"Criticizing Obama on the basis of `present' votes indicates you don't have a great understanding

[undercoverduer]

. . . of the process"

Originally posted: December 4, 2007
Disparagement of Obama votes doesn't hold up

"You want to talk about ducking issues Mr. Obama? Where were you in Springfield when there were six pro-choice votes called? You were present or not present, but you weren't there to vote. So let's not talk about who ducked issues here." --Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, at the Feb. 23, 2004 Democratic Senate Primary debate

"Seven times, Barack Obama ducked . ... Each time he ducked by voting `present' instead of taking a stand." --2004 Blair Hull campaign flier

This column has the dirt on the issue of then-state Sen. Barack Obama's "present" votes on tough issues in the Illinois Legislature--votes that at least two of his opponents in the March 16, 2004 Democratic U.S. Senate primary say mark him as a coward.

In 1997 Obama voted "present" on two bills aimed at banning so-called partial-birth abortion. In 2001 he voted "present" on three bills that fell under the rubric of "born-alive infant" legislation, and on a bill to require parental notification in cases when minors sought to have abortions.
-snip-

"Criticizing Obama on the basis of `present' votes indicates you don't have a great understanding of the process," said Thom Mannard, director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence.

Or you are willing to pretend you don't to score cheap political points.

There's dirt here all right. It's all over the hands of those pointing the finger.
-snip-

http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2007/12/disparagement-o.html

[geek tragedy]

1. Or you're a dishonest, sleazy politiician. n/t

[undercoverduer]

2. To quote Zorn: Or you are willing to pretend you don't to score cheap political points.

:kick:

[Pirate Smile]

3. Interesting column. More details:

"In practical terms, a "present" vote is as good as a "no" vote because the law requires a bill to win the votes of a majority of the lawmakers in either body, not simply a majority of those voting.

-snip-
Obama, however, was in a safe district and never faced a serious challenge for his legislative seat. He had no need to shy from hard-line stands on gun control and abortion rights. He actually took such stands frequently and is now highly praised by advocates for both causes.

Why would he then vote "present" instead of a resounding "no" on certain bills advanced by lawmakers opposed to abortion rights?
"To provide cover for other Democrats who were shaky on the issue in an effort to convince them not to vote `yes,'" Sutherland said. "The idea is to recruit a group to vote `present' that includes legislators who are clearly right with the issue."

Sutherland said this tactic makes the "present" vote look less like a hedge or a cop-out and more like a constitutional concern or other high-minded qualm.
She pointed to the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 2001, a bill requiring that an adult family member be notified 48 hours in advance when a minor seeks an abortion.

Obama's "present" vote on that bill is one Hull is attacking him for in a flier decorated with rubber duckies.
Sutherland just laughs. "We also had Emil Jones, Lisa Madigan, Miguel del Valle, Rickey Hendon and other very strong pro-choice legislators voting `present' on that one," she said. "It was all done to pull `present' votes off the fence."'

[undercoverduer]

4. It would appear this is an issue of inside baseball that . . .

. . .the media and Obama supporters have no problem explaining. I wish more people understood the inside baseball of both politics, governing and the legislative process because it would render a ton of attacks against ANY candidate (not just Obama) impotent.

[Pirate Smile]

6. Here is another interesting column:

CLINTON'S CHOICE RECORD QUESTIONED

From NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Describing it as a press conference gone awry would be putting it mildly. Before the start of the NPR debate yesterday afternoon, the Clinton campaign arranged for Ellen Malcolm, the head of Emily's List, to hold a press conference with reporters.

Malcolm took the podium and argued that Clinton was the only candidate in this race who had stood up when it was tough, especially on women's issues. She said that Clinton -- standing up to the Bush Administration -- had led the fight to get the FDA to approve the Plan B contraceptive. She also cited the nomination of Chief Justice John Roberts as a time when Clinton had been the strongest voice against his nomination, taking the floor and giving a passionate speech on why his nomination threatened Roe vs. Wade.

But the minute Malcolm stopped speaking, she was hit by questions from reporters armed with info sent out by the Obama campaign. Malcolm hadn't mentioned Obama by name, but she said that those who vote "present" at tough times don't show a true commitment to leadership -- referring to Obama's "present" votes on some anti-abortion measures while serving in the Illinois state Senate. But reporters asked Malcolm why the head of the Illinois Planned Parenthood had said in the Los Angeles Times that Obama was getting in trouble for a "present"-vote strategy that the pro-choice group had devised. Malcolm repeated the quote from the Chicago Tribune, which said that Obama's seat had not been in jeopardy unlike other vulnerable Democrats.

But she didn't have an answer for what came next.

Referencing the battle Planned Parenthood had waged in South Dakota to repeal a law that had banned all abortions in the state, Malcolm was asked why Clinton had done nothing to help support that effort. Obama had sent money and written a letter in support of the group. The head of the South Dakota Planned Parenthood had called Clinton's silence on the issue "mystifying."

Malcolm sidestepped the question, raised Clinton's speech on the Senate floor again, and said that her example then had shown true leadership. Obama only had one sentence on Roe in his floor statement in comparison on Roberts' nomination, Malcolm said. Both senators voted against confirming the chief justice.

Obama's campaign followed up on the press conference by circulating a letter Obama had received from Malcolm praising him for his keynote speech at the 2006 EMILY'S List Majority Council Conference and a list of pro-choice activists willing to speak on behalf of Obama's commitment to women's reproductive rights.

If anything, yesterday's exchange illustrated just how coveted the women's vote is and that neither campaign is willing to give any ground on the issue.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/05/497101.aspx#comments

[undercoverduer]

7. Its obvious Obama's lead in Iowa with women has the Clinton camp scared to death. . .

. . .they will throw everything at him to make him look bad. However the NOW folks and Emily's List folks might want to make sure they are not used to distort Obama's record, it could backfire on them. Obama has ton of supporters in both organizations and they are independent thinkers who don't fall in line just because their leadership said so.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. An Obama scores cheap points on the IWR AUMF vote

because he didn't have to cast one like Clinton, Dodd, or Biden, and he can talk it up like a big know it all.
So this is all fair cheap shots back IMO. And BTW Obama has blown it on some recent votes now that he actually is in the Senate- Kyl-Lieberman being just one.

[undercoverduer]

8. Afternoon kick

:kick:

[bunnies]

9. Thanks for the info.

I didnt understand the "present" votes myself... but I figured that had to be a logic behind it. Thanks for the education. :hi: