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by Rick Pearson and updated
CINCINNATI — Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton lashed out at rival Barack Obama today for using a strategy out of “Karl Rove’s playbook” by making grandiose speeches of hope while sending Ohioans what she called “false and discredited mailings” on health care and trade policy.
“Shame on you Barack Obama,” Clinton told reporters after delivering a speech at Cincinnati Technical and Community College in which she reminded voters that in 2000, an untested George W. Bush called for change--just as Obama is now--and “the American people got shafted.”
Obama's campaign quickly responded, noting that Clinton's top spokesman, Howard Wolfson, once called one Democrat comparing another Democrat to George Bush as "the worst kind of tactical political maneuvering."
Clinton, facing increased pressure to do well in Ohio and Texas, two major March 4 primary states, to continue her campaign against the front-running Obama, sought to raise in voters minds an image of a Democratic contender using Republican tactics to win.
Clinton questioned whether he was trying to undermine core Democratic principles by attacking her plans to expand health care and through a mailing on the North American Free Trade Agreement.
“Let’s have a real campaign. Enough of the speeches and the big rallies and then using tactics that are right out of Karl Rove’s playbook. This is wrong and every Democrat should be outraged because this is the kind of attack that not only undermines core Democratic values but gives aid and comfort to the very special interests and their allies in the Republican Party who are against doing what we want to for America,” she said.
“Time and time again, you hear one thing in speeches and then you see a campaign that has the worst kind of tactics, reminiscent of the same sort of Republican attack on Democrats,” Clinton asked.
Clinton said it was time Obama “ran a campaign consistent with your messages in public.”
“That’s what I expect from you,” she said. “Meet me in Ohio. Let’s have a debate about your tactics and your behavior in this campaign.”
The two, who debated in Austin, Texas, on Thursday night, are scheduled to hold their last face-to-face debate before the March 4 primaries on Tuesday night in Cleveland.
One mailing from the Obama campaign has been used before and the Clinton campaign contends it plays off the “Harry and Louise” ads that were run by the insurance industry to fight her early 1990s efforts to create a national health insurance program.
The mailing says, “Hillary’s health care plan forces everyone to buy insurance, even if you can’t afford it.” It also says, “Punishing families who can’t afford health care to begin with just doesn’t make sense.”
Another mailing involved NAFTA, which was implemented under the administration of Clinton's husband. The mailing contends Clinton once called the trade pact a "boon," but Clinton said the newspaper that had reported her making the comment later retracted it.
An Obama spokesman maintained the mailers were "completely accurate."
Clinton’s plan mandates that everyone get insurance, while Obama’s only mandates coverage for children. Obama maintains his plan would make insurance more affordable but Clinton contends his would leave 15 million people uninsured and not accomplish the goal of universal health care.
Before speaking to reporters, Clinton sought to draw parallels to an untested Bush in 2000 and Obama.
“So, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me,” Clinton said while her loyal ally, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, also tried to draw a contrast between Clinton and Obama by saying, “She just knows more. She knows more.”
In recent days, Clinton has gone back onto the theme of promoting her experience as a former first lady and two-term senator of New York against that of Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois. But it was the first time that she sought to warn voters of potential dangers of her rival by trying to paint a comparison with Bush.
“Do you think people voting in 2000 knew what they were getting?” she said, referring to Bush’s first-term bid for the presidency as a governor of Texas. “People thought they were getting a compassionate conservative. It turned out he was neither. We’ve been living with the consequences of those mistakes.”
Clinton then blistered Bush for having promised to keep the nation safe, eliminating a federal budget surplus, dismantling government environmental regulations
“He promised change as a compassionate conservative and the American people got shafted and we’re going to have to make up for it,” she said.
Without mentioning Obama’s name, Clinton contended her rival has sought to portray having experience as “a disadvantage” and something “that doesn’t count for much anymore.” But she said, if a person needs a serious operation, they don’t ask for a surgeon who’s never performed the procedure.
Strickland, the Ohio governor who introduced Clinton to the crowd, also riffed off the the New York Democrat’s theme of experience in trying to deliver his state to her.
“She knows Ohio very well. She does not have to learn about Ohio in this campaign because she has been in our great state,” he said. “She knows of our problems, she knows the struggle of our people. She deeply cares.”
Comments
New Page 2
Hillary Clinton's experience is mired in controversy, ranging from:
1) turning $1,000 into $100,000 in cattle futures while working for the Rose law firm. She received tips from James B. Blair who was outside counsel for Tyson Foods in Arkansas. In one day she made over $10,000 on day trading which would point to insider knowledge from within Tyson Foods.
Washington Post (please check my references if you like)
2) to Whitewater, a 1980s land deal that went bad and revealed that 1) Bill Clinton exerted pressure on an Arkansas businessman, David Hale, to make an illegal loan that would benefit him and the owners of Madison Guaranty; and 2) that an Arkansas bank had concealed transactions involving Clinton's gubernatorial campaign in 1990.
