Stereotypical images of double-talking politicians in both major political parties are so common that only a particularly egregious bit of dishonesty now elicits a marked public backlash. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s reversal of his promise to use the public financing system for the general election is just such a brazen example.
One need not approve public financing of election campaigns to be offended by Obama’s blatant breaking of a vow that he previously made not once, not twice, but at least seven times. In light of this latest broken promise, the growing list of Obama flip-flops looks less like evidence of mere inexperience and more like sheer cynicism.
Public financing of campaigns was a post-Watergate reform adored by liberal activists of the sort who have made Obama their champion. The idea was to create a level playing field by curbing the influence of well-heeled special interests. No candidate in a Democratic primary can get the “Good Housekeeping” seal of approval of liberals without pledging to thus fund his or her campaign with tax dollars. That’s why Obama repeatedly promised to do so, even adding that he would “sit down with [presumptive Republican presidential nominee] John McCain and make sure that we have a system that works for everybody.”
Now, after determining that he can raise from private donors on the Internet twice or three times the $85 million provided by the public system, Obama not only doesn’t talk to McCain but breaks his former promise while blaming his reversal on Republican “527” groups allegedly out to smear him. His excuse is bunk, of course, as not a single major 527 has run ads against Obama, while liberal 527 groups already are on the air against McCain.
There is a pattern here. One day he pledges before the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee to support an “undivided” Jerusalem as Israel’s capital; the next day, he says only part of Jerusalem should be the capital. Previously, he promised not to blame campaign difficulties on racial factors, but on Friday, without citing evidence, Obama predicted Republicans will “try to make you afraid of me: ‘He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name. And did I mention he’s black?’ ”
Then, there is the question whether he will talk to terrorist regimes like Iran with or without preconditions. Even left-leaning NPR host Bonnie Erbe writes that “flip-flopping is an unbeatable
addiction for Obama … purely about self-interest.” In other words, Obama is now showing himself to be just another politician talking out of both sides of his mouth.
