Edwards flip-flopped on taking public funding

jenmito

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Sat Dec-29-07 08:35 PM
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Edwards flip-flopped on taking public funding

I've seen quite a few Edwards supporters saying they're so impressed with Edwards' "choice" to take matching funds. Every time I point out that he only "chose" it after choosing to FOREGO matching funds, they either change the subject or don't reply at all.

Here's a reminder: "Obama's decision means that none of the three top-tier Democrats will accept public financing if they become their party's nominee -- a first in presidential politics. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and former Sen. John Edwards (N.C.) have previously said they will bypass public financing and the spending limits that go with it. (Background here on Clinton and Edwards.)

All three candidates are now free to accept $4,600 from individual contributors -- $2,300 for the primary and an additional $2,300 for the general election. These higher limits are sure to produce both eye-popping fundraising totals in the first fundraising quarter of the year ... and confusion, as reporters and other observers work to sort out how much of the cash collected is for use in the primary and how much can be spent exclusively in the general."

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/02/obama_to_forego_public_financi.html

But then he not only flip-flopped on his decision, he had the nerve to challenge others to do the same, rather than just admit he didn't raise as much as he expected:

John Edwards said Thursday he will accept public financing for his Democratic presidential primary bid in what some saw as a concession that he cannot keep pace in money raising with his chief Democratic rivals.

"I think it's really important to take a stand," Edwards told CNN while campaigning in New Hampshire. "If you believe in public financing, you ought to be willing to take a stand for public financing."

Edwards urged Hillary Clinton, the New York senator and Democratic front-runner, to follow his lead in accepting public financing, which limits the amount of money a candidate may spend. Edwards' decision comes at a time when when he has increasingly been criticizing the influence of special-interest money in Washington politics.

The former North Carolina senator is the second major presidential candidate to say he will participate in the public financing system. The first was Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

It represents a reversal for Edwards, who in February had announced that he would not participate in the public financing system. Edwards said at the time that he needed "to have the funds to be competitive."

Since then, Edwards' fundraising has been overshadowed by that of Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. New campaign finance reports are due Sunday. As of June 30, Edwards had raised $23 million, compared with $53 million for Clinton and $58 million for Obama.

"I think that is what underdogs do when they are behind in the race for money," said Peter Francia, a political science professor at East Carolina University in Greenville. "They will call on an opponent to take public funding to equalize the playing field. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will be laughing at the suggestion. If it's to their advantage, Clinton and Obama will opt out of the system."

http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/politicians/edwards/story/719104.html

So for all those cheering him on for making the "principled choice" to take matching funds, ask yourself why he didn't MAKE that "choice" 'til it was clear he couldn't raise nearly as much as Obama and Hillary. Is he REALLY taking a stand? Or is he doing what's necessary?!