CNN's Bash falsely claimed McCain filled out public financing questionnaire

During the February 20 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, congressional correspondent Dana Bash reported that Sen. John McCain criticized Sen. Barack Obama for allegedly "reneging on a pledge" to accept public financing that would limit his campaign spending in the 2008 general election. In the segment, Bash falsely claimed that McCain filled out a "survey from a watchdog group" and that he and Obama "both said yes, they'd accept public financing." As Bash was making the claim, a graphic from the Midwest Democracy Network's website featuring the group's "Presidential Candidate Questionnaire" appeared on-screen. The questionnaire, issued by the MDN in September 2007, included the question: "If you are nominated for President in 2008 and your major opponents agree to forgo private funding in the general election campaign, will you participate in the presidential public financing system?" Contrary to Bash's reporting, however, a February 19 statement posted on the MDN website states that McCain has "yet to answer a single question from the questionnaire." According to the statement, Obama is the only candidate currently running for president to have completed the survey; his answers are available on the group's website.

From the MDN's February 19 "statement calling on all presidential candidates to clarify public financing and other reform positions":

This past week, several media reports referenced a Midwest Democracy Network (MDN) federal political reform questionnaire that was issued in September 2007. While the focus of the questionnaire has centered on answers submitted by Senator Barack Obama's campaign, it should be noted that the campaigns of Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John McCain, Governor Mike Huckabee [R-AK] and Congressman Ron Paul [R-TX] have yet to answer a single question from the questionnaire.

The MDN respectfully calls on Senators Clinton and McCain, Governor Huckabee and Congressman Paul to join Senator Obama in responding to the MDN federal political reform questionnaire by Tuesday, February 26, 2008.

As voters in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont prepare to go to the polls on March 4, it is critical that voters know where the remaining candidates stand on a raft of key issues including public financing of presidential campaigns, government ethics, lobbying, media policy, election laws, and redistricting.

From the February 20 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:

BLITZER: What's next for McCain appears to include some stepped-up attacks on the person who could be his Democratic rival, Senator Barack Obama. Let's go to CNN's Dana Bash. She's watching all of this in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio, one of those March 4 battlegrounds as well. McCain says Obama should keep his word on a key issue. Explain to our viewers what's going on, Dana.

BASH: Well, you remember last night, Wolf, Senator McCain in his victory speech here in Columbus really went after Barack Obama on the issue of his experience -- or inexperience, from McCain's perspective -- especially on the issue of national security. Well, today, McCain turned his scathing criticism from that issue to the issue of character.

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BASH: With his GOP primary battle all but behind him, John McCain launched his most direct assault yet at Democrat Barack Obama, accusing the candidate, running as a reformer, of reneging on a pledge.

McCAIN: We either keep our word or we don't keep our word. I intend to keep my word to the American people.

BASH: At issue, whether Obama would agree to limit campaign spending by accepting public funding for the general election. In an op-ed in Wednesday's USA Today, Obama proposed the Democrat and Republican nominee make a, quote, "meaningful agreement in good faith that results in real spending limits."

McCAIN: And that's Washington doublespeak. I committed to public financing. He committed to public financing. It is not any more complicated than that.

BASH: McCain is pointing to this survey from a watchdog group he and Obama both filled out this fall, and both said yes, they'd accept public financing.

McCAIN: Senator Obama did make that commitment in writing. I expect him to -- I think the American people would expect him to hold to that commitment, especially if we want to bring about change.

BASH: With that, the probable GOP nominee is trying to undermine Obama's character, the heart of the Democrat's "I'm an agent of change" candidacy.

But McCain is also going after Obama on public financing for a more practical reason. Without spending limits, McCain advisers know they'd likely be at a huge financial disadvantage. Look at the history. Last year, Obama raised a little more than $102 million. McCain raised less than half, about $41 million. Since McCain's political fortunes turned around, so has his ability to bring in campaign cash -- but nothing like the tens of millions flowing into Obama's coffers.

[end video clip]

BASH: And an Obama spokesman responded to McCain by accusing him of abandoning efforts, new efforts, to reform the campaign finance system. That, of course, had been McCain's signature issue, but it is wildly unpopular with the Republican base -- Wolf.