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The Gay Agenda: Obama refuses public fundingThis week, VisibleVote08.com's Jennifer Vanasco and Jon Mallow discuss Barack Obama's decision to opt out of public funding.
What does this mean for his candidacy, and why has he gone this route? The Gay Agenda June 27, 2008
[Note: the audio on this is low if you aren't using speakers.You might have to crank up the volume!]
Submitted by on June 27, 2008 - 12:00pm. |
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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Obama's honeymoon is over
I agree with Jon on the point that so many of Obama's supporters got caught up in the "Change" wave and forgot that he is a politician. Politicians make moves to try to better their career and win elections (wait, I mean represent the people). The unfortunate repercussion is that gungho Obama supporters may lose some of their fervor.
On another note, Obama is facing a much heftier smear campaign than McCain. Fox News is doing there darndest. Have you hear about "the terrorist fist jab"? Type it into youtube and catch that lovely gem.
you've got to be fucking
you've got to be fucking kidding me.
"terrorist fist jab"? Well, I guess I need to turn in a bunch of my U.S. Navy buddies. Add some Marines, Soldiers, and Coast Guard dudes I know. I'd include Air Force but I don't think I've ever seen them touch each other.
FOX "News"
LMAO!
terrorist fist jab!!
Where the hell have these people been for the past 12 years?
I got a dick like a mule...with a big dick.
I'm bummed.
Of Course Obama is a politician
Of course Obama is a politician. That was apparent from the start. A quintessential Chicago politician. What politician is going to use public funding when they can raise $287,397,945 on their own? Why is everyone so surprised? I hope people aren't that naive.
I'm curious why you didn't read the etc... That etc included a lot of conditions. That etc. was the justification for him to do whatever he wanted to do. He covered his ass when he made that promise by basically being as vague as possible
How are you 'bilking' people who are freely donating to your campaign? I personally like his grassroots campaigning. That's the way it should be. Interesting that you would suggest his donors are being taken advantage of.
Truth is, Obama is going to have to do everything he can to win... or else he's not going to win.
Public funding isn't going to stop lobbyist. period. All I want is a nice list of all his donors. Then I have a better idea of who I'm dealing with.
McCain, on the other hand... Isn't the DNC trying to investigate him for his public funding dealings? http://mediamatters.org/items/200806200011
Here's a better explanation of what is happening.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy5iykNo1eI
Absolutely
I think people who weren't Obama supporters in the beginning constantly misjudge and misunderstand the reasons that some of us were.
It's much easier to pat people on the head and say, "oh, honey, you just didn't know," as if we're all naive little waifs, seduced by his words and that catchy "Yes We Can" song.
It'd be funny if it wasn't so damn insulting.
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Geoffrey: You fool! As if it matters how a man falls down.
Richard: When the fall is all that is left, it matters a great deal.
- The Lion in Winter
oh, my bad
Yes, politicians lie and
Yes, politicians lie and make promises they really don't intend to keep. When they get into office they tend to do what benefits themselves; regardless of what their constituents want. I hope anyone who follows politics for even a short amount of time realizes this.
There's a difference between lying and illegal. A candidate is required by law to give names of donors above $50 dollars. Citizen watch groups are watching these dudes like hawks. You can find donor lists all over the web. If you suspect they are not disclosing then you should contact the FEC.
Nothing is going to stop lobbyist from having influence in a campaign or during a term in office. That's the nature of the game; public funding or not.
re: yes, politicians lie
too bad Nader doesn't have a
WTF?
Empty suit Obama
Obama's whole campaign was about returning power to average Americans and taking it away from the control of corporations and big money. This also was the purpose behind McCain/Feingold finance reform. But now, because the end always justifies the means for Obama, he suddenly doesn't care where he gets the money - just so he gets the money.
Jon, I try not to make personal attacks, but you push me to the limit. Grow up and stop looking and behaving like Pee Wee Herman. Stand for something! Live for integrity. You have stated here, while shifting your eyes about and grinning like a snake, that you also don't care how he gets the money. You are the problem!! How are you any different than sleazy Bush? This is not change.
When Obama said "Change," he meant that he would change his mind on every position.
No Change
Say what?
His campaign financing hasn't changed. His campaign will be financed now, as it was in the Democratic primary: by an army of small donors and with no money from lobbyists or political action committees. He's made the same changes to the Democratic National Committee. That base of his campaign--of returning power to average Americans and taking it away from the control of corporations and big money--have not changed.
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Geoffrey: You fool! As if it matters how a man falls down.
Richard: When the fall is all that is left, it matters a great deal.
- The Lion in Winter
oh please!
