Web Links to Obama’s Legislative Accomplishments

[ClassWarrior]

I still consider myself an Edwards supporter, but this web page put together by Wisconsin uber-activist Godsil is pretty persuasive - and it even includes a link to our own DU:

Obama’s record of legislative accomplishment. I found several articles summarizing his record in the Senate and the Illinois State House. I have attached the links below, in case you are interested. I found that he has accomplished far more than he is usually given credit for, but you can judge for yourselves...

http://www.progressivepatriots.com/senate/senObamaIL.html

http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/obsidian_wings/2006/10/barack_obama.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/03/AR2008010303303.html

http://wizbangblue.com/2008/01/04/some-of-obamas-legislative-record-in-illinois.php

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jfwiTMvbxKZec4z-ouww5y_5zfhgD8U753I80

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=388x275

Source page: http://www.milwaukeerenaissance.com/Main/ObamaCampaign#toc1

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

1. Hmmm... wonder where are all the folks demanding to know O's experience.

They were pretty arrogant and pushy about it in the past. But now... crickets.

NGU.

[NYCGirl]

2. It's been my experience that those who whine about that the loudest, don't really

care to know the answer.

Thank you so much for the links!

[ClassWarrior]

3. Yeah, I guess you can't dismiss a record with a pithy put-down.

Glad to get it out there NYC... As I said, it's compelling.

NGU.

[kelligesq]

4. I dont notice dates on those "newspaper reports" what years ?

and if that was one while a state representative....not particularly noticeable accomplishments for the GENERAL PUBLIC

And in Congress - he can claim bills for lobbyist reform - but they didnt pass
in anyway that made a dent

For instance: promoted bill that congress members couldnt accept sitting down to lunch with lobbyist, but they can still stand at the bar and accept lunch and drinks.

total bs

[ClassWarrior]

5. Do you have a link?

NGU.

[Raejeanowl]

6. If You've Convinced Yourself On "Evidence" Like This

Then there's absolutely no point in anyone, myself included, expending much of their energy to argue about it. Why not be happy and self-satisfied with what you're spoon-fed?

Many deserved comparisons have been drawn between Obama's and JFK's campaign, and this is but another area in which there are strong similarities-the charisma is hot, the record is thin. This time, Clinton has the metaphorical five-o'clock shadow.

Oh, it's not ALL fluff (and I've seen plenty of Obama converts who have NO CLUE to what fluffing a legislative record means, to my chagrin), but it's a a case of accepting the superficial as gospel and believing what you want to believe.

Note that none of your links, although some of them do mutually reference or repeat each other (I love it that a complimentary DU post is cited as a reference!), or come from the candidate himself, or point out Obama's own exaggerations of what he says he's accomplished, actually take you to the official records.

Spend some time THERE, if you have any idea of what you're looking at, and maybe scale back a bit on the trumpets of his successfulness-this was a part-time legislature and the man was still practicing law during these years. Maybe that's why so many of his bills never even made it out of the Senate Rules Committee (the place where past-deadline submissions go to die):

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/legisnet90/sponsor/OBAMA.html
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/legisnet91/sponsor/OBAMA.html
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/legisnet92/sponsor/OBAMA.html
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/legisnet93/sponsor/OBAMA.html

[ClassWarrior]

7. I wouldn't discount the charisma factor. According to CUNY Professor...

...Frances Fox Piven, just this week on Democracy Now!:

You know, in 1932, FDR didn’t run with a good program; he ran with the same program the Democrats had run with in 1924 and 1928, and that wasn’t a good program. But nevertheless, his rhetoric encouraged people who were suffering as a result of the Depression—working people, the unemployed—and helped to fuel the movements, which then forced FDR to support initiatives which he otherwise would not have supported, including the right to organize.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/2/6/super_tuesday_roundtable_with_bill_fletcher

Thanks for the links. :thumbsup:

NGU.

[AtomicKitten]

8. Nice compilation.

Great effort. You can only bring the horse to water ...

Gobama!

[stillcool]

9. Thanks ClassWarrior...

here is a link to an interesting article written in 2004:

http://www.illinoistimes.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3a2984