For the first time I feel a little concerned about Obama's campaign. Maybe there's nothing to be concerned about yet, but the way he's handled his opting out of public finance thing seems needlessly hurtful to him.
Every commentator on every network, except Olbermann, seems to be flatly stating that this is a flip flop - a breaking of a promise. But it is NOT. We all here at this site have seen the qualifying language Obama made when he checked that "yes" box. Obama tried to encourage McCain to rein in the 527 groups, McCain refused, so Obama can say he tried to work out an agreement with McCain but couldn't. Opting out of public financing is 100% consistent with what he promised.
SO WHY OH WHY IS THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN NOT OUT IN FULL FORCE EXPLAINING THIS -- THAT THIS IS NOT A BREAKING OF A PROMISE? WHY ARE THEY NOT ON THE EVENING NEWS SHOWS, WHY IS OBAMA NOT EXPLAINING THIS IN HIGH PROFILE SPEECHES, WHY ARE THEY NOT CONTACTING THE MEDIA, EXPLAINING THIS, SO WE DON'T HAVE CHRIS MATTHEWS, GEORGE STEPAHNOPOULIS, CHARLIE GIBSON. ETC ETC ETC FLAT OUT SAYING HE BROKE A PROMISE?
Maybe this particular issue is a minor issue for most voters, but if McCain (together with the media, who seem super eager to help him) can work this into a theme that catches on -- that Obama breaks promises and you can't count on anything he says -- that will be quite damaging.
Plus, not fighting back when he has an easy way to do so is just plain worrisome to me. The response here was so easy, and he could have blown McCain out of the water so easily on this one, and so easily have prevented commentator after commentator from saying he broke a promise, that it really makes me wonder what he and his campaign are thinking on this.