Why did Kerry and Edwards abstain from voting against Medicare?

[robbedvoter]

After all the bluster at the debate - and the credit given to Kerry for staying in the Senate over campaigning (by me too), WHY ABSTAIN?
How comes Lieberman whi was wishy washy on the law managed to vote "No" but these couldn't

[onebigbadwulf]

1. I dont understand the numbers

the bill passed 54 - 44 but I thought they needed 60 to pass. WTF?

[Mentalist]

2. 60 votes

to end debate. A majority of votes to pass.

What is the deal with Kerry and Edwards? They made a big deal about leaving the campaign trail to get back to washington for the debate and votes and then didn't vote against it.

Now, did they vote "present", or did they miss the vote entirely?

[robbedvoter]

4. Roll call sez "No vote" (didn't happen during the debate, BTW)

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00459

I know they both voted for fillibuster, which is why I am confused.
Any supporters can enlighten me?

[AP]

7. Edwards (D-NC), Nay

You should change your subject line.

[JI7]

explanation, and edwards did vote no

it's because of the campaigning. kerry was not there. some people think he should have stayed to vote just to do it, even if it was going to pass. maybe he should have. but i think you are assuming he was there and abstained. that was not the case. he wasn't there and that's why it's abstaining. if cloture had been defeated he would have stayed there to help prevent the vote which is why he skipped the debate.

[bearfartinthewoods]

26. you have time to edit your subject line

if this was an honest mistake

[gWbush is Mabus]

5. Kerry sucks!

How 'bout a little bit of spine.
Why don't you stand up for your beliefs.

Why do you vote for the Patriot Act and then criticize it?
Same with IWR.

i think he is pandering....
Harley on late-night, basking in reflected glory in pic w/ Lennon


Dean is for real.

ps-this is my first Kerry bashing post, but I think he deserves it.


on edit:
IF Kerry wants our votes, he should give as many rousing speeches as possible on CSPAN (like Kennedy) and not miss a single vote.

[robbedvoter]

9. Only Kerry. I was wrong about Edwards!

[AP]

11. So, how 'bout changing that subject line?

[Mentalist]

17. If Edwards voted and Kerry didn't

who is the other senator that is missing? Only 98 voted.

[AP]

19. Lieberman abstained with Kerry. They were the only two.

[Mentalist]

21. Thanks

Thanks

[AP]

3. Edwards voted no. He talks about it on Dianne Rehm's show...

...http://www.wamu.org/dr/index.html

[robbedvoter]

8. I stand corrected. Kerry only. Please explain.

[AP]

14. Rules to start discussion threads in the General Discussion forum.

1. The subject line of a discussion thread must accurately reflect the actual content of the message.

It looks like the content of your message and your subject line conflict now.

2. The subject line of a discussion thread and the entire text of the message which starts the thread may not include profanity, excessive capitalization, or excessive punctuation. Inflammatory rhetoric should also be avoided.

I think it's inflamatory to say something you know isn't true in your subject line.

[JI7]

6. kerry went to campaign, and edwards voted against it

kerry went to campaign. once the filibuster was stopped and the point of order defeated the bill was going to pass either way which is why kerry went to campaign instead. it's been this way while he has been campaigning much of the time. he is there when he has a chance to change the direction of a bill as with the filibuster.

[robbedvoter]

12. To think I admired his willingness to forego the debate...

He had to make a stand - that was worth more than kissing babies. He lost his moral ground now. Pathetic.

[JI7]

20. well

he is trying to keep his focus on campaigning. most people don't follow senate sessions and votes.when his vote could make a difference he is there. his speaking out does a lot more to get people aware of the situation though.this is why republicans in the house were able to pass the bill by keeping the voting open for over 3 hours while most of the country went to sleep. nobody knows about it as they don't follow these things. it's important to get the message out.

[Hep]

23. Most people don't follow senate sessions and votes?

On what planet?

[Justice]

10. Kerry Slammed By Boston Globe for Not Voting

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2003/11/26/questioning_kerrys_focus/

This was posted elsewhere - but it is worth reposting here.

"To be sure, Kerry's vote would not have reversed the 54-to-44 decision yesterday to provide limited prescription drug benefits to some seniors and billions of dollars in benefits to insurance and pharmaceutical firms. Had he stuck around, though, the junior senator from Massachusetts might have seen in action the kind of sustained "fight" he promises in his campaign rhetoric."

[dmkinsey]

13. Bailout

No chance to win, might as well go home

[AP]

15. Edwards voted no, by the way.

[mmonk]

16. They are checking the weather

[AP]

18. Man, Edwards does the right thing, votes no, and robbed gets to post

that he didn't and now three people on this thread are criticizing Edwards even though he voted No, and the errror has been pointed out and acknowledged by robbed.

Hello?

[mmonk]

25. Very good

Glad he did the right thing. Kerry was checking the weather.

[Loonman]

22. So they can argue it politically in the campaign

Without having to state a pre-ordered position.

[ieoeja]

24. Are you really this upset over meaningless symbolism?

Both Kerry (and Lieberman) dropped everything else and ran to the floor to vote for a filibuster. Once that was defeated they could have hung around and added their two votes to the No vote. And what would this have accomplished?

Nothing.

Had Daschle, et al rounded up 39 votes to filibuster and Kerry not voted or been on the campaign trail, then you have a beef. Had there been 50 No votes present and Kerry not voted or been on the campaign trail, then you have a beef. The vote was close. He had to be there in case his vote mattered. It turned out his vote didn't matter.

Are you really this upset over nothing? Or are you just trying to spin this against Kerry?

[BigMcLargehuge]

27. I am locking this

please review the rules for posting a new thread in GD.

Thanks

Big McLargehuge
DU Moderator

Rules to start discussion threads in the General Discussion forum.

1. The subject line of a discussion thread must accurately reflect the actual content of the message.

2. The subject line of a discussion thread and the entire text of the message which starts the thread may not include profanity, excessive capitalization, or excessive punctuation. Inflammatory rhetoric should also be avoided.

3. If you post an article or other published content which is from a conservative source or which expresses a traditionally conservative viewpoint, you must state your opinion about the piece and/or the issues it raises.

4. If you wish to start a vanity thread (ie: a discussion thread in which the sole purpose is to share your personal opinion) you must state your opinion in a non-inflammatory manner which respects differences in opinion and facilitates actual discussion.

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