On September 5, the Federal Election Commission gave the John McCain campaign committee a check for $84,103,800. For the first time in U.S. history, only one candidate is receiving general election funding. Barack Obama was eligible for an equal amount, but his campaign declined the money.
The only instances at which any presidential campaigns, other than the Democratic and Republican campaigns, received general election funding, were 1980 and 2000. John Anderson’s campaign received his general election funding after the 1980 election, based on his 7% showing. The Reform Party received general election funding in 2000 based on its 1996 showing of 8%.
Another way to look at it is media companies receive a lot of the $84,103,800 for mostly negative campaign advertising.
Doesn’t hold a cnadle to the millions that Obama has used to spread lies, misinformation and the multimillions that the media have given Obama for free. Most of Obama’s negative ads have been freebies from the adoring media. Obama lied upfront by saying he would accept the limited funds, but in the end Hollywood and foreign donations and Soros just looked to good.
Macacain will abolish pork barrel spending and all the corruption in Washington and Wall Street…and this seems like a good begining! (Dripping sarcasm)
Where does this money come from? Is it just from the check off or is it tax dollars?
The federal tax checkoff IS federal dollars. When a federal income tax payer checks the box “Yes” to send $3 to the public funding campaign fund, the amount of taxes owed by that taxpayer does not increase. The money comes out of the US treasury.
The way I see it, Obama’s decision means $84 millon fewer taxpayer dollars being wasted on Machiavellian politics, and that’s just fine by me. I might feel differently if Obama’s money was coming from corporate fat-cats, but most of his donations are small, voluntary contibutions from every-day people…the way it should be.