Full Disclosure
I don't think the split that John referenced is accurate, but there's no denying that bundlers have had an impact. According to a Washington Post article ("Big Donors Among Obama's Grassroots" is worth a read): "donors who have given more than $200 account for about half of Obama's total haul." Comparatively, John McCain gets 76 percent of his money from donors who give more than $200.
Both McCain and Obama have released names of their bundlers (Obama's list is here, courtesy of the Chicago Sun-Times), but recently campaign finance watchdog groups have asked the campaigns to release more information about their donor base (both large and small).
-----
Geoffrey: You fool! As if it matters how a man falls down.
Richard: When the fall is all that is left, it matters a great deal.
- The Lion in Winter
Wrong
If you are not for making personal attacks ...
Then don't make one. You could have made a point without making a personal attack. I had no idea people are not allowed to change their minds. If that's the case then all of us are wrong. We all change our ideas over time or situations.
A Democrat with Strategic Common Sense
Finally, there's a democrat with strategic common sense. Enough with democrats who do not know how to win. I am so glad Obama is not participating in "public financing". His campaign is going to need all the money it can get to pull off a win in November, and we are a long way from there.
My perceptions about public financing over the years have been lukewarm. The concept is a double-edged sword. Public financing is only good if certain conditions are met: a very limited time-frame for actual campaigning; rules regarding public financing that cannot be finagled; equal access to the same media venues; a mainstream news media made up of hardcore journalists, not propagandists (I could go on and on about this); a general public well-educated about American and world civics (a basic grounding in the American state papers); uniform/standardized laws nationwide that address voting, voter registration, and party affiliation.
I just don't see how government controlled public financing is a moral value. It's a tool not a value in itself.
however much
there may be some flip flopping on finance reform and the like in this election you gotta hand it to obama and his campaign for the spot of political genius!
If a candidate takes public funding they are only allowed to recieve a certain amount of public funding (and it's a low figure in relative). If however they refuse public funding they are allowed unlimited funding from private donors...and is this isn't Ralph Nader's campaign therer will be no short supply of private donors queuing up to put in the claim that they funded the first black president's campaign.
However much this might not look so good for Obama on campaign finance reform and how it might look like a dirty trick (which it kinda is) you gotta give it to him for a political decision that could give him enough money to run the election!
I personally don't agree with what he's doing as i hate the way American elections are controlled by budget! But then again i'm from England where there are strict limits on budgets for election campaigns!
~~~~
"laugh, laugh on at all the dreams that i the dreamer dare to weave,
laugh on, that i sitll belive in the people, for I still belive in life"
Brilliant!
Hey guys,
I think it's brilliant that there is a political vlog on afterellen with a gay slant so well done first off.
But as an interested but not completely clued in gal I was a little unsure why you were outraged as i didn't know much about the merits or otherwise of public finding!
So thanks to YAEL above for that information about the limits (it totally helped me understand) and to you vloggers please sort out your volume and maybe try 'explain the rage' a little more!
But kudos to you both and keep the vlogs coming, engaging people in the political process is an excellent way to spend some of your day.
not really about the financing for me .
I don't belong to either political party.
Simply because I cannot stomach the hypocrisy on both sides. While I might agree with the rank-and-file democrats as to where they stand on most issues...I cannot ever stomach the "win at any cost" or the "ends justifies the means" mentality that steers both political ships. I think we will not see any improvement in how the US government is run unless at least one other political party gains in power equal to the democrats and republicans.
The Dems and Reps have
The Dems and Reps have cornered the market on politics. We all know a vote for a third candidate is a wasted vote.
The other candidates don't have a chance because the media ignores them (unless they're scoffing at them).
Most voters aren't going to take the time to research other candidates besides the ones that are being shoved down their throats everyday.
Most importantly, They don't have enough money to campaign. In most all elections, the candidate who spends the most money wins. I would define our government as a plutocracy; no matter who gets into office, the wealthy are the ones who really control this country.
I wish we had run-off voting so I could at least vote my conscience instead of voting for the lesser evil.
to be honest
I used to
527s and "Swiftboating"
527s on the Republican side have a lot more money, and they're willing to play a lot more dirtier than the ones on the Democrat side.
John Kerry didn't have enough money to respond to the whole "swiftboat" thing. McCain can take public financing while the 527s use unlimited unregulated funds to launch attacks on Obama, and the FEC will be two slow to do anything about it.
I'm glad Obama is raising loads of money. I think he's going to need a lot on hand to instantly respond to whatever the Republican 527s and Fox throw at him. And I think it's a lot cleaner that his campaign directly responds instead of MoveOn.org.
Whenever an Obama supporter outside Obama's campaign and control is vocal, he gets the blame. Whenever someone outside McCain's campaign is vocal...eh..
Obama's campaign is going to have to be louder than his own more radical supporters....'cause the news eats that crap up and they like to play it in continuous loops for weeks.