Why doesn't Obama reply to the most liberal RW talking point thusly

[Juche]

Like it or not, Liberal is a smear now (not as much as it was, but still so). The Right wing is using it as a smear, talking about how National Journal found Obama to be the most liberal senator. instead of defending his voting record Obama is basically saying 'yeah liberals are bad, but I'm not a liberal'.

http://boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/02/26/just_dont_call_barack_obama_liberal_okey_doke/

http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/votes.htm



But look at his voting record.

yes Votes

Establish a Senate Office of Public Integrity to handle ethics complaints against senators. January 18. (27-71) C-1

Agree to final passage of a bill implementing the 9/11 commission's homeland-security recommendations, including a provision extending collective bargaining rights to federal security screeners. March 13. (60-38) L-3

Raise the tax rate on income over $1 million and use the revenue to increase funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. March 22. (38-58) C-2

Raise the cigarette tax by 61 cents a pack and use the revenue to fund expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. March 23. (59-40) L-2

Block individuals from serving on Food and Drug Administration drug advisory panels if they have conflicts of interest. May 9. (47-47) C-3

Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program by increasing taxes of those earning more than $1 million. August 1. (36-60) C-2

Approve legislation reauthorizing and expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program. August 2. (68-31) L-3

Limit debate on the energy bill to increase fuel-efficiency standard to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 and shift energy-tax incentives. December 13. (59-40; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) C-3

Support embryonic-stem-cell research. April 11. (63-34; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) L-2

Amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to review communications of suspected terrorists without a court order, while requiring telecommunications companies to comply with government review. August 3. (43-45; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-3

no Votes

Repeal the federal minimum wage by giving states the authority to set minimum wages. January 24. (28-69) L-3

Table an amendment that would require the Homeland Security Department to screen 100 percent of cargo containers entering the country within five years. March 1. (58-38) C-2

Require higher-income Medicare beneficiaries to pay higher premiums for prescription drugs in Medicare Part D. March 22. (44-52) L-3



Look at his military votes.

Yes

Restrict deployment of most Army troops serving in Iraq to 12 consecutive months. July 11. (52-45; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-3

Require longer rest periods for U.S. troops sent to war. September 19. (56-44; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-3

Set a timeline for most U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq within nine months. September 21. (47-47; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-3



Obama has also voted for the 21st century GI Bill. Sadly it was filibustered by the GOP (including McCain).

http://georgemiller.house.gov/gibill.html


These are rational, mainstream positions that show what being a liberal means, yet they aren't being brought up. Instead of saying 'if being liberal means troops should get education benefits, not be forced to endure stoploss and funding stem cell research then yes I'm liberal'. But he doesn't say that. He doesn't even defend his liberal record. He just tries to avoid being called a liberal.

[rurallib]

1. why not update the JFK speech?

http://www.liberalparty.org/JFKLPAcceptance.html

I believe in human dignity as the source of national purpose, in human liberty as the source of national action, in the human heart as the source of national compassion, and in the human mind as the source of our invention and our ideas. It is, I believe, the faith in our fellow citizens as individuals and as people that lies at the heart of the liberal faith. For liberalism is not so much a party creed or set of fixed platform promises as it is an attitude of mind and heart, a faith in man's ability through the experiences of his reason and judgment to increase for himself and his fellow men the amount of justice and freedom and brotherhood which all human life deserves.

I believe also in the United States of America, in the promise that it contains and has contained throughout our history of producing a society so abundant and creative and so free and responsible that it cannot only fulfill the aspirations of its citizens, but serve equally well as a beacon for all mankind. I do not believe in a superstate. I see no magic in tax dollars which are sent to Washington and then returned. I abhor the waste and incompetence of large-scale federal bureaucracies in this administration as well as in others. I do not favor state compulsion when voluntary individual effort can do the job and do it well. But I believe in a government which acts, which exercises its full powers and full responsibilities. Government is an art and a precious obligation; and when it has a job to do, I believe it should do it. And this requires not only great ends but that we propose concrete means of achieving them.