Obama forgoes public funding

Earlier today, Barack Obama decided against public financing for his campaign. There's no doubt that money has ruined politics in this country, and he acknowledges this in the video above, but accepting public financing would have put him at a tremendous disadvantage against John McCain this fall, who will no doubt enjoy a steady, deep river of cash for his corporate benefactors and lobbyists.

Update: Predictably, McCain is plenty peeved at Obama's decision. "Today, Barack Obama has revealed himself to be just another typical politician who will do and say whatever is most expedient for Barack Obama," McCain campaign communications director Jill Hazelbaker said in a statement. McCain's campaign also said that Obama's decision "undermines his call for a new type of politics." My take? The shoe is finally on the other foot. For years and years, Republicans enjoyed a substantial fund raising advantage, but Obama has more than made up the difference, and the GOP isn't happy about it.

I just hope that once Obama wins this November and the Democrats gain majorities in both Houses of Congress, they make a concerted, genuine effort to do something about public financing of all of our elections. We are way overdue for it.

In the meantime, please contribute all you can to his campaign by going to his Website, even if it's $5. We cannot afford a John McCain presidency in so many ways.