Is this getting to be a habit with Obama?

[jillan]

He didn't vote on the Biden/Boxer/Brownback/Kerry etc amendment.

Yet he was there.

Why can't he take a stand on controversial issues?
Was playing politics more important than trying to end the bloodshed?
If he doesn't agree with the language of that bill - then vote against it -
BUT - Take a stand

He missed several votes last week.

Condom candidates - the ones who always play it safe.

[MNDemNY]

1. Did he vote "present" or just not vote?

[Clintonista2]

2. The same reason he voted "present" on all controversial abortion bills in the illinois senate

That way he always wins! His supporters can claim that he "would have voted" the way they want him to vote, and his opponents can't criticise him on a vote he never cast.

[hisownpetard]

3. I'm still trying to find out - what is the stated reason that he missed that vote?

I believe he was on the floor at the time but don't know why he didn't manage to vote.
I'm for Obama, but I'd like to have an answer to this question, if anyone knows.

[wyldwolf]

4. It's always been is standard operating procedure. In Illinois, he voted "present..."

... on abortion bills.

[kwolf68]

5. Well..

Because he has virtually no experience he can't be branded a flip-flopper. When you have a distinguished, long, and successful career working in the government like John Kerry you have a record that can be manipulated to make you look like whatever the enemy wants.

So enter Obama...just got elected to the Senate and now is ready for the next step without taking 1/1000 of the votes Kerry did. What can they attack him with? Hey, and he is articulate. That alone would be a major upgrade over the dink we have at 1600 now.

[jillan]

6. He did not vote

Senators not voting on this amendment -
Obama and McCain.

[Connie_Corleone]

8. That fucking sucks. He was there, he should've voted.

[acmavm]

7. Obama is a panderer. He's even more of one than Hils. And

that's not easy. His big claim to fame is making speeches. That is it. He's a sneak and a coward. He's afraid to show the American people what he's really made of. So he plays it safe and doesn't committ himself to any side.

[oasis]

9. Obama had the wisdom to "speak out" against the invasion of Iraq. Isn't that enough?

:sarcasm:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

10. I prefer the term "abstinence-only candidate"

Obama abstains so he can keep his political career safe!

[Clintonista2]

11. HE DIDN'T VOTE ON THE KYL-LIEBERMAN AMENDMENT EITHER

[gateley]

13. That should have been a no-brainer. This is getting curiouser and curiouser.nt

[gateley]

12. You're right -- it's becoming a pattern and is embarrassing to witness.

He's just not willing to take a chance, but NOT taking a chance -- several times -- speaks volumes. He's not yet ready for the big P.

With all due respect to Obama, we need a President who has the experience of putting him or herself out on a limb and getting knocked around a little. He'll probably be knocked around a little for this.

To Obama supporters to whom this is an important issue, you sincerely have my sympathy. It's almost like a cheating spouse in that at first you give him/her the benefit of the doubt, make yourself believe the reasons, but slowly realize you can't kid yourself anymore.

I'm very interested in his reasoning -- and I truly hope it has more substance than his last explanation which was pretty much a safe, political, non-explanation.

[William769]

14. O bama, the sizzle that really fizzled. NT

[tblue37]

39. I am thinking about how Fred Thompson was considered such a big

deal for the GOP--until he joined the race and proved he couldn't campaign.

[jillan]

15. Where was he? Preparing for tonite's debate?

Anybody know?

[sandnsea]

16. Give Hillary a pass

Brilliant idea.

[jillan]

17. Hillary cast her vote on this amendment - what does this have to do

with her?

[sandnsea]

18. Oh nothing

Her support of continuing the same combative foreign policy is completely irrelevant. Just let her keep moving along, unchallenged. Just brilliant.

