Why did Obama not vote on ensuring American workers jobs and children's health insurance?

[Progress And Change]

Obama did not vote on these two. Clinton showed up and voted, and voted with progressive on both. We have heard a lot about Obama missing votes in Illinois and Kyl-Lieberman but this raises the specter of Obama not even being reliable for basic bread-and-butter issues. His overall voting record is solid but these missed votes go to the notion that Obama places politics before doing his job. Even if he was campaigning why couldn't he make it back for these votes? Clinton did. If he weren't campaigning, he couldn't leave his home or wherever he was to come back and vote? As Senator Clinton said, presidents have to show up and take stands.

3. Senate Amendment Ensures American Workers Have Access to Jobs (06/05/2007, Roll Call No. 183)

06/05/2007 -- S.Amdt. 1231, Roll Call # 183. Senators passed an amendment to the comprehensive immigration reform bill that ensures employers post job opportunities in their community before hiring immigrant workers. This ensures that American workers have access to all available jobs. The measure passed on June 5, 2007 by a vote of 71 to 22. A YES vote is Right, a NO vote is Wrong.


11. Senate Expands Health Care for Kids (09/27/2007, Roll Call No. 353

09/27/2007 --
H.R. 976, Roll Call # 353. The Senate passed the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act which will expand health care coverage for millions of children. The measure passed on September 27, 2007 by a vote of 67 to 29. A YES vote is Right, a NO vote is wrong.


http://capwiz.com/seiuorg/scorecard.xc?chamber=S&state=US&session=1101&x=6&y=9

[BeyondGeography]

1. Because he's a plant who secretly wants us and our children to get sick and die

Here he explains why he emphasizes affordability over across-the-board mandates and what he would do as President to get his plan passed, by the way:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RjsRcIfMj-E

[Progress And Change]

3. you can't defend Obama, once again, not showing up to vote?

This goes to reliability. Can we count on Obama to fight for us when he can't even show up and vote?

[cuke]

5. BG tried to change the subject

It might work sometimes if they didn't do it ALL THE TIME

[Progress And Change]

9. why do they do everything to divert attention from his record?

I can understand them never talking about his record (whatever "record" he has anyway) but they go to extreme lengths to avoid his record being discussed by others. Why do you think this is so?

[BeyondGeography]

16. You say you're from Illinois

why are Democrats there so hornswoggled by this gutless, conservative imposter?

Oh, and here's a brief summary of his legislative achievements there as state Senator:

==Mr. Obama helped deliver what is said to have been the first significant campaign finance reform law in Illinois in 25 years. He brought law enforcement groups around to back legislation requiring that homicide interrogations be taped and helped bring about passage of the state’s first racial-profiling law. He was a chief sponsor of a law enhancing tax credits for the working poor, played a central role in negotiations over welfare reform and successfully pushed for increasing child care subsidies.==

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[Progress And Change]

17. why are you diverting attention from his record in Congress?

What are you afraid of people discovering? ;)

[cuke]

18. BG won't explain why Obama skipped those votes on important issues

BG will post all sorts on nonsense, but nothing about the OP

[Progress And Change]

20. at least he shows up and clocks in each day, unlike his candidate

So let's give him credit where he deserves it. ;)

Let's not feed the Obama campaign's diversionary tactics and pledge only to reply to relevant comments. They may want to continue Chicago-style politics full of blue smoke but let's start a New Politics ourselves here!

[BeyondGeography]

19. You live in Chicago, right?

[HughMoran]

14. That was my answer!!! Obama is swahili for "Satan"

I thought everyone knew that?

:sarcasm:

[MannyGoldstein]

Neither of These Was Controversial

Better if he had voted - but not a big deal.

[Progress And Change]

4. worker's jobs and health care for kids is no big deal?

I think the non-Obama wing of the party would disagree with that.

[cuke]

8. Many Obama supporters don't care about the issues

In another thread, an Obama supporters said they "don't care" about universal health care, and then posted a link to a poll that showed Obama doing well in Iowa

[Progress And Change]

11. who was that? which thread was that?

I would have to see. I bet it is one of those who mysteriously gets coordinated, realtime talking points to use on DU, even regarding other posters (which means they are getting it directly. they can get issue talking points through the campaign's statements. to get talking points on posters, down right to the words used, requires some direct organization and coordination...)...

[cuke]

21. Here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3816752#3816887

And I made a mistake. He posted an anti-Clinton link, not a pro-Obama link

[Progress And Change]

23. the source does not surprise me...

