Study: Obama most liberal senator last year

[flowomo]

(CNN) — Barack Obama has demonstrated his appeal to independent voters and even some Republicans as he campaigns for president, though a just-released study from the National Journal indicates the Illinois Democrat was the most liberal senator in 2007.

Chief rival Hillary Clinton held the 16th most liberal voting record last year, the non-partisan survey of 99 major Senate votes found.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

[Pawel K]

1. There goes the talking point that they are exactly the same

yet this stupid and false talking point will keep getting repeated by Clinton supporters.

[AtomicKitten]

2. Whoops! There is it!

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Excellent!

Particularly interesting because many Republican are liking him. I think that everyone really likes Liberal ideas, because they're in their own best interest - they just need those ideas to be packaged well.

[redqueen]

4. Doesn't anybody search first?

Those ratings are BS. He voted for the Energy Policy Act of 2005. That's hardly liberal. And it's HUGE. It doesn't deserve to be put on the same scale as much less influential or meaningful bills.

He also voted for the Oman trade agreement.

Can you tell me any major votes he differed with Clinton on... which show him to be more liberal?

[Alexander]

8. For starters, Clinton voted for a tax cut bill that Obama opposed.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/31/AR2006123101004.html

"And Obama voted to increase taxes when he opposed a package of business breaks that included the extension of middle-class provisions. Clinton voted for the tax bill -- before she voted against it, as did Obama, in the legislation's final form."

So not only was Clinton to the right of Obama on this, she voted for it before voting against it later. What a great idea! Let's nominate someone else who can be smeared with the exact same talking point from 4 years ago! :eyes:

The Energy Policy Act you cite contained an ethanol-subsidy provision which Obama cited as his reason for voting for it (it's in this same article). So you should at least deal with the details if you're going to attack Obama on that.

"The two Democrats differed on other energy-related issues. In August, Clinton supported a bill to expand oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico, while Obama voted against it. During the 2005 energy debate, Obama backed an increase in vehicle fuel-efficiency standards, which Clinton opposed. Clinton voted against the energy bill itself because it was stuffed with oil industry incentives. But Obama supported the legislation because it included language that would double ethanol demand by 2012."

Clinton voted for the $200 million dollar TV station that broadcasts to Cuba (while the Cubans jam the signal). Obama was against that too.

"Obama twice voted to cut off TV Marti funding, while Clinton supported maintaining it."

And then there's this:

"One of Obama's chief interests in the Senate has been ethics reform, but he was one of eight senators to oppose a bill aimed at tightening lobbyist rules because it was not strong enough. Clinton supported the initiative."

I hope we can have a reasonable discussion on these issues.

[redqueen]

11. The person who responded to me is on my Ignore List...

would someone please tell me if that person mentioned a vote they both took that they differed on?

[Alexander]

14. I mentioned several, if you'd take your fingers out of your ears.

Yeah, ignore the guy who brings the most facts to the thread. :eyes:

Sorry you can't handle debate and need to ignore anyone who doesn't agree with everything you say.

[redqueen]

16. Hah... and the person who responded to this is on my Ignore List

as well...

[Alexander]

17. ...

[redqueen]

18. It's the same person over and over, huh...

:eyes:

[Alexander]

20. Yeah, you have to ignore anyone who presents facts.

[MH1]

19. Yes, that person did.

You must have a pretty long ignore list.

Of course I do too...

[redqueen]

21. You're darn tootin.

So... what'd they say? Which votes did the two differ on?

[Alexander]

23. Of course, I'll continue to be ignored for the crime of using facts.

:eyes:

[Pawel K]

35. Can you explain this idiotic concept to me please?

If someone posts something you don't agree with you ignore them? The guy made a very good point, he pointed out exactly what you asked. Why do people like you put your fingers in your ears and don't listen? Really, some of you Clinton supporters are no different than the Bushbots in 2004.

By the way, this is what that person said. You really need to open your mind up a bit:

Subject: For starters, Clinton voted for a tax cut bill that Obama opposed.

Message:
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/31/AR2006123101004.html

"And Obama voted to increase taxes when he opposed a package of business breaks that included the extension of middle-class provisions. Clinton voted for the tax bill -- before she voted against it, as did Obama, in the legislation's final form."

So not only was Clinton to the right of Obama on this, she voted for it before voting against it later. What a great idea! Let's nominate someone else who can be smeared with the exact same talking point from 4 years ago!

The Energy Policy Act you cite contained an ethanol-subsidy provision which Obama cited as his reason for voting for it (it's in this same article). So you should at least deal with the details if you're going to attack Obama on that.

