It’s Not Just ‘Ayes’ and ‘Nays’: Obama’s Votes in Illinois Echo

[ccpup]

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.

...

In 2000, Mr. Obama was one of two senators who voted present on a bill on whether facts not presented to a jury could later be the basis for increasing an offender’s sentence beyond the ordinary maximum.

State Representative Jim Durkin, a Republican who was a co-sponsor of the bill, said it was intended to bring state law in line with a United States Supreme Court decision that nullified a practice of introducing new evidence to a judge in the sentencing phase of the trial, after a jury conviction on other charges.

The bill sailed through both chambers. Out of 174 votes cast in the House and Senate, two were against and two were present, including Mr. Obama’s.

“I don’t understand why you would oppose it,” Mr. Durkin said. “But I am more confused by a present vote.”

more at link:

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

they do talk about the times he voted in concert with his party as well as his work with Planned Parenthood, but I thought it important for people to realize his Present votes weren't limited just to abortion.

[HeraldSquare212]

1. 36 times out of 4000 votes? You're right, I see an overwhelming pattern

of voting yea nor nay.

[jackson_dem]

5. He did the same with Kyl-Lieberman. He has a pattern of dodging tough issues

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. Talk about dodging.

:rofl:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. Alright.

So which "present" votes do you take issue with and why?

[Kittycat]

3. They need another day to collaborate at the hive, to come up with an answer.

Or they'll just ignore you, and post 3 or 4 more threads just like this, only reworded, over the next hour.

[jackson_dem]

4. The pattern itself

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. What pattern?

If you say "voting present" is bad itself, you have to explain why it's bad.

If you say "there's a pattern," you have to explain why there's a pattern.

Otherwise you'll look stupid.

[jackson_dem]

10. Presidents can't vote present

Obama is guilty of what he accuses Hillary of: putting political calculation before principle. This is why it took him so long to come up with a position on Kyl-Lieberman.

[ccpup]

12. when Barack speaks of "Hope and Change"

being able to vote Present as President is what he "Hope"s to "Change" :evilgrin:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. And Illinois senators can.

So you still haven't explained why Obama voting "present" was a bad thing, or what "pattern" you're talking about.

"Obama is guilty of what he accuses Hillary of: putting political calculation before principle."

Alright, which particular "present" vote did Obama put political calculation before principle?

(btw, are you suggesting Hillary voted for K-L out of principle?)

[thunder rising]

6. Great men play on the field and petty men judge them from the sidelines

[peoli]

9. I see one vote where HRC approved of the Iraq WAR in which nearly 4,000 americans have died

and millions of Iraqis have died and become refugees.

I think her vote will be remembered far more than Obamas non vote.

[ccpup]

11. not that he hasn't voted to continue funding the war

after being so anti-war from the safety of the State Senate Floor. But why quibble with the facts, right?

Remove the suit and you find a Slinky for a spine.

[Nailzberg]

14. Overwhelmingly supported bills are when present votes are most likely seen.

Because overwhelmingly supported bills are rushed to the floor and often times have problems in their construction that conflict with current laws or the IL Constitution.

Present votes are often used to urge Amendatory Vetoes from the Governor's office to fix these technical issues. In other words, most often, a present vote is used to smooth out a widely-supported, but roughly-constructed bill.

From the article Obama’s campaign said he voted present to register his dissatisfaction with how the bill was put together. He believed, the campaign said, that the bill was rushed to the floor and that lawmakers were deprived of time to consider it.

Of course Mr. Durkin questioned the 2000 present vote. Here's a guy who lost his state house seat in 2002 running against Dick Durbin for US Senate, and only got back in thanks to a midterm retirement in 2006. He has high aspirations but can't get anywhere. So the NYT wants a quote, of course he's gonna be there for it.