3) to Travelgate, the 1993 firing of seven longtime employees of the travel office, which handles travel arrangements for reporters and television crews covering the president. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is alleged to have pressured White House lawyers into dismissing the travel office staff and bringing in the FBI to investigate them, so that friends of the First Family could enjoy the office's patronage spoils.
Columbia Journalism Review/New York Observer
4) In the aftermath of the apparent suicide (yes, it gets ugly!) of her former partner and closest confidant, White House Deputy Counsel Vincent Foster, Hillary Clinton ordered the overturn of an agreement to allow the Justice Department to examine the files in the dead man's office. Her closest friends and aides, under oath, have been blatantly disremembering this likely obstruction of justice, and may have to pay for supporting Hillary's lie with jail terms.
New York Times
5) In August 2000, during her first Senate run, Clinton met with the Hasidic community in New Square, where many members were working to obtain clemency for four members of their community who had been convicted of stealing tens of millions of dollars from the state and federal government.
She refused to talk about the controversial pardons of the four New York Hasidic Jews by her husband. New Square voted 1359-10 for the first lady - although other nearby Hasidic enclaves voted 3480-152 for Clinton's GOP opponent, former Rep. Rick Lazio.
New York Times
6) Hillary Clinton's brother Hugh Rodham , was paid approximately $200,000 from Almon Glenn Braswell, whom President Clinton pardoned for mail fraud and perjury, as was Carlos Vignali, whose sentence for cocaine trafficking was commuted. News of his involvement in the pardon controversy prompted an outrage in Washington, D.C.
"I knew nothing about my brother's involvement in these pardons," Sen. Clinton said at the time. "I knew nothing about his taking money for his involvement."
The Clintons asked Hugh Rodham to return the cash, which he did.
Time Magazine
7) Hillary Clinton's brother Tony Rodham was paid $244,769 over 2½ years by a carnival company, United Shows of America, owned by Edgar and Vonna Jo Gregory. The Gregorys had been convicted of bank fraud and were seeking pardons. Tony Rodham has said he mentioned their pardon application to his brother-in-law, who ultimately granted the Gregorys a pardon. But Rodham said he was not paid for anything having to do with the pardon.
Boston Globe
8) Peter Paul has business relationship with Clintons that goes bad. Clintons steal one of his clients and he retaliates turning Clinton in for violating campaign regulations during a fundraiser he held for her to the tune of $1 million. The FEC formally determined that Hillary Clinton's Senate campaign treasurer, Andrew Grossman is legally responsible for the three false FEC reports that Hillary's finance director, David Rosen, was criminally charged and tried for in mid-2005. Mr. Grossman signed a "Conciliation Agreement" with the FEC on December 13, 2005, admitting his culpability, and agreeing to pay a civil fine and amend his false reports to reflect the $721,000 that he failed to report since October, 2000.
Wall Street Journal
9) Pastor Got $1.5 Million in Clinton Earmarks Before Endorsement
Widely reported
10) Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton gives large earmarks of $1 billion in government-backed financing for a development project called Destiny. Robert Congel, the owner of Destiny, then turned around and financed and campaigned for her.
Robert J. Congel, his family and associates affiliated with his development have donated $40,000 to Clinton's state and national campaigns since she first ran for office in 1999.
Congel co-hosted a Syracuse fundraiser for her, an event said to have raised an additional $50,000. Lobbying firms hired by Congel in connection with Destiny and other ventures also donated more than $200,000 to various Clinton campaign funds, records show.
LA Times
11) New School in New York City, which received $1.6 million in earmarks in this year's defense budget and $6 million previously, is particularly well-connected. Its president, former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.), campaigned for Clinton in Iowa. Three school trustees are among Clinton's most prominent backers, having each raised at least $100,000 for her campaign. A former trustee is Norman Hsu, who was indicted on fraud charges. After Hsu's criminal past was revealed last summer, Clinton returned $850,000 he raised for her.
LA Times
12) to falsely attacking Obama as a pro-life candidate for voting "present" in New Hampshire.
13) Her husband Bill Clinton says he consulted her on every major decision. Does that include Rwanda, and his decision to stand by and watch genocide kill hundreds of thousands of people? She is firmly entrenched with Bill and the establishment, at best a dirty politician who knows everything there is to know about our political system. A vote for her is a vote for the status quo. The Republicans are so sure she is the next Democratic nominee that there's even a movie set to release.
14) http://www.hillarythemovie.com/
15) btw Bill Clinton is an experienced sexual predator with at least half a dozen rapes or assaults on women reported.
Posted by: skeyewater | January 31, 2008 10:23 AM
wanderingwill, you want a free and open campaign? Clinton's organization is by far the most padlocked. Hillary says she wants open conversation, yet she held virtually no press conferences during her Senatorial campaign and tenure in the Senate, and frequently refuses to appear on the Sunday political programs where serious issues are debated by political leaders. Someone who only answers scripted questions with pre-digested answers is hardly engaging in 'two-way' communication with the people.
