Sen. Obama's 129 Present Votes

[realFedUp]

Barack wasn't present on many key votes in the U.S. Senate.

http://facts.hillaryhub.com/archive/?id=5191

Fact Sheet: Sen. Obama's 129 Present Votes
1/15/2008 3:39:13 PM

Today, Sen. Obama’s campaign held a conference call to defend his record of voting present on choice issues. But the Obama campaign failed to address the fact that Sen. Obama voted present 129 times on a wide array of issues, including choice, privacy for victims of sexual assault, and school violence. In fact, the Obama campaign claimed that Sen. Obama’s present votes were part of a legislative strategy but failed to mention that Sen. Obama was the lone present vote on a number of key issues.

Sen. Obama’s Present Votes By The Numbers

Sen. Obama voted 'present' 129 times while in the State Senate.

In 1999, Sen. Obama voted 'present' more often than he voted 'no': According to state records, Obama voted 'present' 43 times in 1999, while voting 'no' just 29 times.

At least 36 times, Sen. Obama was either the only State Senator to vote present or was part of a group of six or fewer to vote that way.

Other Present Votes of Interest:

(continued)

[Teaser]

1. I am scratching my ass right now

These Obama-Hilary wars are so important I just have to scratch myself.

[indimuse]

61. :rofl:

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Bluestar]

2. Of the things that bother me about Obama

This is the most troublesome. Some of those "present" votes were regarding abortion. Those who support a woman's right to choose, beware!

[Connie_Corleone]

4. God forbid if we vote for someone with a 100% rating from NARAL.

[Renew Deal]

7. Some of these people are pushing their anti-choice agenda on DU.

[terisan]

70. A "100%" based on a lot of present votes. Does not look lik a guy I want to trust with my rights

[killbotfactory]

8. Those present votes on abortion were supported by Planned Parenthood

Why would they support present votes on controversial anti-abortion legislation? Maybe you should investigate.

[terisan]

45. and opposed by NOW nt

[jackson_dem]

79. Illinois NOW on his present votes

During Sen. Obama’s 2004 Senate campaign, the Illinois NOW PAC did not recommend the endorsement of Obama for U.S. Senate because he refused to stand up for a woman’s right to choose and repeatedly voted ‘present’ on important legislation.

As a State Senator, Barack Obama voted ‘present’ on seven abortion bills, including a ban on 'partial birth abortion,' two parental notification laws and three 'born alive' bills. In each case, the right vote was clear, but Sen. Obama chose political cover over standing and fighting for his convictions.

“When we needed someone to take a stand, Sen. Obama took a pass,” said Grabenhofer. “He wasn’t there for us then and we don’t expect him to be now.”

[redqueen]

9. Is that why I've seen people post

that they question his commitment to women's choice?

[AtomicKitten]

11. those "present" votes were coordinated with Planned Parenthood

[realFedUp]

14. We can't afford a President who's just "present"

We've had that and worse for the last 7 years.

[Nailzberg]

28. I'm troubled by Hillary distorting and attacking Planned Parenthood strategy.

The present votes on abortion issues were part of a voting strategy organized by Planned Parenthood. Bills were brought to the floor in the republican controlled General Assembly to force pro-choice members in conservative areas to effectively vote themselves out of office, and this present strategy thwarted that. Saved pro-choice seats while voting down anti-choice bills.

I would like to know why Hillary takes issue with that?

Those who support a woman's right to choose, beware? Obama is 100% pro-choice, according to PP and NARAL. And the more Hillary attacks this strategy, the more opposed to her I become. I doubt there will be many Hillary buttons at the Planned Parenthood Chicago Roe v Wade gala next week.

[terisan]

48. How do liberal groups tally "present votes? are they counted for or against or not counted

when adding up the score.

[Nailzberg]

62. When that liberal group asks you to vote present, a present vote is considered voting with them

Planed Parenthood doesn't give points for being with them "most the time". Obama's 100% is well earned. My friends there refuse to vote for Hillary based on this distortion of Obama's present votes, and that was critical to me, as well.

[mopinko]

29. he voted present because abortion rights groups asked him to

i believe planned parenthood sent out an email recently explaining this. a vote of present usually means "i agree that something should be done about this, but this legislation is not it."
see, you get that kind of thing when you elect someone who is an expert in constitutional law. you should try it. you will like it.

