Obama and the Move on vote

[illinoisprogressive]

While the GOP-authored measure was engineered to drive a wedge between Democrats—making a choice between a politically influential left-wing anti-war group and backing a decorated general—Democratic presidential rivals Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Chris Dodd did take a position; they voted no.

The measure, sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) passed on a 72-25-3 (not voting) roll call. Also not voting: White House contender Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.).

However, Obama did vote on a Democratic measure by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) intended to provide political cover for Democrats. Boxer’s amendment reffirms support for all U.S. military personnel and to condemn attacks on the patriotism of any soldier. designed to counter Cornyn. The Boxer amendment failed on a 51-46-3 vote. Cornyns’ measure said it was a “sense of the Senate that General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, deserves the full support of the Senate and strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces.

Obama has a history going back to his days as a state senator in Springfield of not voting or voting “present” when it comes to measures he considered designed specifically to produce a vote record that can be attacked.

In Springfield in 1997, Obama voted present on late term abortion bills. In 1999, he voted present on a bill increasing penalties for firing a gun near a school and on legislation dealing with the privacy of sex-abuse victims. In 2001 he voted present on a series of abortion related bills.

Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt said Thursday Obama’s present votes in Springfield were “part of a legislative strategy he crafted with advocates that helped senators in marginal districts vote their conscience on choice and to reduce gun violence.”

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/09/sweet_blog_extra_obama_takes_w.html#more

[EV_Ares]

1. Good choice on his part, nothing wrong with abstaining and there

certainly was nothing wrong with voting as Hillary and dodd did. However, the ones that voted w/republicans I certainly have a problem with.

[AtomicKitten]

2. me too

I can hardly believe some Democrats are still buying into these kind of cheesy manipulation. They should have refused to even consider this nonsense.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Reid should have never allowed this vote to even come up!

Our Congressional leaders are inept and incompetent compared to the Republican leaders. Look at how Newt Gingrich ran the House, and Trent Lott ran the Senate, and you will see how Pelosi and Reid should have controlled the institution's agenda against any GOP proposal. You can't provide the GOP with any sort of platform for them to air their propaganda.

As to Hillary and Dodd, kudos to both of them for standing up to another bullshit GOP proposal.

If you want to support the troops, you should have supported the Webb proposal on military deployments.

Petraeus follows a long line of generals that have lied to protect and defend criminal war policies. Does the name Westmoreland ring a bell?

[AtomicKitten]

4. Reid should have laughed in their faces.

The Democrats simply are inept at playing hardball. Kudos to those that voted against this crap, but I am completely behind Obama calling bullshit on it. The GOP needs to be slapped down hard. If the Democrats don't have the nachos to do it, we are truly in deep shit ad infinitum.

[fujiyama]

6. Democrats seem like amatuers when playing politics

Most of the time, I forget that Dems even have the majority in the senate. It's funny looking back, but some of the worst pieces of legislation under this president have ended up passing when Dems were actually in the majority - Patriot Act, IWR, recent FISA spy bill...I'm not necessarily blaming Dems for the fact that these fact, but its indicative of the party's inability to keep unified on any issue (well then again, they were on the PATRIOT Act - in the wrong way of course).

Just amazing how easy the party caves...

[illinoisprogressive]

5. Obama was showing the spineless they did not have to and should not play the repukes games

[BenDavid]

7. The problem with the Senate Dems is Harry

Reid.....I hope after the 08 election that someone with big balls will become the Majority leader. We would be good to go if Byrd was about 30 years younger. Need someoen that knows the rules and regs of the Senate and someone that will not back down 15 minutes after a speech and a republican calls them on it....The Senate Dems, well not all are acting like they are the minority party....
BIG BALLS is what they need....

Ben David