Obama Reaches Out to the Center

[silentbob1272]

After reviewing the 2007 Senate vote ratings at the nonpartisan National Journal, I'm starting to make sense of Joe Biden as Obama's VP pick. The Obamessiah has promised to unite the country, despite being the most extreme leftist in the entire Senate. That's where Biden comes in:

Obama could have gone with the second most extreme leftist, Sheldon Whitehouse. But in the spirit of bipartisan cooperation, he went for the third most extreme leftist.

If he really wanted to build bridges, he could have picked Socialist Bernie Sanders at #4. But no doubt Obama was advised not to go overboard and risk alienating his base.

[octoslash]

There's a bond between brother-plagurists that simpletons such as you and I will never understand.

[1968again]

He reached out to a fellow ONE SPOUSE/ONE HOUSE brethren. Everybody can't be flossin like McCain and the Newts and Giuliani's of the world!!

[mizzufalcfan]

wow that's very revealing about obama!!! i tried to find mccain's score & it said tihs!!!

^Three senators do not have scores for 2007 because they missed more than half of the rated votes in an issue area: John McCain, R-Ariz., who was running for president; Tim Johnson, D-S.D., who was recuperating from a brain hemorrhage and returned to work on September 5, 2007; Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., who died on June 4, 2007; and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., who was appointed to succeed Thomas on June 22, 2007.

while obama was invoking socialist dogma in senate mccain was out on campaign trail meeting average working class folk like himself to learn their needs & issues!!! obama is socialist elitist liberal while mccain represents working people instead of spending all his time in the senate!!!

what a difference between the two!!!

[greyhawk]

Here's an interesting question on the validity of that poll.

Where is the name of the leading liberal in the Senate on that list?

Ted Kennedy

FYI in 2004 John Kerry was listed as the leading liberal in a poll by the same group. Now he's not even in the top 10?

[silentbob1272]

Here's an interesting question on the validity of that poll.

Where is the name of the leading liberal in the Senate on that list?

Ted Kennedy

FYI in 2004 John Kerry was listed as the leading liberal in a poll by the same group. Now he's not even in the top 10?

Kerry was #20, Kennedy #28.....it is telling of how far the senate has sunk from even 2004.

[mizzufalcfan]

wow just look at the key votes used to make ratings where obama voted yea!!!! he's ultra leftist liberal socialist for sure!!!

http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/senate_votes.htm

18/S1 Establish a Senate Office of Public Integrity to handle ethics complaints against senators. January 18. (27-71) C-1

73/S4 Agree to final passage of a bill implementing the 9/11 commission's homeland-security recommendations, including a provision extending collective bargaining rights to federal security screeners. March 13. (60-38) L-3

who does obama think he is trying to implement 9/11 commission recomendations??? :wacko:

114/SConRes21 Approve the fiscal 2008 budget resolution. March 23. (52-47) L-3

156/S1082 Block individuals from serving on Food and Drug Administration drug advisory panels if they have conflicts of interest. May 9. (47-47) C-3

272/HR2669 Increase financial aid for college students and reduce subsidies for student-loan lenders. July 20. (78-18) L-1

405/HR3043 Approve fiscal 2008 appropriations for the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education departments. November 7. (56-37) L-3

54/S4 Bar transportation security cards for certain convicted felons. February 28. (58-37) L-2

i get angrier each time reading these!!! obama wants to stop security cards for convicted felons & pass fiscal 2008 appropriations??? what a liberal!!!!

[greyhawk]

Tuesday, March 20, 2007 11:00 EST

Who's the "most liberal" candidate? Here we go again

During the 2004 presidential election, **** Cheney and other leading Republicans claimed -- falsely, as it turned out -- that the National Journal's analysis of 20 years of voting records had pegged John Kerry as the "most liberal" member of the Senate.

Here we go again.

In an e-mail distributed to reporters this morning, the Republican National Committee's Research Department says that Barack Obama -- and not Dennis Kucinich -- is the "most liberal member of Congress" currently running for the presidency. The RNC cites a McClatchy Newspapers report which relies, in turn, on the most recent "lifetime" scores from the National Journal.

