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"PRESENTS" FROM OBAMA.
We know that while in the Illinois State Senate, Barack Obama voted a noncommittal "present" seven times on bills that would have limited women's access to abortion. A New York Times article today -- gleefully cited by the Clinton campaign in a morning press release -- cites a total of 130 times Obama voted "present" in Illinois. Thirty-six of of these times, he was among six or fewer state senators to vote that way. In 1999, for example, he was "present" on a bill that would have allowed more teenagers to be tried as adults, a move multiple Illinois political observers interpreted as one meant to maintain political cover on an issue on which black and white constituents often disagreed. He was the lone senator to vote "present" on a bill that would give victims of sex crimes the right to ask courts to seal records of their trials. Obama believed that legislation, which passed with bipartisan support, violated the First Amendment. But in about 50 of the votes, Obama was among a large group of Democrats who voted "present" as a tactical move in budget disputes with Republicans.
The choice votes in particular have been the cause of controversy, with Illinois NOW, which supports Clinton, condemning Obama's record. But the state's Planned Parenthood has long told a more nuanced story. Here's how the Times reports it:
Pam Sutherland, president of Illinois Planned Parenthood Council, said Mr. Obama was one of the senators with a strong stand for abortion rights whom the organization approached about using the strategy. Ms. Sutherland said the Republicans were trying to force Democrats from conservative districts to register politically controversial no votes.Ms. Sutherland said Mr. Obama had initially resisted the strategy because he wanted to vote against the anti-abortion measures.
“He said, ‘I’m opposed to this,’” she recalled.
But the organization argued that a present vote would be difficult for Republicans to use in campaign literature against Democrats from moderate and conservative districts who favored abortion rights.
I'm inclined to trust Planned Parenthood's recollection of these events. But the Clinton campaign's aggressive focus on the "present" votes illustrates a growing dynamic in the race, one that I alluded to in my earlier post today -- Clinton is attacking Obama from the left on domestic policy, even as he attacks her from the left on foreign policy.
--Dana Goldstein
COMMENTS (8)
http://www.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/12/20/fact_check_present_votes_are_a.php
Posted by: Keith | December 20, 2007 11:28 AM
He was the lone senator to vote "present" on a bill that would give victims of sex crimes the right to ask courts to seal records of their trials.
I've got to come down on Barack's side on that one. The public at large has interests in these cases that may be at odds with the victim's.
And how do you seal the records of a trial? The 6th amendment guarantees the right to a public trial in part to ensure that defendants aren't railroaded into a conviction.
Posted by: Jinchi | December 20, 2007 12:23 PM
While Clinton was in China speaking about womens' rights, Obama was in the Illinois senate voting "present".
"Present" is for p*ssies.
Posted by: JoeCHI | December 20, 2007 12:33 PM
Joe -- please read a bit more. Obama voted present because he was asked to by PLANNED PARENTHOOD, as part of a group legislative tactic.
Posted by: Passing Shot | December 20, 2007 12:35 PM
I'm encouraged that after all their digging for dirt, the worst the Clinton campaign has come up with in these non-votes. Not votes where Obama is on the wrong side of the issue, say like a yea for the AUMF, but merely situations where he chose to remain neutral, typically due to a concerted strategy. If there was better dirt, don't you think we would have seen it by now?
Posted by: 62across | December 20, 2007 1:13 PM
It's not JUST all the "present" votes (which we've known in Chicago were purely political and planned with state senate leader Emil Jones). It's that Obama came to the senate with LOTS of political capital and didn't use any of it other than to position himself for future office. He didn't touch anything more controversial than Avian Bird Flu and, when George Clooney and Oprah called, Darfur (which he has subsequently dropped since he anounced for President).
To me he's a political coward. Being against the war in 2004 when you come from the most liberal ward in Chicago and you're running 3rd in the polls for the Dem nomination for senate doesn't strike me as a bold move. I'm not saying you should vote for Hillary Clinton or John Edwards -- if anyone sticks their necks out in that crowd, it's Biden (and of course Kucinich), but I keep waiting for someone to show me the beef on this guy. "Present" sure ain't it!
Posted by: Rusty | December 20, 2007 1:55 PM
"While Clinton was in China speaking about womens' rights, Obama was in the Illinois senate voting "present"."
While Hill was in China, Bill was in Washington gutting aid to the poorest members of our society.
Talk is cheap.
Posted by: brewmn | December 20, 2007 3:28 PM
I do not believe Obama was asked by Planned Parenthood and if he was, then Planned Parenthood should be ashamed of themselves. I have no problem with folks from conservative, risky districts protecting themselves on these kinds of issues.
The problem I have is that Obama wasn't from that kind of district. He was from a perfectly safe district.
There was no need for Obama to vote present on those abortion bills other than not wanting to have to go on record on these issues.
Planned Parenthood can make up whatever story they want to to try to cover Obama's ass now. They are never going to convince me that Obama was not a willing participant. It happened too many times.
Posted by: BDB | December 20, 2007 5:05 PM