Obama: "My button seems to be sticking!" (Chic. Trib.: "Present" votes emerging from the past"

[Bluebear]

"Present" votes emerging from the past

By Rick Pearson and Ray Long | Tribune reporters
February 3, 2008


...Much of Clinton's early criticism of Obama's "present" votes have involved his actions on seven bills aimed at restricting abortion. Obama and officials from Planned Parenthood have said the "present" votes were a strategy to give cover to Democrats who might be attacked by Republicans later if they voted "no." But most, if not all, of the lawmakers in question were in politically safe districts. Shortly after Obama's presidential bid was announced a year ago, state Sen. Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete) said her "present" votes were "an easy way of voting" because casting a "no" vote would be "so harsh nobody's for killing babies."

"I don't recall any kind of strategy," said Halvorson, now seeking the Democratic nomination for Congress. Planned Parenthood "may have said it was OK to vote 'present,' but no one on that list needed cover."

Obama also has come under fire from Clinton and other critics over his "present" vote on a 2001 measure that would have required a 1,000-foot buffer between adult establishments and schools, parks, churches, day-care centers and homes. Obama, citing the need to maintain local control in zoning matters, urged a "no" vote on the Senate floor. But he actually voted "present" along with four others, including a conservative Republican. The bill failed by three votes. A review of legislative records also showed Obama had his share of voting-button bobbles. At least six times he said he hit the wrong button. Other times, he simply blamed his voting mechanism.

"My button," he said after one such vote, "seems to be sticking."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-present_bdfeb03,1,4724626.story

[lapfog_1]

1. Funny that...

but there is video of the heads of PP and NARAL explaining just the opposite of Ms. Halvorson.

So... who are we to believe... and would anyone possibly have a motive to maybe misremember a few things?

[Bluebear]

3. Explanations aside, "my button is sticking"?

Please.

[rodeodance]

2. He is full of excuses. --Responsibility -low