Posted on 10/08/2004 7:12:09 AM PDT by SJackson
Votes in Senate defy easy labels
Barack Obama's critics often hammer the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate as being too far to the political left for most Illinois voters, using as evidence what they say is a very liberal voting record over the eight years he has represented the Hyde Park neighborhood in the Illinois Senate.
A review of Obama's legislative record shows that the liberal label is not misplaced. He has fought for gun control, worked to expand government assistance to the poor, led efforts to reform the death penalty system, proposed universal health care and opposed legislation aimed at cracking down on gangs.
At the same time, however, the record includes evidence of a legislator adept at persuading many Republicans to go along with initiatives as he worked behind the scenes to win bipartisan support on potentially polarizing measures, from welfare reform to proposals to battle racial profiling.
"The most important thing that you do in Springfield is you bring all sides of an issue to the table and you make them feel they are being listened to," Obama said.
The votes Obama has cast over his nearly three terms in the General Assembly give voters a sense of what kind of legislator he might be as he attempts to graduate from the Illinois Senate to the U.S. Senate.
At the same time, they provide ammunition that Republican Senate candidate Alan Keyes hopes to use against him. Since Keyes has never held public office, he has no comparable record for Obama to critique.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
But for a plane crash, you can call him Sen. Obama.
Besides, Keyes is WAY too smart, educated, outspoken, conservative and well-spoken. Voters are afraid of him.
Obama's greatest asset has been his opposition.
You said it.
The congressional black caucus may be looking for a senator to support objections they have to Bush electors.I remember when Alcee Hastings, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and a few other US Congressmen tried to find a Senator to object to some of the electoral votes for Bush.
I kept thinking I was glad that Moselely-Braun (D-IL) was no longer a Senator, because I felt she might have gone along with them.
My fear is that Obama will go along with the congressional Black Caucus if they object to any of Bush's electoral votes this coming January.
Objections were raised to the counting of Florida's electoral vote [immediately after it was read by teller Congressman Fattah of Pennsylvania] in the following order: Alcee L. Hastings (Florida CD 23), Carrie Meek (Florida CD 17), Corrine Brown (Florida CD 3), Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas CD 30), Elijah Cummings (Maryland CD 7), Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas CD 18), Maxine Waters (California CD 35), Barbara Lee (California CD 9), Cynthia McKinney (Georgia CD 4), Patsy Takemoto Mink (Hawaii CD 2), and Eva M. Clayton (North Carolina CD 1). Each time, the Chair ruled their objections out of order (as no Senators had signed on).
He has higher aspirations, that wouldn't be the way to achieve them.
"The most important thing that you do in Springfield is you bring all sides of an issue to the table and you make them feel they are being listened to," Obama said.
This is know as playing "Republicans" for fools. He seems to be doing an excellent job of that in THIS ELECTION!!!
He's had his share of help from the Republican side polarizing the electorate. But you're right, it's this election and that's about all. The seat was probably lost anyway.
I'm glad to hear he wouldn't join the electoral vote objectors.
Don't be too excited, just my guess.
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