Hillary's very progressive voting record, for those who never paid attention.

[pnwmom]

Unlike some Democratic dream nominees, HRC can boast of an actual voting RECORD in the Senate, where she was consistently among the most progressive members.

As someone who would have been happy to support either HRC or BHO in 2008, I was puzzled by all the people who were sure Obama was more progressive; their voting records simply didn't show this. Many of these people who thought BHO was more liberal are among the loudest complainers about him now -- because they didn't get what they imagined they were getting. But there was no real reason then to think he was more liberal than Hillary -- based on their voting records.

And based on their records -- assuming we give her a better Congress to work with -- I expect her to be more the more liberal if she runs and is elected to the Presidency in 2016.

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/2/21/133518/373/elections2008/Who-s-More-Progressive-Hillary-or-Obama-


Progressive Punch is a site that rates the legislative records of all Senators on progressive issues. For 2007-2008, Barack Obama is the 43rd most progressive out of 100 Senators. # 44 is Joe Lieberman. After #50, they are all Republicans, except for Tim Johnson. (Overall, his ranking is 88% or 24 out of 99, possibly suggesting he has become less progressive over time in the Senate.)

Hillary Clinton is rated far more progressive for 2007-2008, at #29. Her score is 90% to Obama's 81%. Overall, she ranks 17 out of 99, with a 91% progressive voting record, to his 24 out of 99 and an 88% progressive voting record.).


SNIP

Another example: Class-Action lawsuits. In one of his first votes as Senator, in Feb. 2005, Obama voted against progressives on a bill to move them to federal court which is more hostile to consumers than state courts. . . .

Hillary voted with progressives against the bill.

SNIP

Interestingly, she is being attacked by Obama for her votes on trade and labor rights. Her record shows a 100% backing of progressive votes on "Aid to Workers Negatively Impacted Upon by International Trade Agreements." and on General Union Rights and on Outsourcing of American Jobs Overseas. Here's her record on Preventing Workers' Rights From Being Eroded by International Trade Agreements. Solidly progressive with the exception of one bill in 2002.

SNIP

She is also ranked as the number 1 progressive among all Senators on Darfur, nuclear weapons, arms control treaties, military spending in general, intelligence oversight, general U.S. military intervention overseas, and the well-being of military personnel.

SNIP

[Tx4obama]

1. And - a link to the Hillary Clinton "On the Issues" page below

Here: http://www.ontheissues.org/Hillary_Clinton.htm

[pnwmom]

2. Thanks!

[Enrique]

3. Obama and Hillary are essentially the same

the distinctions they drew during the primaries was just because they were running against each other. The biggest difference was the individual mandate, and Obama ended up adopting Hillary's position as president.

[pnwmom]

4. Not when judging by their voting records. Hers was more liberal. n/t

[polichick]

8. That war vote wasn't very liberal - or smart.

[pnwmom]

9. The war vote was an attempt by the Senate Democrats

to reign Bush in. It didn't work because he just ignored it, but it was worth a try.

They voted for the IWR in the fall because they knew the next Congress was falling to the Rethugs. So their choice was to vote for an IWR that contained some restrictions (requiring him to find WMD before he went in) -- or to not pass it, in which case the incoming Congress would have given Bush a blank check.

So they decided to give him an IWR with restrictions.

As it is, Bush DEFIED the wording of the IWR so no one who signed it actually approved what he did.

[polichick]

10. That's quite a story. Usually Clinton supporters say she HAD to vote...

in favor of the war because she was a NY Senator and her state was hit on 9-11, which is just another excuse.

[pnwmom]

11. It's the truth. This was openly discussed at the time. n/t

[polichick]

12. Too bad she was so gung-ho in that speech she gave...

It was sickening.

[MannyGoldstein]

19. Most Democrats voted against it

Were they wrong?

[Beacool]

5. Thank you for this post.

I never understood why in 2008 people thought that he was more progressive. I still remember how they each voted on FISA.

[freshwest]

6. Interesting data. Thanks.

[Thinkingabout]

7. She definitely has experience on many different issues than most others which are testing the water.

She is tuff and ready for action and having been First Lady for eight years which has placed her in position to be well known in the world. She also has Bill's experience to advise her. I stand with her on many issues.

[libdem4life]

13. Good, old-fashioned political research. Thank you ... also for the links. And good news, as well n/t

[Doctor_J]

14. We heard the same crap about Obama 6 years ago

:yawn:

[blkmusclmachine]

15. "Progressive?" HAHAHA! Compared to WHAT?!?!

[pnwmom]

16. Her voting record, according to Progressive Punch, put her at 29th place

out of 100 Senators, with a 90% positive record on progressive issues.

That makes her much more progressive than the average General Election voter.

[MannyGoldstein]

18. Not even close.

Most Americans are far to the left of most national elected Democrats. On Social Security, "free" trade, fair taxation, servicing bankers, minimum wage, war, secret police issues, etc.

[pnwmom]

20. The only poll that counts is the one on election day and on that score

Hillary is well to the left of the average voter.

[MannyGoldstein]

21. "On all other nights we are Liberals."

"Why, on this night, are we fringe rightists?"

Must be commemorating the Clintons' leading the Middle Class out of prosperity.

[MannyGoldstein]

17. What would you consider to be her five most important votes?

The issues that had the most impact on Americans.

How did Hillary vote on those?

[Hekate]

22. KnR and good luck

I don't know why she gets such vociferous opposition here, up to and including slams originating in the Right Wing, but thanks for setting the record straight, pnwmom.

[PassingFancy]

23. I Hated That Hillary Lost In The Primary

I voted for Hillary in the Primary of 2008 (I am now 60 years old) and my husband voted for Hillary in the Primary of 2008 (he's now almost 67 years old). Our now 27 year old son also voted for Hillary in the Primary of 2008. All 3 of us were very disappointed she lost as we knew she was more to the left than Obama and that's what we wanted - someone who was left enough to make a huge difference for this country. But, when it came to the general election in 2008, we had no choice but to vote for Obama as he is a Democrat by party affiliation. We were disappointed he did not give the country a single payer health care system (I was unsure if he was really just giving it lip service or if he really was for a single payer system) - we knew Hillary would have pushed through any way she had to in order to give us a single payer system. I hope she runs in 2016 - we need someone who is as progressive and left-leaning as she is (yes, I didn't like the war vote from her - just like I didn't like it from everyone who voted for war - I'm totally anti-war).

[hrmjustin]

24. Thank you for this post.