[Clintonista2]

19. Waaaah! Waaaaah!

[kmccaskill]

20. obama

maybe it's a strategy, Hillary's been getting all the attention, so him not voting, they will bring it up in the debate then they will all go after him tonight then he can fight them all off and win then he can prove his medal , get media attention, and get some votes

[Clintonista2]

21. No, I don't think he would be able to pull that off. I think he's just lazy.

[yodermon]

34. great. "Obama's lazy". nice meme.

I trust that was just a careless statement you made, and not calculated.

[William769]

24. I always wondered what she looked like. Thanks!

:hi:

[sandnsea]

27. You support a fucking warmonger

You're the one who ought to be crying. She voted to continue the antagonistic foreign policy of the last ten years. Do you support war with Iran???

[Clintonista2]

43. Control your e-rage, hun. nt.

[jillan]

36. This thread was posted after the BBB amendment, before the

Kyl/Lieberman amendment.

Believe me. Hillary has sunk to the bottom of all the candidates in my eyes. And it is not just her vote on Iran.

If she wins the nom, I will vote for her, and that's all I will do for her.

[sandnsea]

37. I'm sorry

I didn't realize you were referring to the other amendment. I just noticed multiple threads attacking Obama, when Hillary's Iran vote is the more dangerous of the two. I know lots of candidate supporters want to take Obama out in hopes of elevating their own candidate. I think it's more important to focus on Hillary, any of those left would be better than her.

[jillan]

38. I don't like either.

In fact, I don't like any of the frontrunners.

All 3 have done things recently that have made me want to scream.

[sandnsea]

40. I understand

Completely. But one has stood out on every issue, and then some, for a long long time. And not in a good way.

[rinsd]

22. Missed vote percentages thru 9/24: Biden - 28.6%, Obama - 23.7%

Hillary has missed only 8.1% :-)

http://mediamatters.org/items/200709240004

[Clintonista2]

23. Thanks, I was gonna post that. Many of the votes he missed were VERY important

Such as the increase of the minimum wage vote.

[rinsd]

32. Some of the votes have been important.

But like that MoveOn vote, I just don't see his abstention on this as any big deal.

[jillan]

25. The actual content of the votes matter the most - to me anyway.

If they miss a vote on a bridge to nowhere - who cares.
But a vote to go to war with Iran - that's something else.

[William769]

26. You know how much that bridge to nowhere would have cost?

[rinsd]

30. Its a nonbinding resolution.

It doesn't authorize anything.

[sandnsea]

33. Supporting it is a bit worse

wouldn't you say??

[Clintonista2]

42. he missed the minimum wage vote

[AtomicKitten]

28. And who appointed you hall monitor?

Your armchair analysis of his voting record is funny, gratuitous in its desperation, but funny.

On edit:

The U.S. Senate has held 346 votes so far this season. Here's how often senators who are presidential candidates were absent during these votes.

DEMOCRATS

Joseph Binden (D-Del.)
28.6%
Votes missed: 99

Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.)
27.7%
Votes missed: 96

Barack Obama (D-Ill.)
23.7 %
Votes missed: 82

http://mediamatters.org/items/200709240004[/div

[Clintonista2]

45. How many votes did Hillary miss?

One third of the amount Obama missed.

[AtomicKitten]

46. Here's a cookie for her.

[Cha]

29. Obama wasn't in New Hampshire?

Not that he shouldn't have gotten himself back for the vote but that's what I read.

[sandnsea]

31. I think he avoided the votes

That happens on difficult votes, but it's not as bad as supporting the war drums against Iran. The people focusing on him are truly missing the big picture.

[Cha]

35. I'm sure he'll have an explanation

then like he did for the moveon one(which I liked)..be interesting.

[MethuenProgressive]

41. Maybe Oprah was on?

Maybe he should look under his chair for a free Tivo, so someday he can make more than 3 out of 4 votes.

[Clintonista2]

44. LOL!

[illinoisprogressive]

47. do you live in Illinois? Is he your senator?

I think whether or not he is in the senate or campaigning for president, that should be up to us, the people of Illinois.
And if the people of Illinois do not care and have his back, then it's not for you to complain.