Sort of.

The problem? To come up with its annual and lifetime rankings, the National Journal compares senators' voting records to other senators' voting records and House members' voting records to other House members' voting records. The resulting "liberal scores" and "conservative scores" are percentiles.

Thus, Obama's "lifetime liberal score" of 84.3 means only that, by the National Journal's math, Obama's Senate voting record makes him more liberal than 84.3 percent of senators. And Kucinich's "lifetime liberal score" of 79.4 means only that Kucinich is more liberal than 79.4 percent of House members. As the National Journal's Richard Cohen confirmed for us in a telephone call this morning, you can't do an apples-to-apples comparison of the two. And even if you could, the difference between an 84.3 and a 79.4 would be less than meaningless given (1) Obama's short tenure in the Senate, (2) Kucinich's evolution from center to left over the years, and (3) the sheer number of farther-left liberals in the House.

― Tim Grieve

Anatomy of a Right Wing Myth: Obama is the most liberal Democratic Senator

By: Howie Klein on Monday, May 19th, 2008 at 9:00 AM - PDT Lately John and I have been gnashing our collective teeth every time we see one of the Republican shills on TV repeating, mantra-like, the #1 GOP Big Lie of the campaign: “Barack Obama is the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate.”

If only! Actually there are 39 Democrats with more liberal voting records, although Obama does at least beat perennial Bush rubber stamps Holy Joe Lieberman (CT), Ben Nelson (NE) and Mary Landrieu (LA). His voting record– however you slice it, however you dice it– points to a solidly mainstream centrist– and, to be honest, considerably less liberal than… sssshhhhhhh… Hillary.

So how do CNN, CBS, ABC and NBC all allow the paid GOP shills to get away with their Big Lie? Good question. There’s one cooked up National Journal “study” that these clowns keep referring to– yes the same cloddish National Journal that criticized its own ranking of John Kerry as “the most liberal senator” in 2004.

This year, their utterly meaningless ranking system, ready-made for Republican smear attacks, defined “liberal” as members who voted, on January 18, to establish a Senate Office of Public Integrity to handle ethics complaints against senators. Given the Republican Culture of Corruption that still rules the Beltway, that may be anti-Republican, but what makes it “liberal?” Similarly anyone who agreed in mid-March to the final passage of a bill implementing the 9/11 Commission’s Homeland Security recommendations, is suddenly “liberal?” And on May 9, Obama joined many other senators in voting to block individuals from serving on Food and Drug Administration drug advisory panels if they have conflicts of interest.

Let’s hope more Americans start defining liberal this way. Because to me this all sounds very mainstream, even if John “W” McCain was on the wrong side of each vote.

The first article is from Salon.com the second is from Crooks&Liars.com

from The New Republic

He has a point. Obama is not the most liberal member of the Senate--the widely reported National Journal rankings released in January, which say that he is, are essentially meaningless when it comes to grading presidential candidates, who inevitably miss significant numbers of votes--but nor is he a centrist. National Journal's rankings from last year, which have more validity, scored him as the tenth most liberal senator. The tension between Obama's post- partisan rhetoric and his deep-blue voting pattern is real.

[mizzufalcfan]

54/S4 Bar transportation security cards for certain convicted felons. February 28. (58-37) L-2

thank god mccain is in the senate fighting for rights of felons unlike obama who would restrict security rights with this stupid bill!!! mccain so disgusted by this bill he left senate floor & went campaigning to tell average working class americans like himself about stupid things senate is doing!!!!

[silentbob1272]

wow just look at the key votes used to make ratings where obama voted yea!!!! he's ultra leftist liberal socialist for sure!!!

http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/senate_votes.htm

How about listing those that actually prove the point of his ranking instead of cherry picking the few that sound ambiguous to you.

