Obama’s Voting Record Belies Moderate Image

[AZXD]

Sad how he votes PRESENT so often, and a little worse when he actually gives a YES or NO.

Obama’s Voting Record Belies Moderate
Image

In his televised response to President Bush’s Iraq speech, Sen. Barack Obama (D.-Ill.) told Larry King he would be making his decision on a run for the White House “fairly soon.”

Obama’s decision today to seek the Democratic nomination will shine a spotlight on votes he made during his six years in the Illinois Senate—before coming to Washington, D.C., as a U.S. senator. Explaining these votes could be uncomfortable for Obama, who has never been made to answer for his controversial decisions there.

In his race for the U.S. Senate, not a single negative ad was run against him either during the seven way Democratic primary or in the general election, in good part because Republican Jack Ryan unexpectedly dropped out of the race after a court unsealed embarrassing divorce documents that were highly publicized by the media. As a result, Obama faced weak Republican candidate Alan Keyes, who quickly came under attack from the media and was unable to act offensively in the campaign.

Now, basically untouched in these past political campaigns, Obama will likely flaunt his media-created image as a moderate Democrat capable of embracing both conservative and liberal ideals. But, as HUMAN EVENTS has shown in other articles, no matter what lip service Obama gives to conservative principles, at the end of the day he reliably comes down on the liberal side.

Below are some votes Obama made as a state legislator that pierce his moderate façade.

ABORTION
NO SB 230 (1997)
To prohibit partial-birth abortion unless necessary to save the life of a mother and makes performance of the procedure a Class 4 felony for the physician.

NO HB 709 (2000)
To prohibit state funding of abortion and induced miscarriages except when necessary to save the life of the mother. Excludes premature births from funding except to produce a viable child when necessary to save the life of a mother. Would permit funding in cases of rape or incest when payment is authorized under federal law.

NO SB 1661 (2002)
A part of the Born Alive Infant Protection Package. Would create a cause of action if a child is born alive after an abortion and the child is then neglected through failure to provide medial care after birth.

CRIME
NO SB 381 (1997)
To require prisoners to pay court costs for frivolous lawsuits against the state.

NO SB 485 (1999)
To give no offer of “good time” for sex offenders sentenced to the County Jail. *Obama was the only vote against this measure

UNIONS
YES HB 3396 (2003)
To make unionization easier by not requiring a secret ballot to organize if 50% of the eligible workers publicly sign a card of support for unionization.

YES SB 230 (2003)
Entitles a teacher who is elected as an officer of the state or national teacher’s union to be granted a leave of absence for up to six years, or the period of time the teacher is serving.

YES SB 1070 (2003)
Allows college graduate assistants who teach college courses be eligible to join a union.

CHILD PROTECTION
PRESENT SB 609 (2001)
To restrict the location of buildings with “adult” uses (meaning pornographic video stores, strip clubs, etc.) within 1,000 feet of any public or private elementary or secondary school, public park, place or worship, preschool, day-care facility, mobile park or residential area.

NO HB 1812 (1999)
To require school boards to install software on public computers accessible to minors to block sexually explicit material.

TAXES
NO SB 1075 (1999)
To create an income tax credit for all full-time K-12 pupils in an amount equal to 25% of qualified education expenses up to a maximum of $500 per family.

YES SB 1725 (2003)
To restore the Illinois Estate Tax.

YES SB 1733 (2003)
To impose a Gas Use Tax on the purchase of natural gas from outside the state of Illinois for use or consumption in Illinois. Forces the delivering supplier to pay 2.4 cents per therm of gas, or the customer can elect to become a “selfassessing” purchaser and pay 5% of the purchase price or 2.4 cents per therm.

ELECTIONS
YES SB 1415 (2003)
To create public funding for supreme court races.

GAY RIGHTS
NOT VOTING HB 581 (2003)
Allows domestic partners to be allowed to assume the rights of a spouse or survivor with regards to pension benefits under the Chicago Teacher’s pension system.

