FAIR: Two Standards on Public Financing

[NattPang]

Two Standards on Public Financing

(plenty of chapters before and after the ones below, but I can only copy 4 of them here)

While Obama has been thus disparaged for his "flip-flop," the media have largely ignored McCain's reversal on the same issue-–a reversal which may have actually been illegal. Early in his campaign, McCain pledged to accept public financing for the primary elections, but on February 6 he reversed his decision. According to the Washington Post (2/16/08), in November McCain took out a $3 million loan, using his forthcoming public money as collateral.

Under Federal Elections Commission (FEC) regulations, the Post reported, a candidate who uses the promise of public funds as collateral is legally bound to stay within the public financing system. On February 25, the Democratic National Committee filed an FEC complaint against McCain, charging him with violating spending limits (Politico, 2/24/08; Media Matters, 6/26/08)--a move that attracted minimal media interest.

Media Matters (6/26/08) noted that outlets including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, Fox News' Special Report and CNN have omitted mention of McCain's loan when quoting his criticism of Obama's "flip-flop":


This is a big deal. It's a big deal. He has completely reversed himself and gone back not on his word to me, but the commitment that he made to the American people. That's disturbing.


While most mainstream media have paid little attention to McCain's turn-around on public financing in the primaries, more coverage has been given to his "flip-flops" on offshore oil drilling and Bush's tax cuts. But while Obama's campaign finance decision was pronounced "emblematic of his uncanny ability to renege on promises, brush off transgressions as if they were unimportant, and prevaricate with an ease that inspires marvel" (USNews.com, 6/20/08), McCain's "flip-flops" are frequently explained away, or even viewed as evidence of his moral character. The Miami Herald (7/2/08) argued:


John McCain and Barack Obama have been accused of flip-flops recently. However, there is a significant difference: McCain changed his position on drilling off our coasts in order to make a difference in our dependence on foreign oil and as an extra safeguard for our nation. Obama changed his stance and rejected public funding for his presidential campaign to benefit himself.

more: http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3569

[AZBlue]

1. Media bias is out of control this year. It seems to be the biggest obstacle we face.

[NattPang]

3. We are the biggest obstacle we face,

then the media.

We point to the flaws,
and they snatch them up
and blow them into epic
porportion.

Meanwhile, McCain gets off
scott free, because no one
is holding him accountable.

When McCain wins, he will be
accountable to no one.

And we will be mistified
as to why, like Bush,
he will act without inpugnity.

We are creating the monster,
but the monster belongs to the
other party.

[chimpymustgo]

2. This is a very good point. McCain's getting away with murder on this one.

[NattPang]

5. He's getting away with murder on a whole lot

[SemiCharmedQuark]

4. GREAT article.

K&R.

[NattPang]

6. But no one is outraged.