[Bluestar]

35. Your tone is very condescending

[mopinko]

67. compared to what?

compared to the people who peddle this shit here every day?

[Bluestar]

71. I'm not replying to them, I'm replying to you

And no, I don't peddle shit here everyday. I found your response to be condescending. What does this have to do with the constitution? Obama found a way to vote to take Republican heat off of him in Illinois. This smacks of a politician, a political insider who will do anything to stay in office. And he preaches the message of change? I'm unimpressed.

[terisan]

69. Who asked whom is apparently unclear. Obama's present votes indicate lack of commitment. nt

[mopinko]

74. no they don't.

neener neener. wow, what an intelligent debate we get around here.
spin your little heart out. everyone here with 2 brain cells knows it is empty bullshit that you all are selling.

[killbotfactory]

3. Voting present in the Illinois state senate is equivalent to voting no

Basically, it means you have a problem with the bill being voted on.

And, yes, you have to be present to vote present.

The votes in the US senate were missed because he's running for president. Just like Kerry and Edwards had to miss a bunch of votes the last time.

[Renew Deal]

5. This is a Hillary press release.

Who cares?

[killbotfactory]

10. Hillary supporters, apparently

It's the no slime left behind campaign.

[realFedUp]

17. Gee, I was waiting for that comment.

It's still true, whatever the source. Facts are our friends.

[Renew Deal]

23. OK Baghdad Bob

:rofl:

[realFedUp]

25. yeah, right.

Call names when you don't have the argument.

[MethuenProgressive]

16. No is NO. Yes is Yes. Present is I don't wanna have this vote on my record.

I agree though with the US Senate missed votes - except Kyl-Lieberman. He shouldn't have missed that vote. 98 other Senators made the vote, I don't buy his "I was surprised" line.

[realFedUp]

19. Exactly. n/t

[killbotfactory]

54. Present could mean a couple things

Either the legislation is inflammatory, as with the anti-abortion bills, and you have a problem with that, or you have a problem with a certain portion of a bill but agree with the general nature of it.

[realFedUp]

24. 36 times he was the only state senator voting "present"

An examination of Illinois Senate records found 36 times in which Obama was the only state senator to vote "present" on a particular piece of legislation, according to The New York Times.

It shows a lack of leadership.

[killbotfactory]

55. Why did he vote present on them?

Could it be he had a problem with the legislation for whatever reason?

[Hippo_Tron]

78. It's called political strategy, Obama detractors can't seem to understand it

[jackson_dem]

80. "Strategy" to vote present over "no" by a 3:2 ratio?

You are right. The strategy is not taking a stand.

[William769]

6. Lets not forget these.

In 1999, Sen. Obama voted 'present' more often than he voted 'no': According to state records, Obama voted 'present' 43 times in 1999, while voting 'no' just 29 times.

At least 36 times, Sen. Obama was either the only State Senator to vote present or was part of a group of six or fewer to vote that way.

Sen. Obama was the only State Senator to vote 'present' on a bill that sought to protect the privacy of sex-abuse victims, and the only state senator to not support the bill.

Sen. Obama was the only State Senator to vote 'present' on an adoption bill that imposed stricter requirements for parental fitness, and the only State Senator to not support the bill.

Sen. Obama voted 'present' on a bill that would increase penalties for the use of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school. The bill called for the mandatory adult persecution of a minor at least 15 years of age being tried for using a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school.

Sen. Obama voted 'present' on a bill to prohibit the presence of adult sex shops near schools, places of worship, and day care facilities; bill allows local governments to regulate the presence of adult sex shops.

[William769]

12. I guess I'm on everone's ignore list now.

:shrug:

[Rock_Garden]

21. Not mine, William. This is well worth talking about.

[realFedUp]

13. Right....n/t

[AtomicKitten]

20. Or these: The IWR and Kyl-Lieberman.

Now, how did Hillary vote on those again?

Tell us the story about how her YES votes for war and more war are BETTER than not voting.

I love that story.

[William769]

33. Is this thread about Hillary?

[AtomicKitten]

37. This thread is about trashing Obama re: votes -- VOTES. That's the topic.

I think you have to actually submit an application to become a moderator before just assuming that position ad hoc.

