Obama and public financing

This outrage over Obama's decision not to take public money for the campaign is stupid. It depends on a superficial review of conditions and positions, and the media has been, as usual, mostly complicit in spreading the "politics as usual" meme.

Look. Obama said he wanted a campaign that was different, that was powered by the people, so to speak. That concentrated on ideas, that was strong enough to communicate ideas to the voters. All of the voters: not just those of us who consider ourselves politically aware (or political addicts).

Look: We have had a primary season that felt unprecedented. It went on for months, without any real force of inevitability, of coronation. I never felt that Rahm Emanuel and Terry McCauliffe were going to pick my candidate for me.

Look: We have a commitment from the DNC that no lobbyist money will be accepted for the campaign. No, of course that doesn't close the door entirely to "power" money, but it makes a huge statement, and does have a huge impact on who is driving this campaign, and who, ultimately, is owed attention.

And look: Obama said that the rise of the 527s was a bad thing, an unpredictable thing, and he wanted no part of it, but he definitely wanted to make sure he had the resources to fight back, should a swift-boat style group arise on the right this summer.

And look: our side's biggest 527 name, MoveOn, immediately shuttered its 527 in response. That is, MoveOn (I'm a member) immediately said, if the Senator doesn't want 527 involvement, we respect that, and we won't do it. Yes, there's still MoveOn PAC, which will raise money and organize action- not a bad thing. But 527 attacks are now off-limits.

What Obama has said is that he wants a change in the national dialogue this season. And he's making it happen.

That's what the public financing thing is about.

And look: I don't want to cannonize the man. I admire him and I was sure from the first time I heard him speak that he would one day be president, and I am sure that he will be a good one.

And I am sure that once he is in the White House, there will be a host of opportunities to hold his feet to the fire. He is a man, not an angel sent to fulfill each of our political prayers.

But he is a change, a fresh breeze, perhaps even an epiphany. Whether he's the right change is something for you to sort out on your own, of course.