ago, they were a 501 c(4) and in reading wiki.. that little factoid seems to have been deleted. I would still insist Moveon.org bears investigation for deceptive trade practices and a violation of the Public Trust!

[Yossariant]

37. Regardless of your insistence, only one of us has provided links.

[Tellurian]

38. Links are not the bone of contention.. the IRS and 501's are..

Try again!

[Yossariant]

39. Wrong. MOVEON IS A 527.

For some bizarre reason, known only to yourself, you intercepted my response to another poster to go off on an unrelated tangent about moveon's 527 status.

I have provided links to show that it is the case, yet still you persist -- and NOW you want to pretend that this is about the IRS.

It is not.

The poster said that Fleischer's 527 is going to help McCain re federal funding.

I said that moveon's 527 is going to help Obama re federal funding.

At this point and on this thread, I have no interest in moveon's tax status.

[bhikkhu]

41. thanks for the info, I had not heard

it puts the decision in a better perspective.

and worse, it suggests a bitter 200 days to come, whoever the nominee is...too much money.

[chascarrillo]

5. That's awful nice for Clinton to be sticking up for McCain like that.

Scorched earth policy, ahoy!

Awful nice for the OP to be sticking up for McCain as well.

[MethuenProgressive]

6. It's all Clinton's fault that Obama lied about this? Is it Cherry Kool Aid tonight?

Keep typing! No, really! Please - keep typing!!

[Name removed]

7. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dchill]

14. My thoughts, exactly.

They will campain together against the upstart Obama, and they will both lose.

[madrchsod]

10. just where is the" lie"?

[MethuenProgressive]

13. See OP. "he made a promise to the American people that he's not keeping"

[krkaufman]

27. Exactly what was his "promise"?

Can you quote that for me, with a reference link?

[SoFlaJet]

12. why should the Clinton campaign care

what the Obama campaign does against John McCain? Are they worried he might out-raise McCain thus ruining their chances at another run in 2012?

[Politicalboi]

15. So I guess

the Clinton's see Obama as the nominee. Have they conceded yet? They should. And you know I think Obama can do it and still win the GE. Clinton couldn't do that. She brings with her "The vast Rightwing conspiracy" Hillary might squeak by a win against McCain but with Obama I think it would be a landslide. Like Clinton/Dole 96

[Tellurian]

35. Obama is just about finished. After the way he's been carrying on imitating his supporters...

Sorry, any gravitas he might have gained during the campaign has just as quickly evaporated now because of the plagiarism scandal. Which will have the effect of eroding and reducing his 2004 speech to nothing more than wild eyed hypocrisy. Seeing Obama premised his entire campaign on his famous speech..."Uniting America". When all Obama has done is act in a divisive unsavory manner with his rival candidates, especially Senator Clinton...and former Senator Edwards..

[cliffordu]

43. Obama finished?

I guess you COULD be right. He only won by 19 points in Wi last night, instead of a full 20. He's slipping.

Lessee....divisive, unsavory....you forgot his obviously substandard hygiene.

Hatred like yours goes beyond political enthusiasm and rivalry and heads into the place where medication is recommended.

Best of luck selling those Hillary shirts, though.

[chascarrillo]

16. So why is this in LBN, exactly?

[JeanGrey]

17. Anytime the Clinton's do this it makes me laugh.

[jamesinca]

18. and what did little Johnny do?

here is the catch "if the Republican opponent were also to agree to do so."

[krkaufman]

28. Yeah, it's pretty clear to anyone who bothered to read beyond ...

... ABC's slanted headline, echoing the Clinton smear rather than highlighting it as such. It's also predicated on Obama being the nominee, so has Clinton dropped her campaign?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

19. two words for Hillary and honesty: Michigan & Florida

never mind her long drawn out history that the media is waiting to rehash 24 X 7

[IndianaGreen]

20. The Clinton campaign is now McCain's megaphone

They are the ones that broke their pledge about Michigan and Florida. They are as shameless as Bush and Nixon combined!

[WinkyDink]

21. Read that fast, and it looks like "wind". :)

[blayne]

24. screw the repubs and whoever want to cry wolf.

I don't care who the nominee is, but if they are a Democrat and are raking in a million dollars a day, then more power to them. We will take being called a hypocrite for a couple hundred million dollars any day; you can call me what ever you want.

[TheWraith]

25. So glad to see Hillary and McCain are synchronizing their talking points now.

[krkaufman]

26. Simple read of the article highlights the fraudulence of the Clinton camp smear ...

... and the OPer's gullibility. ABC headline repeats Clinton smear, but the article clearly states that Obama had said he would "aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election."

I think the safest move is to always take anything said by Wolfson with a pound of salt. The guy's becoming a notorious liar.

[ROakes1019]

29. breaking

I read this to say, "Clinton accuses Obama of breaking wind."

[MilesColtrane]

40. From the New York Times 2/15/2008:

second paragraph...

"On Tuesday, one of Mr. McCain’s advisers told The New York Times that the campaign had decided to forgo public financing in the general election, an awkward admission for a senator who has made campaign finance reform a central part of his political persona."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23179541/

So Obama isn't breaking any promise.

Try again.

[Infinite Hope]

42. They just can't find a message. Ha! They're desperate to force him to take public financing...

just to use it against him and "scare up votes," harming her own party in the process. Mrs. Witch, please drop out of the race and out of the Senate. You don't have a place in MY democratic party anymore.

[Raiden]

44. "Clinton Campaign Accuses Obama of Breaking WIND"

Wow, they are really desperate aren't they...

I had to re-read the heading...:)