Posted by
Andrews on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 6:46:02 PM
I am hardly the first to point it out, but there is something horribly hypocritical about John McCain refusing federal matching funds in order to accept private funds beyond the federal limit.
The entire justification of McCain-Feingold was that private money unacceptably corrupts the political process and needs to be controlled. So, how can Senator McCain accept corrupt private monies rather than relying on, presumably untainted, public funding?
Three explanations come to mind:
1. McCain really doesn't believe private funds are corrupting, but used that as a justification for what is in reality an incumbent protection act.
2. McCain really does believe private money corrupts, but he doesn't mind being corrupted.
3. McCain believes OTHER politicians may be corrupted by private money, but he is immune.
None of three paint a very good picture of the senator. The first makes him a liar, the second a crook, and the third an arrogant man with the mind of a tyrant, for anyone who believes he is better than everyone else, once handed the reins of power, is very likely to use that power to tell everyone else how they should live.
Unfortunately, I think the third explanation is the most likely. And also the most disturbing.
It is a sad day when you actually HOPE your candidate is a thief or a liar.