McCain Says Obama's Word `Cannot Be Trusted'
By Edwin Chen
June 29 (Bloomberg) -- John McCain, in his sharpest attack yet against rival Barack Obama, said the Democratic presidential candidate's word ``cannot be trusted.''
``This election is about trust -- trust in people's word,'' McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, told several hundred donors at a $2 million GOP fundraiser in Louisville, Kentucky, yesterday. ``And unfortunately, apparently on several items, Senator Obama's word cannot be trusted.''
McCain, a four-term Arizona senator, said Obama has gone back on his word by pledging to take public financing during the general election and then deciding not to do so. Obama on June 19 announced he won't accept public financing for his presidential campaign, calculating that he can raise far more than the $84.1 million he would get in government funds.
Obama's decision was a turnaround from a signed pledge to pursue an agreement with McCain to accept public funds and the spending limits that go with them. That was before Obama began hauling in record amounts of donations, and doing so would have meant surrendering a significant advantage over McCain. Negotiations between Obama and McCain never took place.
In recent days, McCain has rapped Obama for reversing his position on the matter. Still, until yesterday McCain hadn't accused Obama, 46, a first-term Illinois senator, of being untrustworthy.
``I'll keep my word to the American people. You can trust me,'' McCain said.
McCain's campaign in recent days has issued statements saying Obama has softened his stances on such issues as re- negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Financing the Election
Obama's decision makes him the first major-party candidate to opt out of the public financing structure for the general election campaign since the system was created after the Watergate scandals more than 30 years ago.
McCain supporters point to Obama's decision to reject public financing as an example that he would not keep his word and is not serious about making substantial changes in government. Opting out of federal funding is a ``core issue,'' said Republican Rob Portman, former Ohio congressman and Bush administration budget director.
``It goes to more than just changes in facts and circumstances,'' Portman said on Fox. ``It goes to sort of changing your approach to politics.'' |
