Obama explains his non-vote

Posted: Thursday, September 20, 2007 4:17 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Security

From NBC's Mark Murray
Obama's presidential campaign gives First Read this statement from Obama about not voting today on the Senate measure condemning the MoveOn.org print ad criticizing Gen. David Petraeus.

"The focus of the United States Senate should be on ending this war, not on criticizing newspaper advertisements," Obama says. "This amendment was a stunt designed only to score cheap political points while what we should be doing is focusing on the deadly serious challenge we face in Iraq. It's precisely this kind of political game-playing that makes most Americans cynical about Washington's ability to solve America's problems. By not casting a vote, I registered my protest against this empty politics. I registered my views on the ad itself the day it appeared.

Obama goes on to say, "All of us respect the service of General Petraeus and all of our brave men and women in uniform. The way to honor that service is to give them a mission that is responsible, not to vote on amendments like the Cornyn amendment while we continue to pursue the wrong policy in Iraq."

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Comments

Good answer. Why should anyone care about MoveOn?

http://www.political-buzz.com/

mpp (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 7:55 PM)

I can't even believe the Democrats allowed such a petty and trivial thing to take place. We have soldiers dieing every day in Iraq and they talk for hours on the Senate floor about a stupid NYT ad.

We have a group of spineless, corrupt idiots running our government. Sen. Obama is the only one with good sense. Without Sen. Obama leading the Democratic ticket the Democrats will lose big time in 2008.

Sen. Obama is the tough, intelligent, calm, sensible, fairminded voice the Democratic party hasn't had since JFK and RFK. Pelosi and Reid act like they don't have a bit of sense. What's wrong with them? How could the Senate argue over a NYT's ad when our soldiers are in harms way? Who cares that they don't like MoveOn? Patreaus isn't God. Patreaus isn't beyond criticism. What the heck were the Democrats thinking. Oh, that's right, they weren't thinking. Pelosi and Reid don't have a complete brain between them.

The whole thing was ridiculous and stupid.

Tammy, Denton, Maryland (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 8:00 PM)

Hillary continues her impressive lead in the polls because she is the strongest and smartest candidate. She will be a great nominee - and President.

csh, IL (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 8:16 PM)

Obama explains his non-vote:

"I'm from Florida, I don't know how."

Joe Bercheck (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 8:51 PM)

What weasels Obama and Biden are. At least Hillary and Dodd had the guts to vote and show who owns each of them. Biden and Obama didn't vote? They have no opinion one way or the other on this issue? They don't think it's important?

These two Senators, who are trying to become President, are an embarrassment to themselves and the Democratic party.

Alice Watson, Albany NY (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 9:06 PM)

As usual, Obama has his priorities straight. He cuts to the heart of what is important. Would that there was anything near his intelligence in the brains of the other politicans on the scene. The Congress seems to be imploding while Bush destroys our military and bankrupts the government. For the record, I now loathe John McCain and my own senators. I don't think I can take it anymore. America has lost its moral center. We are disintegrating into incompetence, corruption and border line fascism. Heaven help us.

Amy B Portland ME (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 9:51 PM)

Are our brave men and women above criticism. Just wanted be sure.

jay (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 9:59 PM)

Seriously, that was his response? His JOB is to be present and vote on legislation. If this is too much for him, maybe he should resign and concentrate on his campaign. If he wants to be neutral, then perhaps he should run for office in Switzerland.

Adam S, Holmen, WI (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:22 PM)

From the beginning I've said that Obama is the only grown-up in the room...everyone else insists on playing the stupid games that distract from the real issues. If you aren't voting for Obama, you're missing a real opportunity to get this country off the Britney Spears track and into Adultville.

Kim C, Waxahachie, Texas (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:24 PM)

Gee, how brave is that? If I don't like all the candidates, am I going to stay home because I'll feel better tomorrow morning and every day after that? Hell no. Illoinans pay him over $150K to VOTE! He won't do his senator's job, so why should I think he'll show up at the Oval Office when he's pouts like such a baby!

JRChase (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:59 PM)

Obama, a Democrat, talking about "stunts"? To quote the inimitable J. Merle Stanley, a notable libdem contributor to First Read: Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha (insert however many "ha"s is democratically appropriate).

Seriously, the past year's (since January of 2007 for the date impaired) record for congress is nothing but stuntators and reprehensatives on the Democrat side.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:26 PM)

This is a rebuke of the Senate's actions itself not a refusal to vote. The man stood up for principles and knows how to stand above others who fall for cheap political tricks...I applaud that.

CJ (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:32 PM)

Move-On's ad was an exercise in freedom of speech. Do we need to run every ad past Karl Rove or Cheney to see if it is appropriate? This vote was political grandstanding at its most blatant. A vote to condemn a group of people who expressed an opinion via a newspaper ad...what will be next? Only conservative viewpoints allowed on Fox?....Wait a mintue...And besides that, General's never lie...remember Westmoreland? Maybe next time I go to a store for an item that I saw advertised in the newspaper and it is sold out I can get someone in Congress to introduce a no confidence vote....Why aren't they doing something worthwhile?