109/SConRes21 Repeal the estate tax. March 23. (44-55) L-3....Obama=Nay

177/S1348 Permit law enforcement officers to question individuals about their immigrant status if they have probable cause to believe that the immigrants are here illegally. May 24. (48-49) L-2.....Obama=Nay

193/S1348 Waive a procedural objection to allow immigration based on family connections for an extended period. June 6. (53-44; 60 votes required to waive the Budget Act) C-3 ..................Obama=Yea

190/S1348 Require the disclosure of information on visa applicants to law enforcement officers. June 6. (57-39) C-3...Obama=Nay

196/S1348 Put more weight on job skills than family ties for visa applicants. June 6. (42-55) L-2....Obama=Nay

198/S1348 Make English the official language of the United States. June 6. (64-33) C-2....Obama=Nay

302/HR976 Define a fetus as an "unborn child." August 2. (49-50) L-3...Obama=Nay

WE really could go on listing these all day, the fact is though that The National Journal is a BI-PARTISAN organization which has far more expertize and resources to determine a liberal issue from a conservative one and accurately list who voted for it either way.

[kicker23]

196/S1348 Put more weight on job skills than family ties for visa applicants. June 6. (42-55) L-2....Obama=Nay

Thank God he shot that one down...

[mizzufalcfan]

WE really could go on listing these all day, the fact is though that The National Journal is a BI-PARTISAN organization which has far more expertize and resources to determine a liberal issue from a conservative one and accurately list who voted for it either way.

oh your preaching to choir brother!!! establishing senate office of public integrity to handle ethics complaints is clearly liberal socialist ideology run amock!!! if senators want to be corrupt then thats their business not anyone elses so obama was just showing more of his big government dogma!!! same for barring security cards for convicted felons what kind of big liberal socialist policy is that????? :wacko:

[silentbob1272]

oh your preaching to choir brother!!! establishing senate office of public integrity to handle ethics complaints is clearly liberal socialist ideology run amock!!! if senators want to be corrupt then thats their business not anyone elses so obama was just showing more of his big government dogma!!! same for barring security cards for convicted felons what kind of big liberal socialist policy is that????? :wacko:

He did hit 95.5%, not every vote was Liberal, just nearly every vote....and just because a particular vote is categorized as Liberal in no way means that it is wrong. I listed several that I see as glaringly wrong (and there were many, many more) I also saw quite a few that would be pigeon holed as Liberal in which I agreed with.....it is completely accurate to argue the merit of any vote, but to try and tear down the system because you don't like it's findings....not so much.

You should be proud that Obama and Biden are this Liberal, they are toeing the party line, if you agree with these stances, there is certainly nothing to hide or be ashamed by their charging ahead with this ideology, but those on the other side have a right to be aware of it as well.

[eatcorn]

Summarizing entire bills into one sentence blurbs probably doesn't speak to the actual reason for the votes in many cases.

Any chance you'd like to do this for McCain's history?

[mizzufalcfan]

the fact is though that The National Journal is a BI-PARTISAN organization which has far more expertize and resources to determine a liberal issue from a conservative one and accurately list who voted for it either way.

yeah national journal is great source!!! democrats cite other sources like http://www.voteview.com thats run by bunch of political scientists!! what do liberal looser political scientists know about rating by ideology??? derrrrrr....

just look what dolts claimed about mccain!!!

http://voteview.ucsd.edu/Clinton_and_Obama.htm

they say mccain's most conservative senator on social issues & make fraudulent lie that obama/clinton both centrist compared to other democrat senators!!!!

everybody knows obama most liberal senator so liberal loosers just accept fact stop trying to justify obama with fancy graphs & statistics & technicrat jargon!!! its true b/c mccain said its true so that's that!!!

[Summerbunny]

^Three senators do not have scores for 2007 because they missed more than half of the rated votes in an issue area: John McCain, R-Ariz., who was running for president; Tim Johnson, D-S.D., who was recuperating from a brain hemorrhage and returned to work on September 5, 2007; Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., who died on June 4, 2007; and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., who was appointed to succeed Thomas on June 22, 2007.

