Author Of McCain-Feingold: Obama Smart To Opt Out Of Public Funds

One of the principal authors of the most significant campaign finance legislation since Watergate said he was neither "outraged" nor "surprised" with Barack Obama's decision to forgo public funding in the general election.

Norm Ornstein, a fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute and substantial contributor to the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act -- also known as the "McCain-Feingold" campaign finance legislation -- said on Thursday that Obama's move was "pragmatically the right decision to make," and that, if the Senator had not chosen that path, "I would have sued him for political malpractice."

"What I told a bunch of people a few weeks ago," said Ornstein, "is that while it would be nice if he decided he felt honor bound to stay within the system and take the money, if he did so I might join a group of people who sued him for political malpractice. When you have the ability to raise the kind of money that he could raise and do it without selling your soul to spend all the time between now and the election on fundraisers, your goal is to win an election and not turn your back on the people voting. There will be outraged editorials and McCain will be justifiably pissed. But it was pragmatically the right decision for him to make."

Orstein told The Huffington Post that he had advised the Obama campaign about the issue of public finance a "long time ago" but not as the decision approached. "I don't think it was a slam dunk decision six months ago, in part because people didn't have any idea what kind of reach he could have, how many people he could bring into his camp."

In defending Obama, Orstein became the sole author of McCain-Feingold to offer sympathy for a position that, at least in the spirit, goes against the purpose of the campaign finance legislation. McCain, unsurprisingly, called Obama's pronouncement "a big deal."

"He has completely reversed himself and gone back, not on his word to me, but the commitment he made to the American people," said the Senator.

While Feingold, a stalwart champion of public funds, expressed a slightly less outraged sense of disappointment.

"This is not a good decision," said the Wisconsin Democrat. "While the current public financing system for the presidential primaries is broken, the system for the general election is not. The entire system must be updated."

Comments

[Suthngal]

JM needs all the welfared political contributions he can muster up. As a Republican I wouldn't send JM a damn dime. He's not worthy.

[KarateKid]

Let all the Republicans like KBRA howl away; it cracks me up and makes my day. They are acting like they just went to the proctologist and got a colonoscopy with a screwdriver.

1.6 million donors and counting; and most of us are not close to maxing out yet, either. McCain is only beginning to feel the tidal wave forming. Wait until after the convention.

No amount of mudslinging is going to work. The crybabies know the American people are ticked off at the failed conservative era. All they can do is whine and insult, while their guy flip flops daily to try to attrract a new audience. I'm predicting the Republican base will stay home this November.

Bye bye, Contract with America. R.I.P.

[TurnThePageGA]

I just hit $400 yesterday.

[Mygirl]

Sound like some people can't sleep and are up hitting the hooch. I think Obama made the right decision.

[Freesia2]

I've puzzled over this all day and then I just read an article on another site where the author kept referencing 527s and highlighting his view of how - to date - the Republicans haven't done any major 527 hits against Obama.

But the fact is, it was only weeks ago that the Tennessee GOP filmed and tried their best to air a smear on Michelle Obama. The only reason the ad didn't get coverage to speak of was because the tv stations themselves declined to air it. Hats off to them, because McCain more or less refused to forcefully get involved in stopping it. Actually, even as the presumptive leader of his party - I recall he was more or less told by Tennessee Republicans that they'd do as they pleased. That was a big clue for how he would, or even could, control matters during the general election.

And I think Obama could see an endless of Autumn of millions of dollars of McCains idea of "public financing" and he made a decision not to play ball. It may or may not have been a decision he hoped to make ultimately, but it was the right decision. If McCain played like this during primary season - it would have been a regular championship season of McCain 527s with Obama benched by public finance and his personal commitment to not using 527s. .

He made the right decision.

[HansB]

That's exactly it. Public financing is great, but only in the absence of 527s. Otherwise the playing field isn't level. Still, Obama has always known that the Republicans have the 527 advantage, and he made a mistake when he promised to accept public funds.

[tylerwest]

I think he's smart to opt out of public funding too. The sooner the american people can see what a fraud this guy is... the better we all will be. His words -- mean nothing. He's not for peace, he will lead this country to it's ultimate destruction.

[KarateKid]

I agree, tyler. McCain would be bad news for America, and it WOULD lead to its ultimate destruction.

[Softnsweet]

tylerwest.

You may as well leave now then! Cya!

[lvdragonlady]

tylerwest you are either a troll or a republican wannabe........
take a chill pill and stop the lies you moron.

[HerbTee]

This is all much to do about nothing. If BO can get his money from the private donations of American citizens rather than large corporations, PACs, rich people, the taxpayers and lobbyist influences, then let him.

For you Clinton-certified BO haters and Repugnicans who are lambasting BO because he won't take Federal campaign money, you really need to do your research. In fact, Keith Obermann and Howard Fineman did an excellent blow-by-blow expose on "Countdown" tonight and broke this campaign financing issue down extremely well. It appears McCain is just "gaming" the system. McCain took Federal money when he needed it, then tried to back out when he was nominated. But now that his coffers are running dry of donations, he wants to accept Federal funds again and is pressuring BO to do the same. He's been flip-flopping on these issues for nearly a year.

What is it with some of you people anyway? You people want BO to expose himself on a "fair" playing field with Repugs? So that when they come after him later with the 527 attack groups, BO can run out of public money fighting smears? No freaking way...not this time Repugs!! BO supporters are not going to allow him to be 527 "swift-boated" out of this election like the Repugs did to John Kerry!!

BO should take every dime his supporters are willing to donate. For the Repug BO haters and remaining embittered Clinton supporters...let them eat cake!

