The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[cirquelover]

I'm confused, I know what's new, so can someone help me out with this?!

The news is making a big deal out of Obama not accepting public monies. Is he only allowed one or the other, as in if he takes that money he can't raise his own? Why wouldn't he take money from the general election fund for his campaign that all the nominees are eligible for? Don't they all usually partake in that money?

I am obviously missing some big piece of the puzzle!
Thank you for patience

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by cirquelover

I'm confused, I know what's new, so can someone help me out with this?!

The news is making a big deal out of Obama not accepting public monies. Is he only allowed one or the other, as in if he takes that money he can't raise his own? Why wouldn't he take money from the general election fund for his campaign that all the nominees are eligible for? Don't they all usually partake in that money?

The issue isn't so much whether it's good to take public money or not. The issue is that when you take public money, new campaign finance rules say that you are then limited in how much money you can raise privately. Early in the primaries, when Obama wasn't raising much private money, he said that in a general election, he'd make a deal with his opponent to use the public money and the restricted rules that come with it. Once he started raising boatloads of money, he backed away from that statement saying he'd have to wait and see what kind of deal his opponent was willing to make. Now he seems to be backing away from it entirely.