Obama's statement on his No vote on the Iraq supplemental...

[flpoljunkie]

"This vote is a choice between validating the same failed policy in Iraq that has cost us so many lives and demanding a new one. And I am demanding a new one.”

“We must fund our troops. But we owe them something more. We owe them a clear, prudent plan to relieve them of the burden of policing someone else's civil war. We need a plan to compel the Iraqi people to reach a political accommodation and to take responsibility for their own future. It's time to change course.”

“I opposed this war in 2002 precisely because I feared it would lead us to the open-ended occupation in which we find ourselves today.”

“This President has led us down a disastrous path and has arrogantly refused to acknowledge the grim reality of this war, which has cost us so dearly in lives and treasure.”

“After he vetoed a plan that would have funded the troops and begun to bring them home, this bill represents more of his stubborn refusal to address his failed policy.”

“We should not give the President a blank check to continue down this same, disastrous path.”

“With my vote today, I am saying to the President that enough is enough. We must negotiate a better plan that funds our troops, signals to the Iraqis that it is time for them to act and that begins to bring our brave servicemen and women home safely and responsibly.”

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/may/24/obama_hillary_both_vote_against_the_no_timelines_iraq_funding_bill

[Colobo]

1. ¡Muy bien, Obama!

[illinoisprogressive]

2. GOBAMA! You rock!

[Grandrose]

3. My Senator done good!

I am very proud and to those that say it was calculated, I say back off!:)

[jefferson_dem]

4. Thanks Senator!

:patriot: :applause: :patriot:

[papau]

5. Did Obama vote "no" 'cause he heard Hillary was voting "no" - or was it the other

way around -

Or was it a vote for each based on the fact that he and she believed it was the right vote?

so many questions :-) (and I=P, I am just having fun on a dark day - don't take this post too seriously :-) )

[flpoljunkie]

6. Just like Feingold/Reid. Obama lead, Hillary followed.

[papau]

10. Ah - but the vote wasalready over when Obama voted, and the vote was

already over when Hillary voted - not much of a lead/follow moment, now was it.

14 voted no in the Senate, 140 no's in the house -

It has been a rotten night.

[flpoljunkie]

12. I repeat, there was never any question the bill would pass overwhelmingly!

[Egnever]

23. So that excuses getting out in front of the issue?

I am not sure why you keep repeating that.

[Bullet1987]

8. That's what I'm trying to figure out...

[Ethelk2044]

26. Have any of you Ever Watched the Voting on C-Span

Obama always wait until the end of the voting before he votes.

[Clovis Sangrail]

7. oooo

I called him yesterday, and this morning, and both times was told that "Senator Obama hasn't taken a position on this issue yet".

I was looking to be impressed. I was hoping to be impressed.
I bought into the whole "Obama is different" thing... but now I see how wrong I was.

He didn't take a stand on this until after he could "safely" vote against it.
This reeks of slimey politics.

[Bullet1987]

9. There is no safely voting for a bill that was GOING to be PASSED!!!

I could see if it was supposed to be close...but it wasn't anywhere near a CLOSE VOTE. Your argument holds no water...

[Clovis Sangrail]

16. until the votes actually started I was hoping it wouldn't

In the house 140 house voted against it.
Only 86 dems voted for it.

I think it would have been reasonable to assume it might be much closer than 80 - 14 in the senate, making holding off their votes a wise decision.

:shrug:

Given the track record of our politicians it seems generally a safe bet to assume their motivations are "less than pure" at any given moment.

[bvar22]

18. Of course there is safety!

Both Obama and Clinton REFUSED to even comment on this bill BEFORE it was a done deal. Several LEADERSHIP Dem Senators went ON THE RECORD before the vote. Dodd, Kerry, and Feingold are LEADERS.

For most of the unwashed, Obama and Clinton are considered "leaders" in the Democratic Party. Standing up YESTERDAY and voicing OPPOSITION to this obscene piece may have done some good. It might have convinced other cowardly Democrats to vote their constituents wishes....but Nooo.

Keeping quiet, hiding from the cameras, and voting only AFTER its a done deal IS cowardly.
Obama & Clinton playing politics while our children DIE?
:thumbsdown:

[Bullet1987]

19. So what...

Boo Hoo...they didn't comment on it. Their actions spoke louder than their words today and that's what I wanted. And once more...when they voted is moot because it was going to be passed REGARDLESS!!! I'm tired of repeating the same thing in these threads.

[bvar22]

21. When they voted is ALL important.

Obama & Clinton took a stand....AFTER the battle as over.
If that is the kind of leadership you applaud, you deserve the representation of an Obama or a Clinton.

