Barack Obama and the MoveOn.org / Betray-Us thing:

[Coexist]

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/09/20/372106.aspx

From NBC's Mark Murray
Obama's presidential campaign gives First Read this statement from Obama about not voting today on the Senate measure condemning the MoveOn.org print ad criticizing Gen. David Petraeus.

"The focus of the United States Senate should be on ending this war, not on criticizing newspaper advertisements," Obama says. "This amendment was a stunt designed only to score cheap political points while what we should be doing is focusing on the deadly serious challenge we face in Iraq. It's precisely this kind of political game-playing that makes most Americans cynical about Washington's ability to solve America's problems. By not casting a vote, I registered my protest against this empty politics. I registered my views on the ad itself the day it appeared.

Obama goes on to say, "All of us respect the service of General Petraeus and all of our brave men and women in uniform. The way to honor that service is to give them a mission that is responsible, not to vote on amendments like the Cornyn amendment while we continue to pursue the wrong policy in Iraq."

[MagsDem]

1. He's an expert at talking out both sides of his mouth

Clearly

[Coexist]

3. you know - I wasn't going to post this

but as a MoveOn.org member for years, I don't feel slapped.

If all the Dems walked out of all those silly republican "censures" maybe they would've stopped doing them.

[rucky]

5. And it tells me that, as President,

he won't sign unproductive legislation.

[silverweb]

12. Bingo!

Exactly. And he won't be sidetracked by theatrics.

[MagsDem]

14. Oh really? LOL -- yes, that's the ticket

We want to LOOK for a president that talks out both sides of his mouth, because that makes him a better president. Man, you guys are desperate to deny that Obama isn't exactly as bad as he appears to be when you actually LOOK at his record and his statements.

[maximusveritas]

2. That was a smart move; Everyone else should have done the same n/t

[rinsd]

4. Translation: Vote was controversial so I pulled a trick from my IL days.

I can point to my rigid support for something without having to go on record with a vote!

Woo-hoo fooled those silly voters once again!

[KennedyGuy]

6. another "PRESENT" vote from the Obamacoward

troubling

[MethuenProgressive]

7. "Hey! Where's that Yellow 'Present' button??"

dumbass

[robbedvoter]

8. "I wasn't aware I voted "no". I want the record to reflect that I mean "yes"

[beachmom]

9. Just say no to Stupid Right Wing Tricks in the Congress.

I liked what Obama did that day.

[flpoljunkie]

10. Yet Hillary rushed to pander. There's the difference between them. Barack Obama doesn't pander.

[KennedyGuy]

11. He doesn't seem to VOTE either

troubling

[CyberPieHole]

13. Obama panders PLENTY. McClurkin and the anti~gay hating bigots is ONE group he panders to...

don't go saying Obama is not a panderer...you know perfectly well that he pandered to the religious assholes and threw the gay community under the bus.

[MagsDem]

15. Obama doesn't pander???

Well, except to homophobes, the Christian right, and republican voters. That's all.

[jefferson_dem]

16. I was with Obama at his rally in ATL the night the silly sense of the senate resolution came up.

What you see above is exactly what he said to the crowd of supporters then. He did the right thing. The whole thing was a stunt and should not have even be dignified with a serious vote.