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If directed by party leaders or simply as a tactic to avoid taking a stand on issues Senator Barack Obama tends to vote ‘present’. From abortion to porn sales to treating children as adults in the criminal justice system Obama may say one thing on the stump and fail to back up his ‘words’ with action. Even on legislation viewed as bipartisan, the Senator from Illinois boasts his power to bring people together yet only votes ‘present’. Voting ‘present’ on abortion bills while publicly criticizing abortion legislation in South Dakota gives credence to the allegation that Obama changes his stand depending on the audience.

For a man who makes all the claims he does on his own qualifications and ability to be President, Obama has a peculiar record when it comes to voting. In many instances with the GOP and Dems choosing to vote the same on a measure, Obama does not vote. You can see for yourself at WaPo’s Votes Database page. It is easier to navigate for most than similar resources from Congress. Lately and again Mr Obama has used the lame criticism that McCain is four more years of Bush and that the Arizona Senator voted with Bush more than 90% of the time. Number one, McCain is a Republican and is likely to vote with a Republican President. Just as Obama has voted 96% of the time with his Democratic party.

As the excerpt below suggests, Obama likes to sidestep issues by voting ‘present’. He also likes to sidestep issues like why he has a relationship with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers and used his connections to get started in politics.

It’s Not Just ‘Ayes’ and ‘Nays’: Obama’s Votes in Illinois Echo

By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ and CHRISTOPHER DREW
Published: December 20, 2007

In 1999, Barack Obama was faced with a difficult vote in the Illinois legislature — to support a bill that would let some juveniles be tried as adults, a position that risked drawing fire from African-Americans, or to oppose it, possibly undermining his image as a tough-on-crime moderate.

In the end, Mr. Obama chose neither to vote for nor against the bill. He voted “present,” effectively sidestepping the issue, an option he invoked nearly 130 times as a state senator.

Sometimes the “present’ votes were in line with instructions from Democratic leaders or because he objected to provisions in bills that he might otherwise support. At other times, Mr. Obama voted present on questions that had overwhelming bipartisan support. In at least a few cases, the issue was politically sensitive.

On a mainstream liberal issue Obama draws fire from NOW, Clinton and others for swaying voters with varying positions on issues. Say one thing, do another and hope no one notices. You can only wonder if his foreign policy would work the same way.

NOW Again Attacks Obama’s Illinois Voting Record on Abortion Bills

By Matthew Mosk
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 5, 2008; Page A08

A national women’s rights group supporting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) distributed an e-mail yesterday accusing Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) of being soft on abortion rights, revisiting an eleventh-hour attack that some analysts credited with swaying female voters in New Hampshire.

The e-mail from Rosemary J. Dempsey, president of the Connecticut National Organization for Women, told members that Obama’s record during his time in the Illinois Senate included several instances in which he voted “present” instead of yes or no on abortion-related legislation.

There is a claim made in a fact check presented at WaPo indicating ‘present’ votes are viewed as ‘no’ votes in Illinois to give politicians cover against there voting record being used against them. Be that as it may, changing his present votes to no may still indicate he is not who he says he is and to use such a tactic for political cover says a lot about his choices also. Vote yes if that is your choice or no for the same reason. Have the courage of your convictions and let the voters decide based on the truth. If your philosophy does not match the voting public you will be outta here. Have the courage some attribute to you and say what you mean and vote accordingly. Hiding behind ‘present’ votes or not voting is simply wrong.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 30th, 2008 at 10:55 am and is filed under Public Affairs, wordpress, Politics, campaign, election, Democrats, disclosure, ethics, obama, Legislation, Abortion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.