"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