Public Matching Funds

in the primary. We couldn't spend it if we took it.

Read the fine print folks. There is a reason McCain borrowed money against his donor list to avoid matching funds.

I know you can justify it one way or another but overall this is not consistent with RP's message.

Philosophy aside it just would not be good strategy.

the mainstream media is going to hang the hypocrite tag on him, which may or may not backfire.

I think he should but he won't

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent" Thomas Jefferson

if he has, then obviously that's the answer.

but if he hasn't... then I say take the money.

we want our man to have all the ammo he needs.

if the cap is $50 million total, and we have raised $25 million, then I think it would be fine, because I really don't see us raising $25 million more on our own.

Besides, even if he does that after Super Tuesday, then he can flood all the other markets with pro-liberty advertising and at least get the message out.

Or, even better, do informercials exposing all the new unconstitutional government suveillance laws and the Halliburton detention centers.

I may be a vegetarian, but I'll defend to the death my right to eat pork!

The establishment bums aren't playing fair. All we ask for is a fair fight, and we're not getting it from the media and their controllers. Take the money and then anticipate what will come next. They'll say, "Ah Hah! Ron Paul is taking Federal Money to fund Campaign" . Be prepared to launch into a very aggressive retort as to "why". The campaign staff should have example, after example of how they've tried to marginalize Dr. Paul, and sweep him out of the way. I'd draw them in to the fight by accepting the fed money........and then be prepared to let them have it with both barrels.

Take the matching funds RP. There is no greater use for taxpayer money at this time. Everyone else has accepted them why shouldn't we. You put earmarks in bills to get constituants money back in your district. It is how the system is set up and you have to play the game by thier rules in order to change the rules. We need the 30 mil to blast the airwaves with the message of freedom. Let it be a slap in the face to the MSM for thier blatant blackout of your campain.

....you are capped to spending only $50 million for the ENTIRE PRIMARY SEASON.

So, after learning this....maybe this is why Dr. Paul has chosen not to.

I also learned that John Edwards decided to take the matching funds (Hillary and Obama have not), and he spent most of his money on Iowa and N.H. Now he has to be very frugal with every penny for the duration of the campaign season.

From Wikipedia:

In American politics the term matching funds refers to the money a presidential candidate is given by federal government to match the money they have raised personally. Candidates can expect up to $250 extra from public funds for each contribution from an individual they receive.

This usually only applies to the two main parties; as for third party candidates gaining the benefits of matching funds they must additionally have received 5% of the popular vote in the previous election. Hence the anomaly of Ross Perot standing as Reform Party candidate in 1992 and receiving 18% of the vote, yet receiving no matching funds because the Reform Party did not receive 5% of the vote in 1988; whilst Pat Buchanan, running as the Reform Party candidate in 2000, did receive matching funds despite winning only 0.4% of the vote.

Here is another link that explains some of the other limitations, such as state-by-state spending caps.
http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/problem.cfm

This is the most noble cause any tax dollar could finance.