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McCain Campaign Counsel Denies Obama Campaign Account
June 19, 2008 10:42 AM
In explaining its decision to not enter into the public financing system for the general election, Obama campaign counsel Bob Bauer met with McCain campaign counsel Trevor Potter and, according to Obama spox Bill Burton, Potter "immediately made it clear there was no basis for further discussion," that they weren't interested in any sort of agreement. "McCain and the RNC had spent months raising and spending money for the general election, and their basic attitude was 'You'll catch up,'" Burton says, suggesting that the Republicans were also turning a blind eye to the activities of 527s.
Potter says this account is not factual “This is not true!" Potter says in an email. "I met with Bob Bauer on a different subject (a joint panel we had yesterday in Rhode Island sponsored by the National Assoc. of Attys General) about 10 days ago. During that meeting, he asked what Sen. McCain’s position was on public general election funding, and I said we were for it, and hoped Sen. Obama would participate as well. There was absolutely NO discussion of 'negotiations' about participating—the word was never mentioned. What was odd is that Bob Bauer then made the argument to me that neither candidate needed public funding—that Sen. McCain could raise as much for the general election as Sen. Obama 'within $5 or 10 million.' I responded that Sen. McCain believed in the general election public funding system, and thought it was good for the country.
“So—no discussion of' 'negotiations' and no rejection of negotiations—only a clear statement by me that Sen. McCain hoped both candidates would participate in the system. If they wanted to 'negotiate,' they NEVER mentioned it to me…”
Hmmmm.
- jpt
June 19, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (14)
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p.s. It isn't a lie to say you'll do something if conditions are met and then chose not to do it because conditions weren't met. Obama is the leader of the democratic party and the party honors what he asks of them. Apparently McCain has no leadership ability because he says he's just helpless, and won't even try, to stop the 527 attacks. That was the deal. So no deal. Too bad.
Posted by: karela | Jun 19, 2008 4:29:15 PM
Did y'all catch that nasty little ad from the Tennessee Republican Party that attacked Michelle? Did y'all catch the part where Obama firmly asked 527 to stop and they did but McCain said he wouldn't even try? The republicans were hoping to tilt the field with their fat party fund and their fat 527's and to tie Obama's hands with public funding. Obama is public funded. I funded him out of my grocery money!
Posted by: karela | Jun 19, 2008 4:25:30 PM
John McCain has proven himself over the past few months to be a liar, and a flip-flopper who has changed his mind day after day on issues. John McCain has ZERO credibility, and his staff has zero credibility, and have already been shown to be liars themselves, and add to that that John McCain cannot even control his own party members, who during the primaries were already running negative ads, which McCain could not get them to halt. John McCain has zero power within his own party, and John McCain has NO credibility left.
PROOF: McCain is now against a windfall tax on the oil companies. BUT a month ago McCain said he was willing to consider a windfall tax on the oil companies. During his run for president in 2000, John McCain was against drilling for oil off the coastline, Now McCain is for it. Then there are the Bush tax cuts, which McCain was against - NOW he's for them.
John McCaIn is NOT honest, and John McCain's campaign is NOT HONEST, I DO NOT believe ONE WORD that comes out of John McCain's mouth.
Posted by: Steve | Jun 19, 2008 12:53:56 PM
Please try to remember the
so-called "Fairness Doctrine". Great keep it going Jake!!! Let the congress know how it feels and order them to vote against the "Fairness Doctrine".
Posted by: W2 squared | Jun 19, 2008 12:23:41 PM
Interesting if unsurprising.
None of it changes the fact that Obama changed his original position and is now trying to hide his funding sources to preserve the myth of his being a grassroots campaign financed by small donors.
Cracks are beginning to show in Axelrod's strategies. Again, attack dogs circle back to the hands that held the leash.
Posted by: len | Jun 19, 2008 11:53:53 AM
Obama and his staff lied. I am shocked.
Posted by: Sluggo | Jun 19, 2008 11:28:07 AM
The resolution is simple. McCain's spokesman says McCain wants public financing. Obama's spokesman says McCain doesn't want public financing. Ask McCain and Obama directly if they are willing to go with public financing. By law, neither can control 527's.
Posted by: Buford Gooch | Jun 19, 2008 11:14:01 AM
Aren't there more pressing matters on the planet than trying to report who said what when?
Posted by: kat | Jun 19, 2008 11:06:43 AM
I've seen some 527 ads already; they were pro-Obama from moveon.org
So what's that about having to have enough money to take on the conservative 527s?
Posted by: HoosierSue | Jun 19, 2008 11:06:16 AM
John you are half right...
The Iraqii foreign minister inferred something that would help them keep getting money's and protection from the US...
and then Mccain's lawyer says Obamas lawyer had a conversation with them but their was "no negotiations" ... well if you say you aren't going to take in the 527 groups before negotiations even start and you try to show bravado that mccain can raise the same moneys...
yeah...that would not be a negotiation...
it's not welcome to Chicago politics as much as it is welcome to the republican playbook from 2000 and2004 ...
you know the same "truth tellers" that got us into this situation.
win for the lobbyists at all costs.
that is the republican finance motto.
Posted by: dl | Jun 19, 2008 11:02:50 AM
Yeah McCain's guy is lying. They wanted 527's to do their thing. Mccain still can't/couldn't win if they both took public financing and the 527's were wrung in. He needs the swift boaters to do their thing.
That was the deal breaker...hands down absolutely positive.
Posted by: dl | Jun 19, 2008 10:58:26 AM
Iraq Prim Minister called Obama Liar Yesterday
McCain Campaign Counsel calls Obama liar today.
Welcome to Chicago Politics.
even God can't save this country from falling in the hands of radicals
McCain'08
Posted by: john | Jun 19, 2008 10:57:42 AM
Jake, i ask again why are you not REPORTING on the campaign finance laws that mcbush broke in the primary, which the DNC filed a lawsuit for?
why Jake?
Posted by: johnosahon | Jun 19, 2008 10:54:06 AM
Jake, It seems pretty obvious that McCain is trying to play hardball. They were going to allow the 527s roam free without any deference and they expected Obama to handicap himself in return? That's Naive thinking.
Posted by: Chris | Jun 19, 2008 10:50:31 AM
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