Thank You Senator Obama

Much has been made of Senator Obama's decision not to accept public funds for the general election campaign. Ever since he became a candidate he talked at length about the importance of public funds. He thinks we need to get money out of politics.

His decision not to accept public funds has been called a flip flop, hypocrisy and a lie. There is a touch of all those things, but above all it shatters this myth that the government needs to provide the funds and access for candidates. He has been on this bandwagon forever and it hasn't limited the access he has given to shady characters. Look at his circle of friends. It is a motley crue of criminals, terrorists and downright America Haters. Has public financing laws helped that?

The theory is that you need to be rich to get elected. That is true to a certain extent. This is not a good thing, but public finance laws haven't changed that. By passing laws that you cannot use your own money all you will be doing is making sure incumbents will be unopposed. Unknown candidates will not be able to get their message out. That doesn't strike me as an improvement. Incumbents seem to me to be a large part of the problem, not a solution.

Listen closely, we need politicians of both parties that have integrity and a sense of what the constitution calls for. Public financing of campaigns will not accomplish that. Obama recognizes that even he won't publicly admit it.