30 Days, 30 deceptions - 11th of 30

By 'Raindrop'

Public Financing

Obama promised to accept public financing of the general election as long as the Republican nominee did the same.

In November 2007, Obama answered a question about accepting public funding by writing:
"In February 2007, I proposed a novel way to preserve the strength of the public financing system in the 2008 election. My plan requires both major party candidates to agree on a fundraising truce, return excess money from donors, and stay within the public financing system for the general election. My proposal followed announcements by some presidential candidates that they would forgo public financing so they could raise unlimited funds in the general election. The Federal Election Commission ruled the proposal legal, and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has already pledged to accept this fundraising pledge. If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election."

John McCain did accept public financing, but Obama did not