I was curious about Barack Obama’s record of casting ‘present’ votes in the Illinois legislature, so I decided to go back and look at some Senate transcripts from his first term to see what more I could learn. I was surprised at what I found.
At least in his first two years in the Senate, Obama seemed to have an unusual problem just casting votes — physically. Sometimes he simply missed the votes (recall his debate admission that he is very disorganized. Other times he cast votes, but later said that he had accidentally voted the wrong way. Some highlights:
March 14, 1997
Thank you Madam Speaker (sic). Will the sponsor yield? I let this – I voted to have this bill come out of committee, because I think it was useful to have this kind of discussion on the bill, and I think the Senator has good intent… So although I did vote Yes to get this out of the committee, I – as currently constituted in light of the discussion, I think that it may – I will probably vote in opposition to the bill.March 18, 1997
This is actually on the previous bill, 1076. I pressed yes, but my button didn’t come up.March 19, 1997
The – yesterday on Senate Bill 1000, I should have – I was trying to vote Yes on this and I was recorded as a No. Just wanted to have that in the record.March 20, 1997
Yes, Madam President. On Senate bill 700, I should have pressed a Yes vote; pressed a Present vote. I’d like that reflected in the record, please.May 13, 1997
Yes, Mr. President. I was off the floor and I was wondering if we were going to go back on 2nd reading. I’d ask the body for 2147. Move it from 2nd to 3rd.May 28, 1997
Thank you, Madam President. My button seems to be sticking. So I was recorded as not voting on that; I would have voted aye.October 30, 1997
Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Chamber, the sponsor. Let me start off by just saying that – I want to apologize to the sponsor because the – I’m originally recorded as a – as a Yes vote on this, and it’s an indication, I think, that I wasn’t paying sufficient attention. I do have concerns on this bill, and I just want to express those concerns very quickly…November 14, 1997
Thank you, Mr. President. I had the same problem on Senate Bill 493. I’d like to be recorded as a No vote.[Later that same day]
Thank you, Mr. President. On Senate Bill 452, I was out in the hall when the vote came up and I didn’t get back here in time. I would like to be recorded as a Yes vote.
May 22, 1998
I apologize, Mr. President. I was off the floor and missed House Bill 1706. I just wanted to record that I would have voted in the affirmative.
I haven’t looked at the rest of his tenure in the Senate to determine if this problem continued after his first term (1997-1998). But it certainly is odd.
There’s a maxim among Members of Congress that you can’t go too far wrong voting for a bill that fails, or against a bill that passes. In either case, half the people are happy because of the outcome of the vote, and the other half are happy that you voted with them. No one can hold anything against you.
Was Obama trying to take this one step further, and actually vote ‘both ways?’ If so, then it was a master stroke to hit on the idea of voting ‘present.’ That’s a lot simpler than constantly explaining accidental votes.
Steve Maley
Moe Lane
Dan McLaughlin
Neil Stevens
Daniel Horowitz
the Obama Rule
thefruitcakedave Saturday, September 20th at 10:36AM EST (link)Never make a stand, always wiat for as long as pos to see which way the polictical winds are blowing ( see Russia and bailouts)
At least he is consistant on that front
In a nutshell
Lorraine Saturday, September 20th at 10:46AM EST (link)I guess that about sums it up….
But one other thing he has always be consistent on, and we must give him credit for that, is Infanticide. What a record. Takes my breath away…sarcasm
The child who has to go to the bathroom during a test
Bitty Saturday, September 20th at 12:39PM EST (link)This story reminded me of something, and then I realized what: the child in school who always has to go to the bathroom during a test.
I am the height of absent-minded, but then I don’t have a secretary, or a personal assistant, or even a Blackberry. How many times can one senator’s voting device jam?
“I was talking in the hallway”?
These excuses make me want to look over my glasses in my most professional, authoritative, school-marm voice and demand that Mr. Obama please stop making excuses and take the test in front of him. Working with him would turn me into Professor McGonagall from Harry Potter.
Fortunately, we have Sarah Palin.
Look at these 4 tracking polls. Notice the OUTLIER?
boomshak Saturday, September 20th at 1:14PM EST (link)Rasmussen Tracking 09/17 – 09/19 3000 LV 48 47 Obama +1
Gallup Tracking 09/17 – 09/20 2796 RV 50 44 Obama +6
Hotline/FD Tracking 09/17 – 09/20 915 RV 45 44 Obama +1
Battleground Tracking 09/11 – 09/18 800 LV 47 47 Tie
Gallup +6 and everyone else a statistical tie – FAIL.
