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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAxelrod: Obama's Not A 'Hypocrite' For Accepting Super PAC Money (updated)
Obama campaign senior strategist David Axelrod told MSNBC Tuesday morning that the president is not a "hypocrite" for agreeing to accept super PAC money. The president and his campaign have spoken out against the unlimited corporate financing now allowed in political campaigns, but Axelrod said Tuesday that the campaign cannot "play by two sets of rules."
"We have to live in a world as it is, not how we want it to be," Axelrod said.
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/axelrod-obamas-not-hypocrite-for-accepting-super-pac
Republicans would love to have the financial advantage as Mitt Romney did in the GOP Florida primary. It's the reason they're 100 percent behind Citizens United.
Updated to add:
By Steve Benen
<...>
The general spin on this story so far has been that Obama's position has shifted -- he opposed the court rulings that cleared the way for these super PACs; he'd prefer that the outside groups not exist, and yet he's now urging financial backers to invest in an allied super PAC anyway.
<...>
The question, then, is whether the president and his allies are prepared to fight fire with fire. As of today, the answer appears to be "yes."
Indeed, Jim Messina argued overnight that the Obama campaign just doesn't have a choice.
But this cycle, our campaign has to face the reality of the law as it currently stands.
He added that Republican super PACS, in aggregate, are "expected to spend half a billion dollars, above and beyond what the Republican nominee and party are expected to commit to try to defeat the President." That may sound like hyperbole, but it's a reasonable estimate. The Koch brothers alone are prepared to spend $100 million later this year to defeat Obama.
Under these circumstances, the Democrats' move is easy to understand: they didn't want the post-Citizens United changes to the system, but they're stuck with them nevertheless. In this case, Dems simply intend to play by the rules -- rules they don't like, rules they wish were different, rules they'd gladly change, but the rules nevertheless.
- more -
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/07/10339851-democrats-cant-be-unilaterally-disarmed
Enrique
(27,461 posts)after promising he would take it.
Imo Obama is terrible on money in politics.
Imo Obama is terrible on money in politics.
I believe he has been following his words to most expectations.
Small-Dollar Donors Propel Barack Obama, Non-Romney Republicans
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002256633
OpenSecrets: Obama Campaign Refunding Donations By Federal Lobbyists
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002230824
mmonk
(52,589 posts)"Then why mention it?"
...not? The decision is drawing criticism. It's time to fight fire with fire. Republicans want the advantage. It's bad enough they get away with running the type of ads they do. In fact, it's bad enough they have Fox Noise.
mmonk
(52,589 posts)all the politicians start using it.
"Well I don't know how we're going to get rid of it once all the politicians start using it."
...do it.
http://www.barackobama.com/news/entry/we-will-not-play-by-two-sets-of-rules
Campaign finance reform is still an issue. I should add, the DISCLOSE Act was strongly opposed by the ACLU, giving Republicans a unusual ally. It's going to be up to public pressure and Democrats to get this done.
Response to ProSense (Original post)
Post removed
nanabugg
(2,198 posts)be disadvantaged by them. Go for it, I say!
greytdemocrat
(3,299 posts)Would a Pol of either Party turn away from $$$?? Come on.
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)"Americans not scared of Obama's re-election," which you posted here some time ago.
More sellout to the corporate status quo after pretty words he didn't mean. Again. And how enraging that it isn't even surprising anymore.
But mmonk upthread makes the most important point: We will never get rid of this garbage when every politician sells out and runs with it.
Occupy.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"Americans not scared of Obama's re-election," which you posted here some time ago.
...more stupid irrelevant comments based on distortions. Get over it!
rusty fender
(3,428 posts)It's not a contradiction if the President says it isn't.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"Pres. Nixon: "It's not illegal if the President does it. It's not a contradiction if the President says it isn't."
...this is legal and making a smart decision isn't against the law.
No doubt this is upsetting to Republicans.
rusty fender
(3,428 posts)I was illustrating the phenomenon that, as POTUS, men believe that whatever they do is right; and when they reverse position, it isn't a flip-flop. It's called hubris, look it up.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)I was illustrating the phenomenon that, as POTUS, men believe that whatever they do is right; and when they reverse position, it isn't a flip-flop. It's called hubris, look it up.
...there is "flip-flop" and there is being flexible. It's not "hubris" to be flexible when weighing decisions that will impact millions of lives.
It's like the Iraq war. What was needed years ago was a "flip-flop" by Bush. Instead, he decided to "stay the course."
I consider this an important decision. The direction of the country is at stake. In fact, lives are at stake.
In this case, what you consider a "flip-flop" and "hubris," I consider a smart move.
librechik
(30,678 posts)however wrong the rule is, without being forced out of the game. That is what the RWers raising this issue want.
One thing I would do if I were Axelrod, is to make sure to mention EVERY TIME that this is all because of the SCOTUS and Citizens United and the decision was terrible for America and it needs to be changed.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Go get 'em...
11:13 AM (24 minutes ago)
to me
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