[William769]

38. So I was right then.

[AtomicKitten]

39. No, you were wrong. You misstated the topic.

[William769]

40. And how did I do that?

ON EDIT: I do see though that you are running as fast as you can not to answer the original question.

[AtomicKitten]

42. Wrong again. The response you take issue with was not in response to the OP but #6.

You'll have to look for somebody else to play your reindeer games.

Thanks for playing.
Drive through.

:hi:

[William769]

43. Still not answering the question.

Which is expected of you. Don't forget your fries when you go to the next window.

Seems like your running a little faster now. :rofl:

[AtomicKitten]

46. Oh, I know you Clinton advocates are getting cranky but it's almost over now.

Invoke Zen; it may help take the pain away.

[William769]

47. Sill no answer.

:rofl:

[AtomicKitten]

50. Here's my answer: HILLARY'S YES VOTES FOR WAR AND MORE WAR pale in comparison to all else.

And that is just sad and particularly so in that Democrats - like you - are turning a blind eye to your own candidate mimicking various vile GOP behaviors.

But, if she does somehow manage to scheme and cheat her way to the nomination, just know many, many Democrats will sit this election out because they, in fact, do not approve of her tactics and record.

VIVA ANYBODY BUT CLINTON!!!

[William769]

52. I have to give you credit, your deflection is A|#1!

:rofl:

[AtomicKitten]

56. DEFLECTION OPPOSED: Hillary's YES votes for war and more war will not be swept under the carpet.

[elixir]

57. "HILLARY'S YES VOTES FOR WAR AND MORE WAR pale in comparison to all else"

In comparison to what else? Obama's lack of voting altogether?

[William769]

59. Still waiting.

In 1999, Sen. Obama voted 'present' more often than he voted 'no': According to state records, Obama voted 'present' 43 times in 1999, while voting 'no' just 29 times.

At least 36 times, Sen. Obama was either the only State Senator to vote present or was part of a group of six or fewer to vote that way.

Sen. Obama was the only State Senator to vote 'present' on a bill that sought to protect the privacy of sex-abuse victims, and the only state senator to not support the bill.

Sen. Obama was the only State Senator to vote 'present' on an adoption bill that imposed stricter requirements for parental fitness, and the only State Senator to not support the bill.

Sen. Obama voted 'present' on a bill that would increase penalties for the use of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school. The bill called for the mandatory adult persecution of a minor at least 15 years of age being tried for using a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school.

Sen. Obama voted 'present' on a bill to prohibit the presence of adult sex shops near schools, places of worship, and day care facilities; bill allows local governments to regulate the presence of adult sex shops.

[elixir]

51. Just to recap - this thread is about Hillary, right?

[AtomicKitten]

53. This thread is about what some perceive as "shitty votes" -- I offered up some comparative analysis

that should assist people in a more accurate overview as opposed to the typical DU kneejerk reaction. If you prefer the latter, have at. But I will post whatever I like, thanks for your concern.

[elixir]

60. You go ahead and post whatever you like because we love you. W/out you we wldn't have fun.

[madmom]

65. since when do 2 wrongs make a right? Oh ok she did this so it's ok if I do this?

Some people's logic truly astounds me.:banghead:

[Proud2BAmurkin]

15. A thin and unimpressive resume of 3 years in the senate, half of it running for president

[realFedUp]

22. I wouldn't want him as V.P. either.

He doesn't have the stuff to be President or VP. He
really needs to work harder as a Senator.

[Nailzberg]

18. Yawn

So I gather either Hillary Hub cannot grasp the concept of the Illinois general assembly, or they just don't care. So what is it, lack of intellect, or lack of intellectual honesty?

This is the line of attack that solidified my opposition to Hillary when she pushed it months ago.

[ShortnFiery]

26. And let's compare and contrast with HRC's: 1) IWR & 2) to SUPPORT (not ban) Cluster Bomb Munitions

How are the poor CEOS, et. al. Executives within all those D.C. Military Contracting Corporations going to buy THEIR "baby new shoes" if they can't MAKE PRETTY BOMBS that serve to blow other kids to "kibbles and bits and bits ... and bits." :wow: :crazy: :nuke:

[PresidentObama]

27. I sincerely like Obama, and he's my second choice. But this will hurt him.

If he's the nominee, this will come back to bite him in the ass.