[Clark2008]

25. Healthcare for kids by overtaxing a dwindling sub-group...

Look... even Michael Moore agreed with me when we both said that you can't keep taxing smokers - or any one other group, for that matter - because you'll eventually tax it beyond many peoples' abilities to pay, which will result in a bankruptcy of the fund you were trying to create.

Better to tax EVERYONE, thus ensuring a never-dwindling pool of funds. It's a good idea - but it was bad implementation.

[Progress And Change]

26. oh...i see. so this explains why Obama did note vote for funding health care for kids?

Even if Obama disagreed it why didn't he show up and take a stand? That is his job!

[bluedog]

7. he was elected Senator to be in the Senate

when it votes....controversial or not.that is his main job......

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Neither of These Was Controversial

Better if he had voted - but not a big deal.

[Progress And Change]

6. it goes to reliability. if we can't count on him to vote how can we expect him to fight?

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. There was no fight there.

Both EASILY passed. If either was in danger of not passing, I expect he'd have showed.

You gotta do better than that.

[mtnsnake]

22. Is this what you're talking about?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3796800

[Progress And Change]

24. yep. he is never there

When there were debates raging on the biggest issues this year he was nowhere (if he was present he was silent, i.e. on the bill to end the war in May), except on immigration. Even there he did not show up to vote on an amendment to ensure American worker's access to jobs. So even when he does show up for part of a fight he may leave in the middle of it. Where do you think he goes? The Smithsonian? Adams-Morgan? The movies?

[cuke]

10. Obama ducks voted controversial and non-controversial

and they think that's OK

[Progress And Change]

12. he gets paid big bucks by the voters

He is a millionaire. If he isn't going to do his job why not refund the taxpayers their money?

[MNDemNY]

15. He does walk on water, you know.

[frazzled]

27. Thus far, Obama has missed 33% of votes; in 2003-04, Kerry and Edwards ...

missed 72.3% and 45.2% of Senate votes, respectively.

So far, Obama has missed fewer votes than Biden or Dodd.

This is a non-issue, except for votes where the outcome is in doubt.
Candidates miss votes.

http://popprog.blogspot.com/2007/11/nice-work-if-you-can-get-it-who-missed.html

By the way, it's interesting to note that John Edwards had the worst attendance record of almost anyone, even BEFORE he started campaigning, at least on the all-important Senate Judiciary Committe:

"For example, during the 107th Congress in 2001 and 2002 — before Edwards began his presidential campaign — he attended 10 of the 30 business meetings (for debate and votes) that were held after he joined the committee in July 2001. His 33 percent average attendance was half the 70 percent average for all committee members.

That meant Edwards had the second-worst attendance for that pre-campaign period, behind Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., who attended one less meeting. Edwards was also tied with the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, D-S.C., who was then 99 years old and in failing health.

When hearings are added into the total along with business meetings for that same period, Edwards finished fourth-lowest among 19 members, behind Thurmond, Joe Biden, D-Del., and Kennedy.

Edwards attended 31 of 91 total meetings, or 34 percent. The committee attendance average was 49 percent.

Once Edwards started seeking the White House, his attendance dropped further, giving him the lowest attendance on the committee both for the 2003-04 108th Congress, and for the entire three years since he joined the committee."

[mtnsnake]

28. yeah, some of the hardest votes. nt

[Progress And Change]

30. i would laugh it that were unfortunately not true

If we elect this coward we are in for a lousy four years of no leadership on tough issues.

[Progress And Change]

29. Clinton showed up for these important votes as well as Kyl-Lieberman

Where was Obama?

Kerry isn't running and Edwards is not in Congress anymore. Biden and Dodd do not excuse Obama (they missed only one of the two votes in the OP by the way). Clinton is the benchmark on this and she is also Obama's biggest competitor. If she can show up for important votes why can't Obama?

[BeyondGeography]

31. Bragging about the K/L vote isn't particularly good for your girl

Or is she your girl?

Who's your candidate again?

[Progress And Change]

33. cuke, there he goes again trying to change the subject!

:rofl:

[mtnsnake]

35. Well what's he gonna talk about? It's not like he can say his candidate voted NO

lol

[Progress And Change]

37. you have a point lol

[mtnsnake]

34. At least she isn't afraid to put her ass on the line

[flpoljunkie]

36. Thank you for posting the numbers. They got nuthin!

[Bitwit1234]

32. Same reason he didn't vote for more funds for our veterans health

and he didn't vote for the more time between deployments. Both didn't get enough votes to pass. 140 votes he missed and then when Hillary voted for the Kyl resolution to make the Iranian guard terrorist he had the gall to question her vote while little coward sat it out. That's what he does he sits out all the hard votes so he can flame and moan at the democrats who do vote.

[emilyg]

38. You got it right.