Obama Disappoints

It came as no surprise that Obama has rejected Fed funds for the general election campaign; to do otherwise would be to give up a huge advantage over John McCain. I wish he had not done so; to reject public campaign financing is close to a core issue that he has totally given up to his opponent. Since he was going to do so, though, he should have come clean, admitted it was a pragmatic move, and at least that way kept some of the high ground. Instead, his argument for rejecting it sounds weaselly--we know it is not perfect, what in the American system is?--and hypocritical.

I toy with the idea of giving Obama no more campaign contributions, after the one I have already committed to for him (54.40--a phrase from American History, as in "54-forty or fight", the rallying cry against Britain over the Oregon Territory from the 1840's--the Democrats eventually gave up that extremist, jingoist position). Obama campaign came up with some rationale for that one (not the historical one I just cited) , somehow, and I like that it distinguishes from the ordinary commitment amount. We'll see whether my financial ire passes, and whether he will need money, anyway.