Obama in the pocket of corporations--voted for Class Action "Fairness" Act

[candice]

http://proletariat.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/obama-and-the-class-action-fairness-act/


"In 2005, Barack Obama voted for CAFA, the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005. Who voted against it? Hillary Clinton, Dick Durbin, Ted Kennedy, Pat Leahy, Joe Biden, Barbara Boxer and other progressive Democrats.
Obama broke with progressive Democrats to support this anti-consumer, anti federalist, anti-worker bill. I am sure this was partly “payback” for his Senate seat, but that leaves the question that if by some miracle he becomes the next president what will the payback be to corporate America .

Maybe, he was not paying attention, or simply made a mistake because he was green (not much experience). No, as recently as last Sunday he bragged about it to Chris Wallace
I would point out, though, for example, that when I voted for a tort reform measure that was fiercely opposed by the trial lawyers, I got attacked pretty hard from the left."


It's not just the huge Wall Street backing, the love from General Electric (NBC/MSNBC) for the man who will be able to sell Americans on nuclear power plants (GE makes zillions & Obama's sentiments are with Exxelon execs, not his constituents who might be drinking radioactive waste), or the Chicago machine (Obama was Rezko's #2 after Gov. Blag). Obama's poor black constituents could freeze all winter because Rezko's company couldn't afford to provide heat...Chicago knew this, but Rezko found $1000 to fund Obama's campaign. He lost the first time he had competition. In his first run he hired a Harvard election official to challenge all of his opponents' nomination papers--he ran unopposed. The real community activist, the incumbent Alice Palmer, campaigned for Hillary in Indiana.

What real journalist wouldn't laugh at the rerun of Axelrod's ad campaign for Deval Patrick! "Take a chance on your own aspirations!" "We are the people we are waiting for." That is truly a low-information voter who falls for that ad campaign.

[cliffordu]

1. snark

[mrreowwr_kittty]

2. Whereas the informed voter falls for gas tax pandering!

:eyes:

[saracat]

3. And the "truth would set them free" but they have closed their ears!

It is really too bad rthat the Supers can't have a sit down with Alice Palmer and with the Illinois legislature minus Emil Jones!

[anonymous171]

19. Edwards doesn't mind this vote, obviously, since he endorsed Obama.

[saracat]

22. So? And y our point is? Why does this mean anything? Unlike some I have no "Messiah'

I care about this issue.

[David Dunham]

4. CAFA has had some positive effects. No more legal hellholes like Madison County, IL

[JeffR]

5. Wow. Senator Clinton sounds like a real firebrand.

I can't wait for primary season to begin. She's gonna leave a mark on her fellow candidates for the nomination. This'll be good...:popcorn:

[mcctatas]

6. Do we really want to talk about who is in the pocket of the

corporatists? It'd be like getting into an ass kicking contest with a one legged man...

[Raejeanowl]

7. Well, No Refutations Of The Truth Of It? n/t

[anigbrowl]

8. Obama's IL constituents could not freeze all winter

The OP refers to Obama representing a charity housing concern Rezko was involved in, whose buildings were not up to code. This occurred before Obama was elected to the IL legislature. The code violation was reported in September (hardly the freezing temperatures of winter). Obama appeared in court to ask for a continuance. The case was reviewed a month later and it was found the code violations had been rectified.

Truth goes a long way.

[anonymous171]

9. I wish someone would ask Hillary if she considered herself Liberal and Progressive

I wonder what she would say.

[FrenchieCat]

10. She's only leading with the most conservative voters now......in most polls.

Those who like her and McCain, cause they don't give a fuck about war, about taxes, about corporations gone wild, or any of that. They only like folks who will divide us as Americans, and even us as Democrats.

[anonymous171]

11. Taking that into consideration, I bet she would say "No."

Or give some lame Kerry-esque cop out like "I don't believe in labels" or something.

[murielm99]

12. The OP was about Obama, not Clinton.

So many Obama supporters like to deflect.

[anonymous171]

13. The first line referred to Clinton as a "Progressive Democract"

And I like a politician who gives a shit about his constituents.

[FrenchieCat]

14. Well maybe if Hillary would get out of our face,

we wouldn't have to discuss her.

[anonymous171]

15. One bill.

Hillary voted for the IWR, Kyle-Lieberman amendment, and voted against the ban against cluster bombs. Therefore she is a neocon. I would rather have a corporate shill than a neocon in the WH.

[Douglas Carpenter]

16. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!! THEY ALL ARE!!

or perhaps, I should say almost all - certainly anyone who is likely to become President of the United States under current political configurations.

"Government is the executive committee of the bourgeoisie." Don't they teach that in eighth grade civics anymore?

The publication you are referencing is called, "The Proletariat". Now right off hand, what political orientation would one imagine a publication called "The Proletariat" be? Let me quote from their introduction page, "The Proletariat, on the other hand, begins from the fundamental premise that we have a class war not a cultural war in this country."

Be that as it may that all major candidates and anyone else likely to even come close to being a major candidate is going to be someone "in the pocket of the corporations," I'm going to support the most progressive one who might actually win - who is also the least likely to drive America into a new imperial war in the Middle East. And I believe that would probably be Sen. Obama.

I'm also going to be favorable to supporting a candidate whose election as President will have the most profound effect in braking down the most powerful form of class oppression; racism. Imagine what this will mean all over the world! Even in countries such as the Philippines where at least 80% of the population is dark skin - almost the entire population has been indoctrinated to believe that dark skin means inferior and white skin means superior. Come one bright November morning, less than six months away a massive blow is going to be delivered against the racist lie for all the world to see!!

[msallied]

20. The voice of reason has spoken. I need say no more.

[madrchsod]

17. linking from a nadar site....

this is the democratic underground not the nadar for president site..

"Why Nader Beats Team McCain / Obama" « The Proletariat

so john and barack are running together? when did this happen?

[msallied]

18. this is why it has ALWAYS been stupid to prefer one candidate over another with POLICY.

Because they are similar in many ways. Clinton is FAR more embedded with corporations, lobbyists, and special interests than Obama, but as a Senator, he's going to have certain items like that to dog him. You're either astoundingly biased toward your candidate or just incredibly naive about politics altogether.

It's not really about policy difference with these two. It's about character, how they've each conducted themselves, and what their core messages are. In all three of those metrics, Obama kicks Hillary's ass. Now, if you want to talk about Iraq war and all of the other measures that Hillary has backed that has done nothing more than enable the Bush Administration's fascist policies, I might take back the part where I said you were biased.

[mistertrickster]

21. And our alternative is what? Wellstone is dead, Kuchinich went nowhere, and Finegold isn't running.

NT

[DaDooRonRon]

23. Alternatives are everywhere

It just depends on whether you feel elections are a) exercises in voting for the BEST candidate or b) games with scoreboards and winners and losers, and whether you feel you should be c) informed voters or d) cheerleaders.

"I would rather vote for what I want and not get it, than vote for what I don't want and get it."

Eugene Victor Debs