Obama's big speech yesterday about windfall profits tax but didn't bother

[NMDemDist2]

to show up to vote today??

I watched Democracy Now! this morning with a clip of BHO calling for a windfall profit tax and how he's spend it to 'help the middle class' but then switched over to CSPAN and his name was on the list of Senators not voting on that very issue.

:wtf:

[sandnsea]

1. Hillary didn't vote either, nor did McCain

can we give this beat up the candidate shit a rest this time.

[NMDemDist2]

4. and neither did Kennedy or Byrd, but they had a good reason to miss the vote

McCain can piss up a rope as far as I'm concerned and Hillary isn't our candidate although that doesn't excuse her either.

I'm not trying to 'beat up the candidate' but on key legislation like this they ALL need to show up.

He's still a Senator and we need to show he's willing to put up with a bit of inconvenience to do his job IMHO

[sandnsea]

20. Yeah we did that in 2004 too

Everybody had to have their own criteria for what the candidate had to do. It was very effective, don't you think?

[NMDemDist2]

22. we're Democrats, we don't 'do' lockstep.

I can comment on my candidate's choices.

[sandnsea]

23. Yeah, that was the excuse in 2004 too n/t

[gullwing300]

6. Neither did Wellstone.

:eyes:

[sandnsea]

21. There's a rule against stalking

in case you weren't aware. And if you think you can stalk me into doing something to get banned, well better people have tried. :hi:

[cbc5g]

2. That's rather odd. Maybe he knew it would fail? I dunno.

[LisaM]

3. He's missed a lot of votes

There was some thread here today about who had the most liberal voting record, and from the numbers, it looked as if Obama had missed more votes than any other Democrat except Senator Johnson from South Dakota (who was ill for months). Hillary had missed a number as well, but nowhere near as many as Obama.

[NMDemDist2]

5. I don't care if he misses the "Dairy Appreciation Month" votes but I'm pretty unhappy

he didn't show up to vote on the very bill he was touting the day before.

[jody]

7. Why do you bring up Obama's poor voting record now that he's the presumptive Dem nominee? n/t

[LisaM]

8. I think in this case it was because of the obvious disconnect

between the speech and his subsequent actions. Presumably it is still (and will be) all right to point these things out.

[NMDemDist2]

10. exactly! I'm voting for the guy and working for him this fall, I'm a Democrat!

but I still get to hold his feet to the fire if he's claiming to represent me and my party.

[jody]

19. What AZDemDist6 said. n/t

[jody]

13. I hope so because IMO censoring such statements would be most un-democratic. n/t

[NMDemDist2]

9. I'm not talking about his "record" I'm talking about TODAY

he didn't vote TODAY for legislation he highlighted in a campaign speech YESTERDAY


It just makes me shake my head.... :banghead:


edit to add, who said "poor voting record" ??? I sure didn't!!

[jody]

11. My point is Obama has not Changed although many voted for him expecting Change. n/t

[LisaM]

14. Ahhhh....

I did read your remark two different ways! Thanks for explaining.

[cali]

12. um, I gather you don't know that the whip vote counts? Durbin

knows whether or not they've got the votes. If they don't, the vote itself is simply a formality. In other words, Obama's vote wasn't needed and wouldn't have made a difference.

[LisaM]

15. Yes, but he and Hillary both flew back to vote on some other bill

I'm sorry I can't remember it right now in which their votes likewise probably didn't matter. I think the poster thinks that the gesture would have been a nice touch. You'd also think he could have lobbied for it. This vote aside, his Senate presence has been really minimal.

[jody]

16. It makes a difference to those who look to a politician to support their position. I wonder if we

will have a cadre of apologists to spin every word spoken and action not taken by Obama?

[NMDemDist2]

17. I do understand that, but sometimes the appearance of things is important

and IMHO this was one of the those times.

with Kennedy and Byrd, Clinton and Obama, we'd have 57 votes. only 3 away from the 60 needed to do any damn thing.

It's about solidarity and putting your body where your mouth is.

I do that. and I think my candidate should too....

[jody]

18. What AZDemDist6 said. n/t