Hitting the button
jcheney Saturday, September 20th at 2:59PM EST (link)I wonder what would happen if Obama becomes President and presses the ‘red button’ by ‘accident?’
No such thing as the Red Button.....But....
DavidS1787 (Diary) Saturday, September 20th at 3:25PM EST (link)there is a little black bag that trails the President .
This article will explain it to you.
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/c3i/nuclear-football.htm
The Russians have a Nuclear Briefcase also.
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/c3i/index.html
No such thing as the Red Button.....But....
DavidS1787 (Diary) Saturday, September 20th at 3:28PM EST (link)there is a little black bag that trails the President .
This article will explain it to you.
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/c3i/nuclear-football.htm
The Russians have a Nuclear Briefcase also.
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/c3i/index.html
No such thing as the Red Button.....But....
DavidS1787 (Diary) Saturday, September 20th at 3:28PM EST (link)there is a little black bag that trails the President .
This article will explain it to you.
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/c3i/nuclear-football.htm
The Russians have a Nuclear Briefcase also.
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/c3i/index.html
Tester for President?
acasilaco Saturday, September 20th at 3:28PM EST (link)Just a thought that occurred to me. I am in no way meaning to put down Sen. Tester (Democrat, first-term senator from Mont.), who, despite policy disagreements, I have nothing but respect and admiration for. I just wouldn’t think that anyone — including Sen. Tester himself — would consider him qualified on this date to run for president. Kind of like someone else we know….
A comparison of the respective political/government experience of Sen. Tester now and Sen. Obama when he declared his candidacy for President (Feb. 2007):
Employment background.
Tester: business owner, farmer, butcher, school teacher, chairman of school district board of trustees.
Obama: lawyer, community organizer, law school lecturer.
State Legislature.
Tester: 8 years in state senate. Senate Minority Leader. Senate President.
Obama: 8 years in state senate. Served as co-chairman of Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, Chairman of Health and Human Services Committee.
U.S. Senate.
Tester: Elected after hotly contested Dem. primary defeating a statewide office holder. In general election, defeated 3-term incumbent senator. Has served in Senate about 21 months so far.
Obama: Elected over little-known Democratic opposition, and against a GOP nominee who was chosen as a last-minute replacement candidate and isn’t even from the state. At time of declaring candidacy, had served in Senate 25 months.
So, again, I am in no way meaning to put down Sen. Tester. I actually like him quite a bit (although I disagree with him). I’m just saying that since I think almost everyone would agree he’s not ready to be president, then why is Sen. Obama? (And, no fair making comparisons to Gov. Palin. For one thing, her background and experience stack up at least comparably with Sen. Obama’s. More importantly, she is running for vice president, not president.)
No such thing as the Red Button.....But....
DavidS1787 (Diary) Saturday, September 20th at 3:29PM EST (link)there is a little black bag that trails the President .
This article will explain it to you.
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/c3i/nuclear-football.htm
The Russians have a Nuclear Briefcase also.
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/c3i/index.html
I wish there was no such thing as your enter key
Achance (Diary) Saturday, September 20th at 3:38PM EST (link)DavidS1787! Hit the post button once, only once; like the one ping in Hunt for Red October. This site is a little funky these days, so you might want to go check your mail or something after you hit post. When you come back, in all likelihood, your comment will have posted.
In Vino Veritas
I pushed the post button once........
DavidS1787 (Diary) Saturday, September 20th at 3:42PM EST (link)I pushed the post button once……..
..and refreshed three times?
NightTwister (Diary) Saturday, September 20th at 4:09PM EST (link)If you refresh the page after you post your comment, it posts again.
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. – Winston Churchill
Media won't cover it
clintonformccain Saturday, September 20th at 4:51PM EST (link)All of this stuff was well known during the primaries — the present votes, pressing the wrong button, Rezko buying Obama’s yard and driveway for him, giving him exclusive use for free. All of it.
The media won’t touch it. When Clinton raised Rezko in a debate, the Obama campaign gave the media a meet n’ greet line photo of the Clintons at a Chicago DNC fundraiser as proof that they were just as in bed with Rezko. That’s the story the media ran with.
If McCain wants to score any points on any of this stuff, he better start dumping truckloads of 527-ad bricks on Obama’s head.
That's probably what happened.......
DavidS1787 (Diary) Saturday, September 20th at 5:19PM EST (link)That’s probably what happened…….
Because I didn’t get the page where it said your comment has been posted.