[Seattlelite]

Thanks HerbTree. I saw that show as well. Obermann was the ONLY media person today to tell the entire story. Chris Matthews did his best to spin this story in a way to attack Sen. Obama's character.

[Softnsweet]

HerbTee,

Well said!

[HerbTee]

Thanks Softnsweet and Seattlelite. I think we know what time it is...at least BO supporters know. We can see what's going on with the Repugs and what they're trying to do. I try not to give in to conspiracy theories easily. But in this case, the Repugs are definitely trying hard to set BO up! They're trying to appeal to BO's positive and honorable side...for him to stick to a campaign finance agreement that McCain and the Repugs have no intention of honoring themselves. If BO takes this public finance money, the 527 attack groups, funded outside the McCain campaign by the rich, the corporations and special interest groups, will immediately go after him.

They'll attack and smear BO and MO so much that he'll use much of his public funds defending themselves against the attacks. Once BO exhausts his public funds, the dirty dog Repugs will close in on him for the kill. All the while, McCain uses his public funds to campaign hard against BO, keeping his hands "clean" while the 527 attack groups do his dirty work.

But we're on to them this time! NO public campaign financing for BO...his supporters will take care of him financially. Our joint outrage should indicate that, the more the Repugs attack and smear BO and MO, the more his supporters will donate to his campaign to fight them tooth and nail! Let's get ready to rumble BO supporters...this is WAR!!

[maxwellinformed]

I believe the majority of American's who don't hang on Rush Limpballs every word understand what's going on.

[HerbTee]

Good point Max.

[aasesq]

Main stream media is a joke. Why are they pretending that they are astonished and appalled that Obama has opted out of public funding instead of sticking with his pledge of using it. If he had to depend on public funding, there is no way that he would be able to take on the 527 attack ads by the far right. For those of you who think that reneging on his prior pledge is less than statesmanship, I am reminded where statesmanship got us in the Gore/Bush race. I continue to believe that if Gore would not have capitulated to the republicans, he would have won and there would be four thousand soldiers alive today.

[HansB]

And a million Iraqi civilians.

[MizFlagPin]

Aren't we the people the public? As in not corporations. As in citizens of this country. The MSM have fallen off the cliff talking about O will not accept public financing as they know it. Yet, he is receiving public funding from us, remember us MSM, you know us . . . citizens commonly referred to you all as consumers . . . we the people aka public.

[AuntSam]

As Rep. Clyburn pointed out today - Obama was right to refuse the 'public financing' as his campaign is driven by the $10-$50 contributions from people of all states that represent all ethnic groups, males and females, old and young, agnostics to evangelicals.
For the first time, these voters are feeling empowered and vested in the election for the POTUS - largely because it's the combination of all their small donations that will pay for the ads and other costs normally funded by lobbyists, the rich and big business.
Obama's campaign received many communications from middle and even low income voters asking him to reject the public financing option. For them. They wanted it to be their dollars to provide the foundation for - this time, this candidate.
"WE, THE PEOPLE, ....."

[cincyr]

Obama made the right decision. I have donated to the Obama campaign and when you do that, you feel like you own a part of the campaign. When Obama becomes president, he will be obligated to the American people who financed his campaign and not to the special interests.

[Softnsweet]

cincyr,

So true!

[Dane1911]

Just cant believe the media is making this sh*** a story..., they are bringing round table discussions...lol...Obama sure do get people taking.....lol....You do what you do Obama, I trust you in every move you make, and guesss what the republicans never had a Democratic Nominee like you. You have them shaking in their seats....I am proud that we have a candidate that represent us and have confidence, strength, courage and most of all will power to handle the Republicans but to do it with class......

[buckygreen]

Join the fun and make a matching donation now. Almost 40000 new contributors.

http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

Obama/Webb 08

[afgail]

The perfect out come would be a publicly underfunded McCain campaign vs a well financed small donor Obama campaign. Warms the cockles of my heart.

[Seattlelite]

Obama's capability to raise money in this non traditional way is scaring the crap out the republicans! I love it!! It's payday for me tomorrow, time to send my donation!!

[kittyma]

Obama is a liberal. He is liberating the American people and government from the shackles of the big corporations. Long live a free America!

[tedbear]

This just slays me. All evening on the cable news stations its been all about Obama changing his mind, breaking his word about public financing.

Has everyone forgotten McCain has been all around the world of financing. First public finance because he was broke. Then he got backed by the wealthy and didn't want public funding. Now he is going at Obama for deciding to decline it because he is getting all the money he needs from the American public in $25 increments. What a crock, McCain. He cannot even keep what he is told to say straight, and cannot remember what he said yesterday. (and I am not referring to his age, he doesn't have the brains to grasp what is going on, he is riding on his "war record." which makes no sense since we are in a "so called" war we all want out of)

[MizFlagPin]

McC was threatened with an investigation for his attempted miuse of public financing.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/14/dnc-files-lawsuit-against_n_96513.html

[KMKY]

--Contributor to does not equal author of--certainly Mr Stein knows that.

[bwither]

Newsflash: 1.5 million donors IS a publicly financed campaign.

[kittyma]

Thank you! That is the point!.

When this was first considered the concept of a 1.5 million small donor funded campaign with no PAC's or lobbyist money was not even conceived far less considered. He has changed politics just by this standard.

This is a publicly financed campaign. McCain is jealous.

[buckygreen]

And really scared.

[cynicism101]

wrong, approximately 303 million donors is a publicly financed campaign.

[eXcommunicate]

Wrong. You apparently don't know where the money comes from to fund "public financing".

[lizr]

Yes, the most astute comment thus far.