McCain's Frankenstein

The Washington Times ^ | Thursday, October 16, 2008 | Washinton Times Editorial Staff

[walford]

John McCain's come-from-behind bid for the presidency is being damaged by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, better known as the McCain-Feingold bill.

The workings of McCain-Feingold and the Democratic Party's huge fund-raising advantage have left Mr. McCain debilitatingly dependent on the $85 million in taxpayer financing he received last month. The Politico newspaper reported yesterday that Mr. Obama is outspending the combined McCain campaign/Republican National Committee campaign effort by as much as 8-1, and that probably understates Mr. McCain's disadvantage.

In the first three weeks of September, Mr. Obama ran 1,342 television commercials in the Washington media market, which includes Northern Virginia, a hotly contested area of a battleground state. By comparison, Mr. McCain ran just eight - an advantage of more than 160-1 in Mr. Obama's favor. Unsurprisingly, Mr. McCain now finds himself in the embarrassing position of searching for loopholes that would enable him to circumvent the very legislative Frankenstein he created...

...as his campaign's financial situation has become increasingly dire, Mr. McCain has apparently developed a very different perspective on the bill he touts as one of his greatest legislative achievements.

[walford]

This was one of many instances in which McCain the Maverick shafted the American people in pursuit of appeasement.

The Left dominates the media, so Republicans have to make up for the liberal bias by purchasing what favored candidates get at no charge -- their perspective disseminated to the American public.

McCain did not appreciate that and we are all paying the price.

[counterpunch]

Let’s hold off on hating John McCain until after the election...

[goldstategop]

John McCain could have chosen private funding. He chose to handcuff himself financially by his own rules. But if he does lose, he has only himself to blame.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I am beginning to hate the whiners on FR
that seem to focus on our nominee faults
instead of going after the commie thugs.

[Cicero]

Yes. The sad thing about McCain-Feingold is that it only blocks funding by right-to-life groups, Christian churches, and other conservative groups and individuals. But the ACLU, NARAL, NOW, Planned Parenthood, the unions, black racist churches, Saudi princes, and left-wing bundlers are free to raise as much money as they like, without fear of the IRS questioning them about it.

[SeeSharp]

John McCain could have chosen private funding...

Before he picked Palin his prospects for raising private funding weren't so good.

[Cicero]

Sorry, I should add that we MUST vote for McCain anyway.

And instead of gloating over this payback, we need to hope that McCain will wake up and change for the better if he is elected.

[walford]

It is difficult to get excited about a man who’s support for core Republican principles has been only lukewarm.

[TNCMAXQ]

If he had not gone with the public funding would he have been able to raise substantially more? I’m not sure how these things work.

I figured McCain-Feingold would hurt Republicans more. How ironic now that McCain’s own lousy bill might help sink his campaign. He and others in Congress kept saying the American people demand “reform.” I have never once heard anyone say the campaign finance system was one of their concerns. I suspect if you put it on a list of issues they care about, most people would rank it VERY low.

I’m glad at least that McCain called obama on his broken promise the other night. 0bama suffers no repercussions though. Compare this to how the elder President Bush was vilified for breaking his no new taxes pledge.

[Zevonismymuse]

Let’s hold off on hating John McCain until after the election...

I hate McCain now...I just hate Obama more.

[pabianice]

As thre ancient Romans would have said, Fornicatus ex machinae.

[counterpunch]

We can only hope that McCain has learned a lot of important lessons from this campaign, and will be able to apply them as President.

[walford]

It’s difficult to go after the “commie thugs” when our candidate himself doesn’t seem to believe in what we stand for. This election is truly about a lesser of two evils.

[GATOR NAVY]

Yep, it’s too late now but McCain-Feingold was one of the primary reasons (among many) that McCain shouldn’t have received the nomination in the first place. But they don’t call Republicans the stupid party for nothing.

[goldstategop]

But he chose not to use it.... and Obama did accept no limits on fund raising. Its another example of John McCain's dim-wittedness as a politician.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Your whine only helps the commie thugs.

[Frantzie]

Donate & volunteer to McCain-Palin 2008.

[maryz]

I have never once heard anyone say the campaign finance system was one of their concerns.

I seem to recall reading at the time about a left-wing group (groups?) who bragged that they knew how to generate the appearance of "public concern" and did it on CFR! I wish I could remember more specifically, at least enough to search it . . .

[Jeff Chandler]

I am beginning to hate the whiners on FR that seem to focus on our nominee faults instead of going after the commie thugs.

I hear you, My Friend.

[businessprofessor]

Bush should never have signed the bill. Signing the bill was Bush’s worst mistake. It may be the most enduring mistake of his presidency.