"The two Democrats differed on other energy-related issues. In August, Clinton supported a bill to expand oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico, while Obama voted against it. During the 2005 energy debate, Obama backed an increase in vehicle fuel-efficiency standards, which Clinton opposed. Clinton voted against the energy bill itself because it was stuffed with oil industry incentives. But Obama supported the legislation because it included language that would double ethanol demand by 2012."

Clinton voted for the $200 million dollar TV station that broadcasts to Cuba (while the Cubans jam the signal). Obama was against that too.

"Obama twice voted to cut off TV Marti funding, while Clinton supported maintaining it."

And then there's this:

"One of Obama's chief interests in the Senate has been ethics reform, but he was one of eight senators to oppose a bill aimed at tightening lobbyist rules because it was not strong enough. Clinton supported the initiative."

I hope we can have a reasonable discussion on these issues.
-------------------------------------------------

Please don't put me on your ignore list, it will ruin me. :eyes:

[Alexander]

5. But the Shillbots keep saying Obama's to the RIGHT of Hillary! It must be true!

:crazy:

[OHdem10]

6. Oh so last year he was preparing to run for President and

thought he would fix up his record.

All those Present votes are still a question.

His plaftorm plan as Candidate is to the Right of HRC and Edwards.

[gateley]

7. I wish they'd shown ALL the senators, so we could get a feel of just how far

left (or not) they are.

[redqueen]

9. It'd be equally pointless...

they put any bill they count as "liberal" on the same scale.

Sorry, but the Energy Policy Act matters a little more to me than other stuff...

[cali]

24. It's always jarring to see ex-Edwards supporters

in high dudgeon about Obama's generally excellent and liberal voting record.

[LiberalFighter]

30. The rest of them will be available on or after March 8th

[Clarkansas]

10. That is no surprise to me. Good for Obama.

:kick:

[redqueen]

13. You ever gonna change that avatar?

[Clarkansas]

33. Not anytime soon.

Are you ever going to change yours?

[redqueen]

34. Probably not.

:hi:

They're my favorite sports team!

As for my sig, though... if Edwards endorses someone, I may just put some stuff down there showing my support, too.

[depakid]

12. Here we go again!

Remember 2004?

[demnan]

15. It's nice to have something substantial to read

about Obama's record. I sent this to a friend of mine who insists on sending me attack things about Hillary (he knows I'm a Kucinich supporter) in hopes he'll send that kind of information instead.

[LittleClarkie]

22. I prefer this site

http://www.vote-smart.org/

[LiveLiberally]

25. I don't find this argument very helpful....

We're just buying into conservative/republican talking points by arguing who is "most liberal." Thanks in no small part to Edwards' prodding, both Obama and Clinton are now proposing radically "liberal" solutions to the economy, the environment, health care, etc.... Most important, there is a very real chance that our nominee will in November have the support of most Americans to enact these reforms. The term "Liberal" (at least in its unique American meaning) has sadly been saddled with too much partisan baggage and I wouldn't blame either Clinton or Obama for not assuming its mantle now. The candidate who commits to progressive, transformative, and principled change -- which privileges no one and promotes concrete socio-economic opportunity, social justice, and political empowerment for all -- will get my vote.

[redqueen]

27. Well hello there!

SO very nice to see another critical thinker around... welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Pawel K]

36. But its about time that changes

why is saying he has a liberal plant for the economy a bad thing while saying he has a conservative plan for the economy a good thing. Why has this party allowed this to happen? When are we going to take a stand and change that. How many more elections do we have to lose before we stop being such pussies?

[LiberalFighter]

26. Vote tabulation - Obama vs Clinton

According to the study, he missed 33 of the 99 votes that constituted the analysis. Clinton missed 16 of the votes.

[redqueen]

28. I wonder if missed votes count against their rating...

so mindless, these ratings...

[LiberalFighter]

29. Consider that Bill Schneider created the ratings system.

The ratings system was first devised in 1981 under the direction of William Schneider, a political analyst and commentator, and a contributing editor to National Journal.


Methodology: How The Vote Ratings Are Calculated

Key Votes Used To Calculate The Ratings


Q: Do you think that the National Journal vote ratings are a valid way to judge a member of Congress?

Green: It's one way to assess a member of Congress, but by no means the only way. It's important to look at a member's effectiveness, character, judgment, and policy proposals, among other things. It's also valuable to look at vote ratings from other organizations -- from publications such as Congressional Quarterly and interest groups such as the League of Conservation Voters, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the American Conservative Union -- to get a rounded view.

[Apollo11]

31. I saw that headline on CNN

Something to consider as we get ready for the big debate in 3 hours time.

I hope some of Edwards' supporters will take a fresh look at Barack Obama.

Those who believe he is a corporate centrist are making a big mistake.

[redqueen]

32. Would you care to chime in here?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4316019