"Obama Ranked Most Liberal Senator in 2007"

[Hell Hath No Fury]

There seemed to be some confusion over this, so I thought this needed some attention --

http://www.npr.org/blogs/news/2008/01/obama_ranked_most_liberal_sena_1.html

"Obama Ranked Most Liberal Senator in 2007

It may or may not be a trophy that he wants to pick up right now.

The National Journal is out with its 27th Annual vote ratings and it ranked Sen. Barack Obama as the most liberal Senator in the entire Senate. (His first year he was 16th, and last year he was 10th.) But he wasn't alone in his shift to the left. Sen. Hillary Clinton was 16th herself in 2007 after being 32nd in 2006.

And there really wasn't much room between them. The Journal notes of the 267 measures on which both senators cast votes in 2007, the two differed on only 10."


It appears that Senator Obama has become increasingly liberal over the course of his term. Somehow, he managed to beat my own Senator Boxer and the Liberal Lion Ted Kennedy for the title -- not an easy thing to do.

If I don't reply, it's because I am off to bed -- buenos noches, DUers!

[babylonsister]

1. But he's NOT a liberal!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5891949#5892281

[Solon]

13. He's not, and I stand by that statement, if you wish to redefine the word so much it becomes...

meaningless, you can try, Republicans already have been redefining it as everything that is bad in the world, what's another bastardization of the word so that moderates become liberals?

[babylonsister]

14. See #9; I know what rethugs are doing.

I happen to think someone running for prez has to present themself as fairly moderate, perhaps until he can really define himself without someone attacking him.
He might seem more liberal once he's allowed to be:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x129623#129634

Or not. We shall see. I like him, and I meant no disrespect to you. Sorry if it came across that way.

[Solon]

16. I don't think he's going to go there all by himself...

my biggest fear is that he'll run even further to the right after being elected into office, compromising even on the moderate positions he's stated on his campaign website.

I actually started a thread on this, actually my second, my first didn't get any play, and basically the gist of it is that we must drag Obama to the left, even if he's kicking and screaming. I go into more detail here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5890194&mesg_id=5890194

[SeattleGirl]

2. That's BS put out by the Weekly Standard or another RW rag.

They said the same thing about Kerry when he ran.

[4_Legs_Good]

3. And AMAZINGLY Kerry was the most liberal Senator when he ran

It's just an incredible coincidence!

Remember all the "That makes Kennedy the conservative Senator from Massachusetts" BS the right was pushing in 2004.

It's really amazing that anyone falls for this cr@p.

DAvid

[stratomagi]

4. You qualify for being the most liberal senator if...

1. You have a D next to your name.
2. You are running for president that year.

[TahitiNut]

5. Biased Crapola

Scarborough uncritically cited National Journal label of Obama as having "most liberal record in the Senate"

Summary: MSNBC's Joe Scarborough stated that Sen. Barack Obama has "the most liberal record in the Senate, according to the National Journal," but he did not mention a respected, comprehensive vote study that found Obama was the 10th most liberal senator in 2007.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200805010007

[nomorewhopper]

6. this is just a bogus report that always claims the nominee to be "the most liberal" blah blah blah

its a total crock of shit

[Stephanie]

7. Awesome!

I couldn't be happier!

[Forkboy]

8. He's not, but there's worse things to be called.

:)

[babylonsister]

9. Amen! The framing of 'liberal' is amazing! Bad word! nt

[Forkboy]

18. One of my biggest disappointments with the Dems over the last decade...

..has been their fleeing from the dreaded "L" word. Only a few still seem to wear it proudly. x(

[sakabatou]

10. What about the House of Reps?

[Dumak]

11. He's not, but would be nice if he were.

Once the republicans transfer their campaign of feigned Hillary-hatred over to Obama, I'm sure that will become part of their arsenal. Well, actually, the rank and file Republicans will turn to you, seething, and say "I can tell you one thing - no way will I ever vote for that Barack Obama", and not be able to really tell you why.

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. It's nonsense.

This bunch will rate whoever the Democratic frontrunner is as "most liberal" because they think it poinsons him. Last time it was (suprise suprise) Kerry.

They rejigger the criteria for "most liberal" to match who they want it to match.

[gort]

15. and this is the answer Democratic candidates need to give....

"If by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people — their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties — someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal." -JFK


and then they should ask these republican bootlickers what does being a conservative mean?

[Ichingcarpenter]

17. Not this shit again?

We just had someone from Free Republic
post the same story with the same links.

[Ichingcarpenter]

20. BTW......... a half hour ago that poster was banned with the same story.

[FrenchieCat]

19. .

:boring:

[boobooday]

21. I wish

Goofy PR antics. So predictable. If Biden was the presumptive nominee, you can bet he would come in first.

[WillyToad]

22. That is interesting, every democratic presidential candidate happens to be 'left of Ted Kennedy'

I am amazed that people post this tripe

[ccharles000]

23. If JFK can be a proud liberal than so can I.

I wish our party would have someone brave who can call themselves liberal. It is not a bad word. When Hillary called her self progressive not liberal I was very disappointed.

[hokies4ever]

24. Have you been in a 6 month coma?

This was even addressed during a Dem debate I think. I'm a firm believer in teaching people to help themselves. So go use 'The Google' to learn more about this. Otherwise, just wait till the fall debates when the moderators try to pin Obama as a far-left lunatic liberal and he just gives the same answer he's been giving.