Barack Obama on Taking Stands on Tough Issues

[jackson_dem]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20obama.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

In the end, Mr. Obama chose neither to vote for nor against the bill. He voted “present,” effectively sidestepping the issue, an option he invoked nearly 130 times as a state senator.

Although a present vote is not unusual in Illinois, Mr. Obama’s use of it is being raised as he tries to distinguish himself as a leader who will take on the tough issues, even if it means telling people the “hard truths” they do not want to hear.

An examination of Illinois records shows at least 36 times when Mr. Obama was either the only state senator to vote present or was part of a group of six or fewer to vote that way.

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. Kyle Lieberman - guess what?

"present"

Had never heard of/ paid attention to this option before Mr. O'

[billbuckhead]

2. To me this sounds cowardly

Especially for someone basing his candidacy in part on how other people voted.

[jackson_dem]

3. He didn't fight then, he won't fight in the future

All the HOPE in the world will not change his nature.

[mtnsnake]

4. That's a pretty damning record, voting "Present" 130 times to sidestep important issues

for sake of his political aspirations, as the Times suggests. Whatever happened to doing the right thing? Isn't that what politicians are supposed to do? Of what use are they if they don't vote? I thought that was their job.

In the end, Mr. Obama chose neither to vote for nor against the bill. He voted “present,” effectively sidestepping the issue, an option he invoked nearly 130 times as a state senator.

[Ninga]

This is so much better than my rant. I appreciate the link. Thanks

[Ninga]

5. dupe - sorry

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. Kyl-Lieberman is a tough issuee? Really?

Struck me as really simple, and really stupid.

I think of it like this:

If some freeper showed up at DU and posted, say, a racist cartoon demeaning to black people, I'd ignore it.

Why? I've got better things to do then feed trolls, and the guy's going to get banned anyway.

However, if some DUer said "I agree with this cartoon, I support it all the way," well than that's quite a bit different than simply ignoring it.

[jackson_dem]

7. Too tough for Obama

[mtnsnake]

9. Apparently, tough enough & important enough that 98 Senators voted for it, all except Obama & McCain

Pretty easy to figure out why they didn't want to put their asses on the line in this extremely important vote. Gee, I wonder if it has anything to do with a vote like that coming back to haunt them in a general election. It's called politically wimping out.

[AzDar]

8. And this, folks, is why Hannah-Montana-Obama cannot /should not

be our Nominee.

All style, no substance.