And hard. All the candidates have things, however, that would.

But I hate to think of the attacks the Republicans are preparing to cook up.

[Nailzberg]

30. This echoes an IL GOP oppo memo I read a couple years ago.

Nothing new about this attack. This is the third time this cycle HRC has come back to it. I'm just not sure there is much oppo out there that we haven't already heard.

[NYCGirl]

31. Nowhere in that site does it say this was 129 votes out of over 4000 bills.

Just for the record.

[Radical Activist]

32. Your first sentence is wrong.

You wrote US Senate but the article is about the Illinois State Senate. I can understand your confusion since it looks as though the site you linked to makes the distinction deliberately obscure.

[rinsd]

66. I think the OP is making reference to his Senate attendance record.

Which is poor for 2007.

That is in addition to his present votes in the IL Senate.

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[William769]

36. Care too respond to post #6?

[DangerDave921]

41. educate me

Sorry for my ignorance, but what does a vote of "present" signify?

[Igel]

64. "Abstain".

It's what you do when you're there and vote neither 'nay' nor 'aye', but vote, either because you want to or because you have to.

Personally, pretty much the only times I've ever "abstained" were when I honestly couldn't figure out how I wanted to vote. At times the motion was too complex for me to sort out whether I thought it was a good thing or not, at other times I honestly couldn't figure out if it was in accordance with "my" group's charter and bylaws or if what was proposed was legal--we has no mechanism for anything like "constitutional review". If it was a trivial motion, I'd let it slip to a vote anyway. If it was a serious motion, I'd try to prevent its coming to a vote until I was satisfied ... esp. if I was chairing the meeting. There were a few abstentions in my past because of conflict of interest.

[mopinko]

68. personally, where? are you some sort of office holder?

hmmm?

[Jim Lane]

75. Sorry, but you're just wrong.

In most assemblies, including the U.S. Senate and nonprofit groups' boards that I've been on, "Present" and "Abstain" votes are ways of being on the sideline. To determine whether the bill or motion passed, you compare the number of "Yes" votes with the number of "No" votes, and you ignore the "Present" or "Abstain" votes.

The Illinois State Senate, however, is different. As has been explained on here more than once, in that body a bill is defeated unless it obtains the affirmative support of more than half the members. Therefore, Obama's votes of "Present" had the same practical effect as if he had voted "No". That probably wasn't true of the instances where you considered abstaining.

What I don't understand is why there are people so keen to bash Obama that they just keep bringing this up over and over and over. They insinuate, or charge outright, that his "Present" votes were wimpish abdications of an opportunity to fight against bad bills. Given the rules under which he was operating, that's simply not true.

Edwards paid too much for a haircut. Clinton tipped too little at a diner. Obama voted "Present" as a State Senator. I'm not backing any of these candidates (go Dennis!), but I believe strongly that all of these petty attack points are utter CRAP.

[Nailzberg]

81. Absolutely correct on the how present votes count in the IL Assembly.

I've followed the IL GA a while now, and I've familiarized myself with Obama's work there over the years. This strategy of attacking Obama on present votes is what drove me to support him in '04.

[BarackBucks]

44. No issue here as far as I can see

[Rosa Luxemburg]

49. "nit picking'

obviously the people who are complaining about his voting history are clutching at straws

[bunnies]

58. 129....

About half as many times as this dead horse has been beaten on DU.

[Texas_Kat]

63. Well, I guess it was good that he was 'present' at least....

...maybe he just couldn't find a copy of the bill he was supposed to be voting on. After all, he said he needed a 'good person' to deal with those kinds of things in the Las Vegas debate.

[hayu_lol]

72. We can solve this argument quite easily...

all the Obama supporters can just vote 'PRESENT' on their ballots. You may have to write it in, but you seem to think present will do the job.

Then lets see how your opinion changes about 'present' votes.

[awaysidetraveler]

73. Maybe I should post a giant list of Hillary's lobbyists, starting with the health care and oil guys.

You know, Hillary's name should be Patsy, because she's the GOP's fall gal.

[Gloria]

76. You know, they BOTH STINK!

[stravu9]

77. Why Am I Suddenly Reminded Of EDDIE HASKLE!?

"Present Mrs. Claever!"