REPEAT: Clinton and Obama stood up AFTER the battle. :thumbsdown:
get it?

[Egnever]

24. No I dont think he/she does

But I sure as hell do and I must say untill today Obama was quite possibly my choice. It will take me a while to get over his failure to lead on this thing.

[Nedsdag]

30. Spare me the self-righteous post.

Does this mean you'll vote for Nader in 2008? No, I didn't think so.

[flpoljunkie]

11. There was never any questions that the bill would pass overwhelmingly.

[jobycom]

14. I'll tell you what reeks of slimy politics.

No I won't, it's against DU rules.

Obama hadn't taken a stand as of yesterday. He took one tonight. Good enough. Same for Clinton. If they'd voted YES, then we'd have a right to be pissed.

[Clovis Sangrail]

15. or as of this morning

I guess I called around 11am PST... 2pm his time

[Clovis Sangrail]

17. you know... reading your comment again

makes me wonder if the Democrats will be eating their own again.
I don't know if you were around here for the last primary, but it was _ugly_.

I think in 04 that damaged Kerry pretty seriously by the time the general rolled around.
In the last Ca gubernatorial election I think theres little doubt that Dem infighting assured Arnie's re-election.

[jobycom]

25. That was my point. Only you seem to miss that it was directed at you.

So let me be blunt. You are attacking Democrats for voting the right way. Whether you are "eating your own," or have other intentions, I can't say, but the net result is, you are attacking Obama for voting the right way. That only helps the Republicans.

[Clovis Sangrail]

31. I think this is exactly how things got started last time

You assumed I made some unwarranted vicious attack on Obama.
maybe that I'm really a "plant" for some other candidate and was just making a drive by.
Instead of accepting it for what it was... a very valid criticism of a politician.

Up until yesterday, I honestly did support Obama, precisely because of his message of "no politics as usual".
I read Audacity of Hope and was impressed with his recognition of candidates having to sell little pieces of their soul and his desire to NOT do that. I even gave away a couple copies to get other people to read it.

Based on the facts (that he refused to take a stand before the vote and didn't vote until late) I stated my opinion of what he had done.

You responded with invective.
Lockstep defense of any criticism of your party's candidate is a less than attractive trait.
If you think that will result in "the right" candidate getting elected you need to seriously re-evaluate things.

[CTLawGuy]

22. ok

what does Obama gain from doing that?

he voted against it, thus he doesn't look like he supports the troops, he would have to have voted FOR it.

What does he gain in political points from the mere fact of passage of the bill???

[carpe diem]

13. I am relieved and pleased that Sen. Obama voted no on this bill and I

am glad he has finally decided it's time to stop giving this thug of a president a blank check to hand over to Haliburton...however, it would have been a so much more impressive display of LEADERSHIP, if this statement had come out 24 or 12 or even 6 hours ago...anyway, despite my disappointment that it took so long to hear from him on this, I am very glad that he didn't piss on the base with this one...I would have had to change my logo below to Gravel/Kucinich ;-)

[AllyCat]

20. Yes, jg, that's the point those of us who are angry with them are making

It would have been a more impressive display of leadership, a quality we'd all like to see in a President, especially after 6 years of none. But that didn't happen with Clinton or Obama. It doesn't matter WHEN they voted or that the bill was GOING TO PASS anyway. It would have been great to see them come out ahead of schedule, make a statement of opposition, and then stick to their guns.

I'm not sure why they waited so long, but it looks like politicking. It's time to put the American people, our troops in the Middle East, and the innocent civilians in this horrible, lie-filled war before their candidacies.

That said, I too am glad they voted no.

[Ethelk2044]

28. AllyCat

Please find out when Obama voted for other bills. Did he go out and vote at the beginning or did he wait like this time. Did you investigate? Or you complaining just to complain.


***Note he always vote towards the end if any investigation was done, you would have found that out.

[hijinx87]

27. this is a shot across the leadership's bow

“We should not give the President a blank check to continue down this same, disastrous path.”

when pelosi/reid specifically said that it was not a blank check. this shows
spine. I like it.

[Hersheygirl]

29. He is assuming then that * gives a damn,

Which we all know he does not. Have they all forgotten what * said, that it would be the responsibility of the next president to end this war. I can just imagine that last night, * and Cheyney were having a good laugh at how ridiculously naive the Dem's that voted yes are and how they manipulated them.

[Az_lefty]

32. if he would have issued this statement at noon yesterday...

and been the first in line to vote NO I would be giving him all the credit in the world. But he waited to vote until the very end (along with Hillary) when it was already decided and issued this statement a day late. Sorry Obama, this country needs leadership not a windvane.

[DU GrovelBot]

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