With regards to Obama opening the door for super PAC money on his and other Dem campaigns, I'm of both minds. On one hand, not using super PAC money is taking a rubber band to a gun fight with hundreds of millions from the Rove/Koch brothers contingent on the horizon. On the other hand, Obama's reputation as being separate from corporate money and therefore untainted by it is sullied.
The verdict? Take the money and be frank about the reason. Obama should say that he can't win on principles alone, and that a super PAC is a sad necessity under current campaign law. He can use this extra cash and at the very same time denounce the reason for it, championing the end of secret PACs as part of his platform for a second term.
If there are cries of hypocrisy from the right, the "pot calling the kettle black" factor is ripe for the taking. Never in its history has the GOP been so willing to base its entire platform on hypocrisy. If Boehner or McConnell think hypocrisy is so bad, they've got an awful lot of crow to eat.
Take the money and run...for reelection Mr. President.
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My old political hero was Jesse, "Big Daddy" Unruh who ran the California legislature and made sure that the corporate money financed the people's institutions like higher education. He did not get the money out of politics, but he made sure that he was the boss instead of the slave of those with the bucks. While the idea of politics free of money is very nice, the real problem is the disparity of wealth which allows the few to run the many in and out of politics.
With regards to Obama opening the door for super PAC money ...
Seriously, was this door EVER closed?
Don't forget, during the 2008 Presidential Campaign it was John McCain who stood by his principles and chose public financing in accordance with his "McCain - Feigold Act".
It was Barak Hussein Obama who decided to forego Public Financing and took in swaths of cash anonymously from all corners of the globe.
WIsconson Sen. Proxmire was the last statesman that refused contributions. Ron Paul rejects some, but not all.
Obama does support an amendment overturning citzens united.
Cal, the outside funding PAC's were present in '08. The official campaigns did not have to do anything because the money was flowing. After Dubya, and given the weakness of the ticket, it is no mystery why money came to Mr. Obama.
BTW, the continued Hussein thing is ugly, not because there is anything wrong with his real name but because it is used as a dog whistle to racist and anti-Islam bigots. Do you want to advertize youself as one?