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McCain: Obama Went Back On His Commitment to the American People

June 19, 2008 4:29 PM

“This is a big deal, a big deal,” Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., told reporters today in eastern Iowa. But he wasn't talked about the floods in this instance, he was referring to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, breaking his promise on opting into the public financing system for the general election.

"He has completely reversed himself and gone back, not on his word to me, but the commitment he made to the American people," McCain said, per ABC News' Bret Hovell.

“Sen. Obama's reversal on public financing is one of a number of reversals that he has taken," he said. "I'm especially disturbed by this decision of Sen. Obama's because he signed his name on a piece of paper, signed his name...This election is about a lot of things but it's also about trust. It's also about whether you can take people's word.”

McCain told reporters he had not yet made a decision about what his campaign would do in light of Obama’s decision.

- jpt

June 19, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (159)

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Obama is a CHAMELEON, changes his words to fit the occasion. In the 2004 election that was known as a "flip-flop".

But no amount of money or election fraud tactics will get him elected...he out spent Hillary and still fell behind her in popular vote. Had the Hillary campaign realized the third world electoral fraud tactics that occurred in the caucuses or had federal agents been summoned earlier (as done in SD and MN)the DNC would not have been able to fraud their way into picking Obama as the nominee. No amt. of $ will get him past the Republicans....there aren't bound by party loyalty like the Clintonites.

Posted by: rw | Jun 20, 2008 7:53:36 AM

Obama probably could have gone with the public financing, BUT... OBAMA HAS LEARNED THAT HE IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE THAT HAS TO FIGHT OFF THE RACIST SMEARS in addition to running a campaign.

Every dollar I contribute to the Obama campaign is well-spent if it helps fight racism!

Obama 08!

Posted by: World Peace | Jun 20, 2008 6:43:08 AM

Why on earth would Senator Obama agree to restrict his fund raising while the RNC and 527's raise and spend millions to slime him with the kind of stuff we saw during the North Carolina primary? It'd be like going into a fight with one hand tied behind your back. The Obama campaign and Democrats are not going to allow a repeat of the sleaze that the Rebublicans pulled in 2000, 2002, and 2004. There will be punch back on slime like "Purple Heart Bandaids" and having Senator Cleland's face morph into Saddam's and Osama's.

I'd think those of you who are calling Obama a socialist, a Marxist, a crook, etc. would be grateful that he's not spending your $85 million. Those of us who support him are happily spending our own.

Posted by: Brooklyn Democrat | Jun 20, 2008 6:37:28 AM

Obama's campaign will be finance by regular Folks like me who had never given a dime to a politian before Barack. NO LOBBYIST MONEY, NO PAC MONEY, NO 527 SMEARING PLEOPLE. YES, AMERICAN PEOPLE SUPPORTING THEIR CANDIDATES!!
**************************************
Never given a dime to a politician, huh?

Hmmm, where do you think the money comes from to pay our President? Our Congresspeople?

Hate to tell you but you along with all other taxpayers have been giving your money to politicians for a long time.

Posted by: None of the Above 08 | Jun 20, 2008 5:06:17 AM

Barack Obama is the exact opposite of everything he pretends to be.

He has written letters urging grants of taxpayer money to financial contributors.

He engaged in a crooked real estate deal that netted him a $300,000 financial benefit.

He is saying mean and untruthful things about his opponent when he previously pretended to support ending negative politics.

Now he is taking money from the rich and special interests hand over fist when he pretended to be against that.

Obama is a fraud.

This election is not about "passion". Obama's passion is written by speech writers and read off of teleprompters. It is phony just like Barack Obama is.

Posted by: dfl | Jun 20, 2008 2:54:09 AM

Yahoo search is not a valid measure of a candidate's truthfulness.

But since you brought it up: Google search shows McCain lies 1,040,000 and Obama lies 708,000.

Posted by: cincyr | Jun 20, 2008 1:55:10 AM

And McCain has not reversed himself on any of the issues?

Here's the short list of things he was for but now against or was against but now is for: Offshore drilling, windfall profits tax on oil companies, immigration policy, Roe v. Wade, warrantless-wiretap program, privatizing Social Security, the estate tax, prohibiting waterboarding, gay marriage, Bush's tax cuts, ethanol, the Law of Sea convention, and the DREAM Act, to name a few.