Is this true! He's in competition with a sick man and a dead man for missed votes

[mizzufalcfan]

Summarizing entire bills into one sentence blurbs probably doesn't speak to the actual reason for the votes in many cases.

Any chance you'd like to do this for McCain's history?

just you try & do that!! mccain was on campaign trail speaking ot real voters not wasting time in senate like obama bin biden were!!! cant rank mccain as liberal or conservative mccain is american he transcends party labels!!! hes out speaking ot americans where he needs to be not voting in senate with washington elite!!!

[silentbob1272]

Summarizing entire bills into one sentence blurbs probably doesn't speak to the actual reason for the votes in many cases.

Any chance you'd like to do this for McCain's history?

I would be glad to, but as someone already pointed out, McCain skipped out on too many votes to even register

Three senators do not have scores for 2007 because they missed more than half of the rated votes in an issue area: John McCain, R-Ariz

speaks really well of him as well.

[silentbob1272]

yeah national journal is great source!!! democrats cite other sources like http://www.voteview.com thats run by bunch of political scientists!! what do liberal looser political scientists know about rating by ideology??? derrrrrr....

just look what dolts claimed about mccain!!!

http://voteview.ucsd.edu/Clinton_and_Obama.htm

they say mccain's most conservative senator on social issues & make fraudulent lie that obama/clinton both centrist compared to other democrat senators!!!!

everybody knows obama most liberal senator so liberal loosers just accept fact stop trying to justify obama with fancy graphs & statistics & technicrat jargon!!! its true b/c mccain said its true so that's that!!!

Two glaring problems with your argument: the first being that the study you cite compares both the House AND THE Senate, the study by The National Journal clearly stated, The Most Liberal Senator....and secondly, according to the study you cite, Obama has 8 senators who "fall to his left" so TNJ states that he is the most Liberal, your site puts him at nine...so fine a difference of opinion just how liberal he is compared to other senators.......but lets assume that the study you put the greater stock in is correct, in what math class did you get the idea that 9th of 100=centrist????

[pencilpusher. just because]

After reviewing the 2007 Senate vote ratings at the nonpartisan National Journal, I'm starting to make sense of Joe Biden as Obama's VP pick. The Obamessiah has promised to unite the country, despite being the most extreme leftist in the entire Senate. That's where Biden comes in:

Obama could have gone with the second most extreme leftist, Sheldon Whitehouse. But in the spirit of bipartisan cooperation, he went for the third most extreme leftist.

If he really wanted to build bridges, he could have picked Socialist Bernie Sanders at #4. But no doubt Obama was advised not to go overboard and risk alienating his base.

So I guess by your logic he should have picked John Kerry. Good one.

And by your logic that someone should build bridges instead of someone who is his political kin, McCain should go dind someone who is further left to balance out his..ahem..conservative beliefs.

I have yet to figure why these guys failed to contact you for political advice.

[mizzufalcfan]

Two glaring problems with your argument: the first being that the study you cite compares both the House AND THE Senate, the study by The National Journal clearly stated, The Most Liberal Senator....and secondly, according to the study you cite, Obama has 8 senators who "fall to his left" so TNJ states that he is the most Liberal, your site puts him at nine...so fine a difference of opinion just how liberal he is compared to other senators.......but lets assume that the study you put the greater stock in is correct, in what math class did you get the idea that 9th of 100=centrist????

why so defensive i agree with you!!! one of the liberal loosers graphs show obama clinton in center of other democratic senators!!! also show mccain as most extremist senator on social issues!!! what bunk!!!

& what the heck is a dwnominate score anyway just some liberal technijargon crap to fool people from accepting truth that obama is most liberal senator in history of america!!! just accept truth you liberal loosers!!! john mccain said it so its true and that's that!!!

[silentbob1272]

So I guess by your logic he should have picked John Kerry. Good one.

And by your logic that someone should build bridges instead of someone who is his political kin, McCain should go dind someone who is further left to balance out his..ahem..conservative beliefs.

I have yet to figure why these guys failed to contact you for political advice.

