John McCain: Public Financing of Elections is "Dead"! Hooray!

Nick Gillespie | March 30, 2009

From a Wash Times interview with the failed presidential candidate and senator from Arizona who was one of the guiding forces behind campaign-finance laws designed to abridge the First Amendment:

Sen. John McCain, an architect of sweeping campaign-finance reform who got walloped by a presidential candidate armed with more than $750 million, predicts that no one will ever again accept federal matching funds to run for the nation's highest office.

"No Republican in his or her right mind is going to agree to public financing. I mean, that's dead. That is over. The last candidate for president of the United States from a major party that will take public financing was me," the Arizona Republican told The Washington Times.

Whole thing here.

Reason on campaign finance follies here.

Former Federal Election Commission member Brad Smith on just how awful McCain's legislation on the matter is/was/always will be. And why Sen. McCain refused to shake his hand!:

Comments

TofuSushi|3.30.09 @ 8:52AM|#

We can't have fair elections without public financing. Private financing only allows the corporations to control America.

Abdul|3.30.09 @ 9:01AM|#

We can't have fair elections without public financing. Private financing only allows the corporations to control America.


In Soviet Russia, America controls corporations!

I wish this were a lame Yakov Smirnoff joke, but after Obama fired GM's CEO, and congress re-organized AIG's compensation scheme, it is no longer corporate money controlling the government that we have to worry about.

Taktix®|3.30.09 @ 9:10AM|#

No Republican in his or her right mind is going to agree to public financing. I mean, that's dead. That is over.

Way to go John! Welcome to the 1800's!

|3.30.09 @ 9:12AM|#

The last candidate for president of the United States from a major party that will take public financing was me

Great, John, you've got a claim to fame. Now repeal your goddam law.

squarooticus|3.30.09 @ 9:30AM|#

it is no longer corporate money controlling the government that we have to worry about.

That there is now any distinction between the government and the large politically well-connected corporations is not really clear. Woe to entrepreneurs: there never was a level playing field, but it's very clear that the emperor has no clothes now.

How long until some country decides to downsize its regulatory regime to attract the brightest minds? As time goes on, I become increasingly convinced that the US will not be that country.

Ska|3.30.09 @ 10:01AM|#

And why Sen. McCain refused to shake his hand!

Because he's 8 foot 5 and McCain can't raise his arm high enough?

*cheap*

|3.30.09 @ 10:02AM|#

Let's not forget that Senator Obama also promised to use public financing for his campaign. Until he changed his mind, that is.

classwarrior|3.30.09 @ 10:04AM|#

Just look what corporate "freedom of speech" has done for Goldman Sachs, AIG, Merrill Lynch etc...

|3.30.09 @ 10:49AM|#

One of the many, many missed opportunities of the McCain campaign was the opening Obama gave him to rip him a new one on breaking his promise about public financing.

The Dems, with their current edge in intertube-driven small contributions, will never reform the campaign finance system that gives them that edge.

|3.30.09 @ 10:52AM|#

Just look what corporate "freedom of speech"

You do realize, classwarrior, that it is illegal for a corporation to make a campaign contribution of any size, yes?

They are, of course, still free to give "soft money" contributions to the political parties themselves.

And when talking of "corporate" free speech, let's try not to forget the massive campaign support given by unions, which after all are also corporate entities.

LarryA|3.30.09 @ 11:21AM|#

The last candidate for president of the United States from a major party that will take public financing was me," the Arizona Republican told The Washington Times.

And the $3 "contribution" box will disappear from the FM 1040? Don't hold your breath.

What we need to get rid of are the laws that make it impossible to run for office without a specialized lawyer dotting your Is and crossing your Ts.

TofuSushi|3.30.09 @ 11:21AM|#

Let's not forget that Senator Obama also promised to use public financing for his campaign. Until he changed his mind, that is.

Even when he changes his mind he is still right.

|3.30.09 @ 3:19PM|#

it is no longer corporate money controlling the government that we have to worry about.

You're right, it's illegal foreign money we have to worry about.

|3.30.09 @ 3:22PM|#

And when talking of "corporate" free speech, let's try not to forget the massive campaign support given by unions, which after all are also corporate entities.

And which, as I recall, is specifically illegal, though curiously no Federal investigation has ever been launched.

|3.30.09 @ 3:47PM|#

More on McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Incumbent Protection Act.

Go ahead. It's short.