I think I prefer an Obama reversal on public financing. He made the right move. When he is President, he will be obligated to the people who put him there with their measly incomes and not to the special interests.

Posted by: cincyr | Jun 20, 2008 1:43:22 AM

Obama is an unprincipled hypocrite. He can't be trusted to tell the truth about anything. He was deceptive in making a promise that he never intended to keep.

The DNC has a lawsuit against McCain to keep him from doing exactly what Obama is doing now, not accepting public financing. This is how Obama always runs his campaigns - using the rules to trip up his opponents. He is a real con artist.

Posted by: rckinglets | Jun 20, 2008 1:19:50 AM

mary: "Yahoo Search showed 47,900,000 OBAMA LIES tonight. Now it is 47,900,001 Lies with his latest flip-flop about using public campaign funds.
Wonder how many lies on the books by GE day?

49,200,000 when I just checked.

Posted by: cappamore | Jun 20, 2008 12:39:47 AM

"I didn't really love America until I was deprived of her company."


How beautiful!


This war hero who had gone to war to defend his country didn't realize the significance and depth of his feelings for America until he was imprisoned and barred from her.

John Mccain has supported his country both in the armed forces and the senate for over forty years!

He put his life on the line for us!

I have but one thing to say to the Obamaniacs:

There are now 18,000,000 holes in that teflon vest! The dirt in which Obama has immersed himself has begun to stick!

His lies are building a one-way stairway headed down to the cellar....


COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY!!!


Posted by: eyes WIDE open | Jun 20, 2008 12:38:25 AM

Your information is wrong. Obama had previously said that he would investigate the possibility of using the public financing route only if an agreement could be reached with the republican nominee. Part of this agreement would have been to control the outrageous behavior of the 527 organizations. Obama has requested and received the cooperation of the Democratic leaning 527's to this point and McCain has done nothing to even make the effort towards the republican 527's. McCain breached any possible agreement by his own weakness and inaction

Posted by: WashingtonG | Jun 20, 2008 12:36:28 AM

Yahoo Search showed 47,900,000 OBAMA LIES tonight. Now it is 47,900,001 Lies with his latest flip-flop about using public campaign funds.
Wonder how many lies on the books by GE day?

Posted by: Mary | Jun 19, 2008 11:33:23 PM

McCain is calling Obama out on this because he knows the type of money Obama can raise and the type of money he [McCain] CAN'T raise.

Posted by: Vanessa | Jun 19, 2008 11:32:56 PM

Hey Libs - do you want to discuss Obama's military record??

Posted by: Jimbo | Jun 19, 2008 11:07:02 PM

No McCain!!!!!!

Because of your low-life party, Obama needs 180 million dollars to fight the smear machines already cranked up and at full throttle. So much so Obama has to set up a website to fight the rnc on every front.

Note to RNC et al. ... You are not dealing with a Gore or a Kerry. You never saw this before. You will be confused ... just like your senile candidate

Posted by: Omentum | Jun 19, 2008 11:02:16 PM

Unbelievable....

Do you mean to tell me a decorated navy man from a long list of war hero's did not love his country only until someone captured him. Did it take torture to turn the love light on for McCain.

HE SAID IT HOW MANY TIMES?!?!?!?!

Operation chaos don't have nothing on this.

Posted by: Brush Lintball | Jun 19, 2008 11:00:05 PM

Obama signed a pledge that he would stay with public funding AND NOW HE BACKS AWAY??? TALK ABOUT FLIP-FLOP!!

Posted by: Jimbo | Jun 19, 2008 10:57:59 PM

Obama- No experience, no military, socialist/Marxist, plenty of negative baggage - THIS MAN IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF THIS COUNTRY........ UNBELIEVIABLE!!!!

Posted by: Jimbo | Jun 19, 2008 10:51:37 PM

I didn't really love America until I was deprived of her company?

rutro!!!!!


A sworn under oath navy officer in the us military with a family of war hero's didn't love his country......

rutro!!!!!

Posted by: Brush Lintball | Jun 19, 2008 10:39:17 PM

Amazing.... The Soviets had almost gotten their wish - if only they had hung on for another 20 years - OBAMA WOULD HAD GIVEN THEM ANOTHER SATELITE! OBAMA - THE SOCIALIST - MARXIST!!!

Posted by: Jimbo | Jun 19, 2008 10:31:24 PM

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