In a move that's no surprise, Barack Obama has decided to forgo accepting public matching funds for his Presidential campaign. The McCain campaign has already begun attacking Obama for the decision. But McCain himself, at least by implication, supports Obama's decision:
I think it's wonderful that Howard Dean was able to use the Internet, $50, $75, $100 contributions. That's what we want it to be all about. We want average citizens to contribute small amounts of money, and that's a commitment to a campaign. So I'm for that. I think it's a great thing. I think the Internet is going to change American politics for the better.
Whether or not McCain understands the internet, he does think it's great that a candidate could largely fund his campaign with small donations, mostly taken over the internet, which is exactly what Obama is doing. At least that's what McCain said in 2004, when he wasn't running for president. Surely he wouldn't say something different today, right? The so-called "Straight Talk Express" wouldn't contradict himself just because it's politically expedient, would he?