Kat Southern IL (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 12:01 AM)

I am so sick and tired of all of you Libs that have your head up your (FILL IN THE BLANK) _____. You make no damn sense at all. It's like the Dems can feed you what ever they want and you just eat it up(GLOBAL WARMING FOR EXAMPLE,LOL)and try to rationalize the anything that comes out of their mouths or any irrational things they do(CAMPAIGN FINANCE ANYONE-HILLARY). If he respected the General then he should of did the right thing and voted, this is what you call a political stunt, to show he can be different then all of the other dems on the ticket, WAKE UP PEOPLE THE GENERAL IS FIGHTING FOR YOU AND THE FREEDOMS THAT YOU ENJOY ON A DAILY BASIS, BECAUSE WITHOUT OUR MILITARY YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THEM PERIOD!!!!!!!OH AS FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES NO ONE WOULD OF SAW THE AD IF IT WASN'T FOR THE NEWS MEDIA REPORTING ON IT, BECAUSE NOBODY READS YOUR PAPER ANYWAYS, THAT IS WHY YOU TRY TO STIR UP TROUBLE TO GET NOTICED WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JAY, MINNEAPOLIS,MN (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 12:56 AM)

Yeah Obama, whatever. He is one of them. A professional statesmen who will say or do whatever it takes to make us all feel good. Lets have them talk about the rest of the country getting the same perks, medical and retirement they get for all of us. Republican or Demacrat they are all the same just look how they all will wheel and deal with each other. Makes me sick and this guy is an idiot, I have the right to say this, I have been to Afgh and Iraq now twice. How about some outstanding bills to help us veterans.

Rep or Demoncrap, seattle, Wa (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 1:09 AM)

This from the guy who alos wants to give Chavez, Castro and every other American threat a little presidential love...this guy proves again he ain't ready for primetime...say want you want about the GOP...it was Cynthia McKinney in 2002 and the Kerry's 2004 campaign that played politics with our Soldier's and Sailors lives..and every Dem who badmouths our CINC in time of war is aiding and abetting the enemy...I hope you anti-anti crowd can live better knowing your constant undermining of our efforts in Iraq have resulted in untold number of deaths of our Soldiers...I used to defend this nation...I love America...but you whining-anti-American crowd don't deserve the service and sacrifice that these men and women provide have given you...

Collin Schriver, Japan (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 1:31 AM)

Thank you Senator Obama! To my way of thinking, moveon.org is more willing to speak up for Americans by pointing out the truth than is the majority of the US Senate!

Thank you for being the exceptional senator you are!

Pat McNabb, Brooklyn Park,Minn (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 7:33 AM)

Sen. Obama, thank you for having the courage to stand up and say what a waste of time and effort... It seems that is all this particular session of Congress wants to do...

tigertcofknoxcounty (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 7:54 AM)

Obama not voting on this just gave me another reason why he has my vote. I consider him a TRUE and HONEST person who really cares about this country. GO OBAMA!!!!

Ron, St. Louis, Mo. (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 8:34 AM)

Thank you Senator Obama for being the voice of common sense. The Senate has no business spending our tax dollars debating and voting on a newspaper ad that was purchased and run by a private entity. This is a clear effort by the republicans to distract us from the true business at hand. Let's focus on ending the war.

Sharon, Baltimore, MD (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 10:18 AM)

Collin, if you love America so much, what're you doing living in Japan? Have you ever served America in the military? Just wondering.

Robert Catalano, Salem, OR (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 10:54 AM)

"Gee, how brave is that? If I don't like all the candidates, am I going to stay home because I'll feel better tomorrow morning and every day after that? Hell no. Illoinans pay him over $150K to VOTE! He won't do his senator's job, so why should I think he'll show up at the Oval Office when he's pouts like such a baby!"

Since you are not from Illinois, you have no right to say what we pay him for.

I pay Senator Obama to do exactly what he did. Take the upper hand and use his good judgement.

Thank you Barack!

And to those who write Osama as if Obama is in any way correlated to Obama, but claim the moral highground, you are nothing but a bunch of whiny hypocrites and everyone who reads this with half a brain can tell that.

Windy City Girl, Chicago ILLINOIS (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 8:02 PM)

Then Democrats wonder why their so called leadership has gotten them an 11% rating.

B.Mosley (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 12:28 AM)

Its American to vote, of course he wouldn't. Just like he refuses to honor the flag and the country. All he knows how to do is bad mouth the country and comment on Iraq.

Lead by example Obama, and start showing some respect to America.

Tim, PHX AZ (Sent Sunday, December 09, 2007 1:29 PM)

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