Comparing the Senate voting records of Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain

[Douglas Carpenter]

I am myself disappointed in some of the positions taken by Sen. Obama - But I think it is worth comparing his Senate voting record with the Senate voting record of the only other person who has any chance whatsoever of being inaugurated President of the United States on January 20, 2009.

All figures are interest group ratings from 2007, except when those figures were not available, in such cases I will post the ratings from 2006 or 2005-2006:

The link for Sen. McCain's ratings on Project Vote Smart:

http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=53270&type=category&category=45&go.x=10&go.y=12

The link for Sen. Obama's ratings on Project Vote Smart:

http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=9490

Abortion Issues

In 2007 NARAL Pro-Choice America gave Senator Obama a grade of 100.

In 2007 NARAL Pro-Choice America gave Senator McCain a grade of 0.

Animal Welfare Issues

Senator Obama supported the interests of the The Humane Society of the United States 75 percent in 2007.

Senator McCain supported the interests of the The Humane Society of the United States 25 percent in 2007.
_________________________________

Civil Rights and Human Rights Issues

2007 American Civil Liberties Union gave Senator Obama a grade of 80.

2007 American Civil Liberties Union gave Senator McCain a grade of 50.
______________________________________________________________

2007 Senator Obama supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 85 percent in 2007

2007 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 15 percent in 2007.
________________________________________________________________________

2006 Senator Obama supported the interests of the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State 100 percent in 2006.

2006 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State 33 percent in 2006.
________________________________________________________________________

2005-2006 Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union 83 percent in 2005-2006.

2005-2006 Senator McCain supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union 33 percent in 2005-2006.
________________________________________________________________________

2005-2006 Senator Obama supported the interests of the Human Rights Campaign 89 percent in 2005-2006

2005-2005 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Human Rights Campaign 33 percent in
________________________________________________________________________

Conservative Issues

Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Conservative Union 7 percent in 2007.

Senator McCain supported the interests of the American Conservative Union 80 percent in 2007.
_______________________________________________________________________

Education Issues

2007 National Education Association gave Senator Obama a grade of A.

2997 National Education Association gave Senator McCain a grade of F.
___________________________________________________________


Senator Obama supported the interests of the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) 100 percent in 2007

Senator McCain supported the interests of the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) 0 percent in 2007.
________________________________________________________________________

Energy Issues

2005-2006 Senator Obama supported the interests of the Campaign for America's Future 100 percent in 2005-2006 on energy legislation.

2005-2006 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Campaign for America's Future 17 percent in 2005-2006 on energy legislation.
____________________________________________________________

Environmental Issues

2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to League of Conservation Voters's position, Senator Obama received a rating of 67.

2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to League of Conservation Voters's position, Senator McCain received a rating of 0.
______________________________________________________________

Family and Children Issues

2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Children's Defense Fund's position, Senator Obama received a rating of 60.

2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Children's Defense Fund's position, Senator McCain received a rating of 10.
________________________________________________________
(The Family Research Council is an extremely right-wing organization found and lead by Dr. Richard Dobson)

2007 In 2007 Family Research Council gave Senator Obama a grade of 0.

In 2007 Family Research Council gave Senator McCain a grade of 42.
_______________________________________________________________

Foreign Aid and Policy Issues

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Council for a Livable World 81 percent in 2007

Senator McCain supported the interests of the Council for a Livable World 0 percent in 2007.
____________________________________________________________________

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Peace Action 67 percent in 2006

Senator McCain supported the interests of the Peace Action 50 percent in 2006
________________________________________________________________


Senator Obama supported the interests of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation 83 percent in 2005-2006.

Senator McCain supported the interests of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation 25 percent in 2005-2006
______________________________________________________________________.

Health Issues

Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Academy of Family Physicians 100 percent in 2007.

Senator McCain supported the interests of the American Academy of Family Physicians 0 percent in 2007
________________________________________________________________________


Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine 100 percent in 2005-2006

Senator McCain supported the interests of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine 0 percent in 2005-2006.
__________________________________________________________________


Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Nurses Association 100 percent in 2005-2006.

Senator McCain supported the interests of the American Nurses Association 20 percent in 2005-2006.
_____________________________________________________________________

Labor

Senator Obama supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 100 percent in 2007.

Senator McCain supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 0 percent in 2007.
______________________________________________________________________

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Service Employees International Union 75 percent in 2007.

Senator McCain supported the interests of the Service Employees International Union 8 percent in 2007.
________________________________________________________________________

Liberal

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Americans for Democratic Action 75 percent in 2007

Senator McCain supported the interests of the Americans for Democratic Action 10 percent in 2007.
_________________________________________________________________

Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Journal - Composite Liberal Score 95.5 percent in 2007.

Senator McCain supported the interests of the National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy 40 percent in 2007

______________________________________________________

Veterans Issues

2006 Senator Obama supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 80 percent in 2006.

2006 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 20 percent in 2006.
________________________________________________________________

2006 In 2006 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator Obama a grade of B+.

2006 In 2006 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator McCain a grade of D.

__________________________________________

Welfare and Poverty

"RESULTS is a nonprofit grassroots advocacy organization committed to creating the political will to end hunger and the worst aspects of poverty.”

2005-2006 Senator Obama supported the interests of the RESULTS 100 percent in 2005-2006

2005-2006 Senator McCain supported the interests of the RESULTS 23 percent in 2005-2006

______________________________________

Women's Issues

2005-2006 Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Organization for Women 91 percent in 2005-2006.