No, that would be by Obama's logic, it may be a good idea that as you continue to blindly hump the guy's leg, to actually listen to what he says

Concord Monitor

Obama touted his abilities to solve problems in a bipartisan way, to take on special interest groups, and to restore America's standing globally, while giving average citizens a voice. "This dates back to my history as a community organizer and my belief that if ordinary people participate we get better outcomes," he said.

"Temperamentally, I'm someone who tries to seek common ground," he said. "I tend not to demonize people who don't agree with me, but try to find areas of overlap. I'm not an ideological person; I try to make decisions based on facts, what works and what doesn't. I've been more willing in this campaign and in my political career to break out of orthodoxy."

This is merely one of a few hundred times he made this and similar claims for bi-partisanship...don't get me wrong, I think he should have picked a like minded running mate, but he being scored as the most liberal senator who then tapped the third most liberal senator as a running mate hardly speaks to bi-partisanship and just struck me a bit funny.

Also, I know you're not voting for him, no need to say it again.

[silentbob1272]

why so defensive i agree with you!!! one of the liberal loosers graphs show obama clinton in center of other democratic senators!!! also show mccain as most extremist senator on social issues!!! what bunk!!!

& what the heck is a dwnominate score anyway just some liberal technijargon crap to fool people from accepting truth that obama is most liberal senator in history of america!!! just accept truth you liberal loosers!!! john mccain said it so its true and that's that!!!

You really do strike me as a knowledgeable guy with pretty good research skills (reminds me of another poster) but its tiresome to wade through all the satirical bs to get to the crux of your point....you argue your points well (in your backwards azz way), you should just stick to that....at least in my opinion.

On to this point, look closer at your graph, the Republicans also count as senators, Obama in no way, no matter what reverse semantical logic you attempt to employ can be regarded as a centrist senator. Its not a dig at the guy, it just how the numbers (both from my source and yours) add up.

[pencilpusher. just because]

No, that would be by Obama's logic, it may be a good idea that as you continue to blindly hump the guy's leg, to actually listen to what he says

Concord Monitor

Obama touted his abilities to solve problems in a bipartisan way, to take on special interest groups, and to restore America's standing globally, while giving average citizens a voice. "This dates back to my history as a community organizer and my belief that if ordinary people participate we get better outcomes," he said.

"Temperamentally, I'm someone who tries to seek common ground," he said. "I tend not to demonize people who don't agree with me, but try to find areas of overlap. I'm not an ideological person; I try to make decisions based on facts, what works and what doesn't. I've been more willing in this campaign and in my political career to break out of orthodoxy."

This is merely one of a few hundred times he made this and similar claims for bi-partisanship...don't get me wrong, I think he should have picked a like minded running mate, but he being scored as the most liberal senator who then tapped the third most liberal senator as a running mate hardly speaks to bi-partisanship and just struck me a bit funny.

Also, I know you're not voting for him, no need to say it again.

So you say I blindly hump his leg and yet acknowledge you realize I am not voting for him? Good stuff.

I Just think, as July on here once pointed out that you guys tried to pile EVERYTHING on him and that was your downfall. Now you jump on him for picking someone close to his beliefs, and you would have jumped him had he picked someone opposite and said " he isn't standing up for his beliefs!"

So you see what I am saying?

Yes, we know you dislike Obama. We get it. He cannot win with you no matter his actions. He doesn't go to Iraq, you guys jump him. He does go there, you guys jump him. yaddayadda yadda.

I once thought you were above the "attack no matter what he does" angle, but now you are just becoming Steve 2.. And it's sad to see a formerly decent poster who seemed to think for himself go off that end.Even your cut and paste is picking up. What next, Glen Beck vids?

[rugger8]

So I guess by your logic he should have picked John Kerry. Good one.

And by your logic that someone should build bridges instead of someone who is his political kin, McCain should go dind someone who is further left to balance out his..ahem..conservative beliefs.

I have yet to figure why these guys failed to contact you for political advice.

Really, he probably should have gone for a governor. Someone with executive experience.

...and McCain doesn't have much in the way of conservative beliefs...