Obama Abandons Campaign Pledge on Public Financing

CBS Evening News said Obama "abandoned a campaign pledge," adding, "it is a big reversal. Only months ago, Obama was signaling a willingness to preserve public financing. No wonder John McCain smelled a flip-flop."

This is not a good decision," Feingold said in a statement today.

The reactions were similar from the government watchdog groups that worked closely with Obama and Feingold on the ethics overhaul. Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer declared himself "very disappointed" with the decision. Public Citizen president Joan Claybrook said she was "deeply disappointed."

Given Mr. Obama's earlier pledge to "aggressively pursue" an agreement with the Republican nominee to accept public financing, his effort to cloak his broken promise in the smug mantle of selfless dedication to the public good is a little hard to take. Obama Does What Politicians Need To Do.