2005-2006 Senator McCain supported the interests of the National Organization for Women 13 percent in 2005-2006.

[Connie_Corleone]

1. And some people have the nerve to say they're voting for the "lesser of two evils".

Anyone who uses that term regarding Obama is showing their ignorance. Just like I was ignorant when I used that term regarding Gore in 2000.

[unpossibles]

10. I agree, but my come back for those who say that

is that for the past 8 years we've learned just how bad the Worse of two evils can be. Do we really want to go through that again?

[mkultra]

24. BUT HES A CENTRIST TURNING TO THE RIGHT!@!@!@OMGZZ!

we should have nominated the ultra progressive.

[a kennedy]

2. I'm gonna print this off, copy it and give it to everyone I meet

who has even the slightest notion of voting for mcsame!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: Thank you for this comparison.

[gateley]

4. Me too --

Just say "this shows how McCain's and Obama's records compare". No need to say another word.

[Douglas Carpenter]

6. thanks I am flattered that I could produce something worthwhile

Project Vote Smart - an organization co-founded by former Senator and Democratic Presidential candidate George McGovern and former Senator and Republican Presidential candidate Robert Dole always has a great deal of neutral data about office holders and candidates:

http://www.votesmart.org/index.htm

[DevonRex]

28. One suggestion you might find helpful: Break it down into separate

pages so that if you wind up going door to door campaigning, you have a choice of what information to give out. I did that before our caucuses. That way if you know you're talking to someone with very specific issues, like pro-life for example, you can select which information to hand out and always put Obama's best foot forward.

The other great thing is that it allows you to lead off with an issue like the enviromnent, for example, if you happen to see some sort of Green bumper sticker on their car. I found that very handy. Same with education, etc.

[Eric J in MN]

3. kick

kick

[auburngrad82]

5. Virtually identical, aren't they?

That was sarcasm in case you missed it.

I have no idea how anyone on this site can even think of NOT supporting Obama over McCain. But there are still a lot of people out there pissing and moaning about how the real liberal, ie Clinton, Edwards, Biden, Kucinich- you fill in the name of your choice, didn't get the nomination.

What everyone needs to realize is there will never be a politician who agrees with you 100% of the time. It's human nature to be individuals. What you have to do is look for a politician who agrees with you most of the time on most of the issues you care about. Obama wasn't my first choice. I was originally a Clinton supporter but Obama impressed me and I think he has the best chance of winning.

But regardless of who you originally supported there is no choice between Obama and McCain. It's a no brainer.

[Median Democrat]

8. That Can't Be Right! I Was Told He Was Not A Progressive!

Those congressional voting scorecards must be wrong. The AFL-CIO and all the organizations you listed must really be right wing organizations, because I read on the internet and on this board, that Obama is not really progressive or liberal, therefore it must be true!

You know what, I refuse to believe that. Rather, I will embrace the truthiness of the idea that Obama is not a progressive. If reality does not match my idealogy, I will alter my perception of reality accordingly.

:sarcasm:

[Douglas Carpenter]

7. kik

[blondeatlast]

9. What a centrist Obama is (sarcasm...). I've got a kid, there is NO CHOICE for me.

GOBAMA!

Very nice work, DC.

[Supersedeas]

11. too much homework and too much substance for the professional punditry....I guess

[Kdillard]

12. KICK

[Diamonique]

13. K&R

[Scurrilous]

14. K & R

:thumbsup:

[NattPang]

15. Seems like Obama is a progressive,

who wants to win,
and understands
that our media sucks
like shit.

That's a great start.

[blondeatlast]

16. I'll kick this every day. It's that good. nt

[Douglas Carpenter]

17. one more kick

[DevonRex]

18. That's fantastic information. That should dispel the idea that

Obama is a centrist.

[LynneSin]

19. If this isn't on the homepage it should be.

In 2009 one of these guys are going to be in the White House - how you vote even if NOT for one of these 2 candidates will ultimately help decide which of the 2 will be in there.

Anyone who thinks that there is no difference between the 2 are single-issue voters that super-glued the binders to their forehead. I use to be like that with choice a long time ago. Glad I was able to finally rip off the binders.

[blondeatlast]

21. It is but it needs LOTS of kicks. The choice we face is rright there. nt

[old mark]

20. McCain's TV add says Obama voted the Dem "party line"

97% of the time.

But to McCain's folks, this is a BAD thing.

I think it's a great thing, and it's one of the reasons I'm voting for Obama.

mark

[Douglas Carpenter]

22. and another

[blondeatlast]

23. This is the stuff, folks. e-mail it, put it on flyers, kick it the hell up,

send it to the m$m.

:kick:

[Douglas Carpenter]

25. one more kick

[Hope And Change]

26. Kick!

[DevonRex]

27. Kickin again. Great info. nt

[Douglas Carpenter]

29. one more or so

[Kdillard]

30. Kicking again

[Douglas Carpenter]

31. and again

[Douglas Carpenter]

32. some things need constant repeating

[cbc5g]

33. *BUMP*

[Douglas Carpenter]

34. another and another

[Douglas Carpenter]

35. another kick for obvious reasons

[Douglas Carpenter]

36. one more

[Douglas Carpenter]

37. and one more because it is so needed

[cliffordu]

38. OMFG!!! A post with CONTENT!!! Kicked!!!

Too late to "r" so I'll just kick it again!!

[Overseas]

39. Kick ! Refreshing read ! /eom

[Douglas Carpenter]

40. and another