McCain Angry About Campaign Finance Reform Scrutiny, But Earns Falwell Reception

John McCain reacted angrily yesterday after the Washington Post scrutinized his change of heart on campaign finance reform, an issue he once championed. According to CNN, McCain "blasted" Sunday's front page report that found McCain is using the type of "soft money" for his presidential campaign he once campaigned against.[CNN, 2/11/07]

As the report noted, "McCain has embraced some of the same political-money figures, forces and tactics he pilloried during a 15-year crusade to reduce the influence of big donors, fundraisers and lobbyists in elections". [Washington Post, 2/11/07]

Despite McCain's objections, however, his change of heart on campaign finance reform may have earned him a reception at the "premier event in Christian communication." According to the Politico's blog today, the Rev. Jerry Falwell himself will co-host a meet and greet reception for McCain at the National Religious Broadcasters convention next week--almost a month to the day after McCain voted against the grassroots lobbying reform he once cosponsored, but which conservative leaders opposed. Apparently not yet sold on McCain, Falwell may not show up to his own reception. [politico.com, 2/12/07; The Hill, 1/18/07]

"McCain's complete abandon for campaign finance reform might get him face time with conservatives, but his waning credibility is bound to cost him as a presidential candidate," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Luis Miranda. "Conservatives still don't trust McCain enough to show up at their own reception, and his do-anything-to-win approach is a far cry from the leadership and new direction the American voters want."

In Perspective

McCain Panders to Conservatives, Votes Against Grassroots Lobbying Reform Similar to What He Once Sponsored. McCain voted to strike provisions requiring that activist organizations which engaged in grassroots lobbying efforts had to report details of their activities and finances. "While grassroots groups on both sides of the political spectrum oppose the proposal, social conservative leaders such as Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, who broadcasts a radio program to hundreds of thousands of evangelical Christians, have been its most vehement critics. McCain sponsored legislation last Congress that included an even broader requirement for grassroots lobbying coalitions to reveal their financial donors." [The Hill, 1/18/07; S.Amdt.20 to S.1, Vote #17, 1/18/07, agreed to 55-43; R: 48-0, D: 7-43, McCain voted "Yea"]

And Now, Rev. Jerry Falwell Will 'Co-Host' a Reception for McCain. The Politico's blog is reporting that Rev. Jerry Falwell "will co-host a "meet and greet" for McCain at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Orlando next week. The convention is billed as "the premier event in Christian communication." "Falwell's name is listed along with five other clergy members and broadcasters as co-host's of the reception." [politico.com]

In Detail

Below are the highlights of McCain's turn to the right on campaign finance reform, as outlined by the Washington Post, 2/11/07. The full report can be viewed at the following link.

McCain Then:
"long supported" public financing and spending limits on campaigns.

McCain Now:
McCain's campaign "is still studying whether to forgo the public financing and spending limits" and have said that he "will not be handicapped by restrictions his competitors will not face in 2008."

McCain Then:
"McCain the reformer worked unsuccessfully through Congress and the courts to try to stop nonprofit political groups known as 527s from using unlimited donations to run political ads and fund other activities aimed at influencing voters in the run-up to elections."

McCain Now:
"McCain the candidate now expects Republicans to use the same big-money 527 groups in the 2008 elections to beat Democrats, if the groups remain legal...At least six of McCain's first eight national finance co-chairmen have given or raised large donations for political parties or 527 groups, campaign and IRS records show. In all, the finance co-chairs have given at least $13.5 million in soft money and 527 donations since the 1998 election."

McCain Then:
McCain "relentlessly argued that six- and seven-figure 'soft money' checks that corporations, wealthy individuals and unions were giving to political parties to influence elections were corrupting American politics."

McCain Now:
"McCain the candidate has enlisted some of the same GOP fundraising giants who created and flourished in the soft-money system, including Bush's fundraising 'Pioneers' and 'Rangers,' who earned their designations by raising at least $100,000 or $200,000 for his campaigns.

McCain Then:
"Just about a year and a half ago, Sen. John McCain went to court to try to curtail the influence of a group to which A. Jerrold Perenchio gave $9 million, saying it was trying to 'evade and violate' new campaign laws with voter ads ahead of the midterm elections." [Washington Post, 2/11/07]

McCain Now:
"As McCain launches his own presidential campaign, however, he is counting on Perenchio, the founder of the Univision Spanish-language media empire, to raise millions of dollars as co-chairman of the Arizona Republican's national finance committee." [Washington Post, 2/11/07]

McCain Then:
McCain "proposed legislation requiring so-called grass-roots groups that organize average citizens into lobbying forces to disclose their financial backers."

McCain Now:
"But McCain the candidate switched positions and last month voted against that disclosure requirement after influential GOP groups such as Focus on the Family and National Right to Life strongly opposed the idea. McCain also hired as his campaign manager one of the grass-roots-lobbying industry's key consultants, Bush strategist Terry Nelson."