The Hill's Sam Youngman asks if Obama has been a really strong "anti-crime" legislator

[papau]

The Hill's Sam Youngman and Aaron Blake offer a story this morning on what could be potential ammunition for Obama's rivals on Obama's anti-crime record during his tenure as an Illinois state Senator. http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obamas-crime-votes-are-fodder-for-rivals-2007-03-13.html

[Colobo]

1. This is expected

He is a Senator. His record should be under scrutiny.

[BeyondGeography]

2. Not a knee-jerk law and order type, not a total softy either

<Laimutis Nargelenas, a lobbyist for the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, said that while Obama did at times vote on the side of “individual rights … than the ability of law enforcement to get things done,” he was always an independent vote who was very thoughtful on law-and-order issues.

<Nargelenas said particularly with legislation allowing undercover officers to record suspects and profile based on race, Obama was considerate of the needs of law enforcement and always looking for ways to balance the needs of police with the “rights of the individual citizen.”

<Since Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate, he has been helpful in restoring proposed funding cuts for various police programs, Nargelenas aid.

<“When he said he was going to do something, you could always trust him on his word,” Nargelenas said.>