NO SB 228 (1997)
Changes the “Illinois Equal Opportunity Act of 1997” to stipulate, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any unit of government or school district that gives benefits to same sex couples under any criteria must give equal benefits to heterosexual couples.

DRUGS
YES SB 880 (2003)
To allow the purchase of 10 hypodermic needles from a pharmacy without a prescription.

PRESENT HB 2000 (4659)
To establish a zero-tolerance drug-testing policy for Department of Corrections Employees

BUSINESS
NO SB 777 (1999)
To end the unemployment insurance fund building tax.

NO SB 879 (1999)
To end the minimum contribution tax rate for the unemployment system.

NO SB 795 (2001)
To reduce employers’ minimum contribution insurance rate.

YES SB 796 (2003)
To increase the Illinois minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $6.50 per hour.

[FLSTFI Dave]

Originally Posted by AZXD

Sad how he votes PRESENT so often, and a little worse when he actually gives a YES or NO.

I thought it was common knowledge that Obama is the Most Liberal Senator in Congress........

Voting Present is a cop out, un willing to take a Stand......

[AZXD]

Most liberal ... Yep!
Unwilling to take a stand ... Yep! I'll agree with that also.

Originally Posted by FLSTFI Dave

I thought it was common knowledge that Obama is the Most Liberal Senator in Congress........

Voting Present is a cop out, un willing to take a Stand......

[FrankRizzoXD40]

Voting present is clearly a political maneuver to avoid taking a stand on anything.

It enables Obama to talk out of both sides of his mouth. He can say to one group of people that he never supported certain things regarding abortion, while he tells another group that he never opposed it.

It's the true definition of an "empty suit".

Frank

[FLSTFI Dave]

Originally Posted by FrankRizzoXD40

Voting present is clearly a political maneuver to avoid taking a stand on anything.

It enables Obama to talk out of both sides of his mouth. He can say to one group of people that he never supported certain things regarding abortion, while he tells another group that he never opposed it.

It's the true definition of an "empty suit".

Frank

Thanks, I knew all the above, but did not realize that was the definition of empty suit ....Glad I learned that

[FrankRizzoXD40]

Originally Posted by FLSTFI Dave

Thanks, I knew all the above, but did not realize that was the definition of empty suit ....Glad I learned that

lol...if you are never going to stand for anything by voting present, that's an empty suit to me!

The guy claims to be qualified for the presidency. What credentials does he bring? Where did he stand on the tough issues during this short career? He chose to vote "present". That is clearly not performing the job he was elected to do. His suit is as empty as they come.

Frank

[FLSTFI Dave]

Originally Posted by FrankRizzoXD40

lol...if you are never going to stand for anything by voting present, that's an empty suit to me!

The guy claims to be qualified for the presidency. What credentials does he bring? Where did he stand on the tough issues during this short career? He chose to vote "present". That is clearly not performing the job he was elected to do. His suit is as empty as they come.

Frank

Uhmmmm

I guess some believe the ability to give a great speach qualifies him, even when the speach says nothing.....

[LUVMYSIGP225]

If this guy becomes President, it will be comical to watch him fail miserably. There are so many things that could go wrong, and they will all be worth a hearty belly laugh.

It may give people four years to cool off about Bush and start focusing on Obama. He may pull some legislation that will pi$$ off Americans enough to kick him out in four years and roll Capitol Hill, like 1994.

[AZXD]

Or perhaps ... Storm the modern day equivalent of the Bastille ... Hmmm, what soon followed that event ??

Originally Posted by LUVMYSIGP225

If this guy becomes President, it will be comical to watch him fail miserably. There are so many things that could go wrong, and they will all be worth a hearty belly laugh.

It may give people four years to cool off about Bush and start focusing on Obama. He may pull some legislation that will pi$$ off Americans enough to kick him out in four years and roll Capitol Hill, like 1994.

[Frenchy]

If we do get him, it will be because the GOP failed to live up to it's Conservative roots and tradition.
It's as simple as that.