"Two memoirs but no major legislation?" A lie. Period.Here's a rundown on my favorite thing that Obama did in the Illinois state senate, requiring that police questioning of suspects in murder cases be videotaped. A great idea in Illinois that should be expanded nationally. I read about it when it was enacted, thinking that it was a great, smart idea. It was my discovery years later that he spearheaded it that made me give him a closer look.
The New York Times gives a quick rundown on what Obama did and did not support in the State Senate.
CBS News reports, back in January 2007, on various controversial or hot-button issues that Obama dealt with in one way or another while in the State Senate.
A few examples of Obama reaching across party lines to get important things accomplished (the main thing is his work with Richard Lugar in the area of preventing nuclear arms proliferation).
A list of bills that Barack Obama sponsored while in the US Senate.
A great roundup of policy papers and position stances that "Think On These Things" has rounded up.
And, of course, the usual thorough rundown on issues and stances on the always reliable On The Issues
Have fun, and please don't try to say that Obama has no record, be it bipartisan or otherwise.
Scott Mendelson
2 comments:
Certainly there is a record. I think the real argument then is in what one feels is significant. His work with Luger surely is significant in the grand scheme of things, but it was hardly a partisan issue, and it has nothing to do with any of the changes he claims to be able to bring to Congress. I would be interested to see if Obama's "significant" record brought any major bills having to do with the major issues of this election.
For all the talk about McCain's 90% voting record with Bush (which is a distortion to begin with, most votes in Senate are full agreement, and Bush is not a Senator), Obama voted 97% of the time with the democratic line. Certainly is a record, but not a record of bipartisanship and leadership on the big issues.
John McCain at least has those, McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, etc., even though I am in disagreement with those bills. But if we are going to compare records and achievements of "signifcance" and true bi-partisanship, then its not even close.
Certainly there is a record. I think the real argument then is in what one feels is significant. His work with Luger surely is significant in the grand scheme of things, but it was hardly a partisan issue, and it has nothing to do with any of the changes he claims to be able to bring to Congress. I would be interested to see if Obama's "significant" record brought any major bills having to do with the major issues of this election.
For all the talk about McCain's 90% voting record with Bush (which is a distortion to begin with, most votes in Senate are full agreement, and Bush is not a Senator), Obama voted 97% of the time with the democratic line. Certainly is a record, but not a record of bipartisanship and leadership on the big issues.
John McCain at least has those, McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, etc., even though I am in disagreement with those bills. But if we are going to compare records and achievements of "signifcance" and true bi-partisanship, then its not even close.
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