Posted by: Susan | February 23, 2008 11:00 AM
New Page 3
Records of these two candidates should be scrutinized in order to make an informed decision.
Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term (6yrs.), and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law, (20) twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years.
These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress (www.thomas.loc.gov), but to save you trouble, I'll post them here for you.
1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6. Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea.
7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.
10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.
13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.
15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty. Only five of Clinton's bills are, more substantive. 16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.
17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11
18. Assist landmine victims in other countries.
19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.
There you have it, the fact's straight from the Senate Record.
Now, I would post those of Obama's, but the list is too substantive, so I'll mainly categorize.
During the first (8) eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced
233 regarding healthcare reform,
125 on poverty and public assistance,
112 crime fighting bills,
97 economic bills,
60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,
21 ethics reform bills,
15 gun control,
6 veterans affairs and many others.
His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These inculded
**the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law),
**The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law),
**The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
**The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law),
**The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee), and many more.
In all since enter the U.S. Senate, Senator Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1096. An impressive record, for someone who supposedly has no record according to the spin masters and mindless twits.
Posted by: Susan | February 23, 2008 11:02 AM
i hear this a lot... it's true, Obama does not have tons of washington experience. but I never hear anyone question Bill Clinton's experience? he was governor as well... He gets high praise from the Clinton camp as an excellent President, working wonders while in the white house, but how much more experience than Bush or Obama did Bill have before taking over?
Posted by: jim | February 23, 2008 11:04 AM
I see Mr. Nader may soon announce his candidacy for president.
Posted by: C.Morris | February 23, 2008 11:05 AM
Well..
HRC disregards that GWB is probably the dumbest creature ever to hold the office, while BOb is by any measure pretty smart. So the comparison is not apt.
She also disregards her shameless, pandering support of the murderous idiot. Step aside, HRC, we've heard the evidence.
Posted by: a blinkin | February 23, 2008 11:14 AM
Dear poster Susan,
Even those of us who support Obama despise your way-too-long, self important postings. Few will bother to read it.
As for Obama's experience, there are plenty of people in Washington with a wealth of experience who long ago quit caring about ordinary people or behaving ethically. I vote for the new guy.
Posted by: Tom | February 23, 2008 11:29 AM
When was Hillary president?
Anybody?
Posted by: joseph pierre | February 23, 2008 11:32 AM
Susan,
I have seen your posts all over the internet and you continue to distort and misrepresent the facts. Maybe you need to examine where all this is coming from. Your own little campaign to smear and spread venom is, well, a little creepy.
Posted by: kool-aid free | February 23, 2008 11:46 AM
Hillary voted for Bush's war. So much for her experience! Her comment on being touched by the wounded vets in the hospital. She helped put them there, and I can't forgive her for that.
Posted by: Jerry E | February 23, 2008 11:49 AM
I wonder if the 200 or so supporters who were not bussed in on the promise of a free meal actually believed Hil or her newest Flying Monkey Strickland?
Her resume of lying, cheating and mismanagement qualifies her to assume the mantle of co-president with her disbarred semi-spouse?
The open primary system will bury Hillary.
Posted by: remus | February 23, 2008 12:10 PM
Hillary has as much experience as Dick Cheney...and unlike Obama she owes her candidate position not to her political talent but to the name recognition factor ....just like George Bush did.
Posted by: Atcha | February 23, 2008 12:13 PM
Hillary has lots more experience...
...at making poor judgements.
Obama was against the Iraq invasion from the beginning. Hillary supported it, voted to support the dangerously irresponsible Kyl-Liebermann bill proclaiming Iran's military a terrorist organizatino, and has refused to acknowledge her mistakes.
I'll take Obama's good judgement over Hillary's continued experience in making bad judgements any day.
Dick Cheney had a lifetime of experience, and look where he led our country.
Posted by: tiptop | February 23, 2008 12:19 PM
How is more like Bush? Hillary Clinton.
Evidence?
1) Iraq.
2) Liberman-Kyl on Iran.
3) Scurrilous willingness to do anything to get elected.
4) Iraq. Iraq. Iraq.
5) Both Clinton and Bush refuse to admit any mistakes. Clinton cannot admit that she made mistakes when she blew her shot at health care reform in 1993, and she refuses to admit she made a mistake on her vote to go to war in Iraq. John Edwards admitted he made a mistake and showed that he learned the lesson. Hillary Clinton???
6) Arrogance. Hillary Clinton is all top-down and believes she is entitled to obedience from the world. She does not have a clue about how to govern by lining up a majority. Just like Bush, she only understands polarization, intimidation, and slandering smearing slimy combat.
In contrast, Obama's campiagn has designed and executed strategy almost flawlessly. He is not just inspiratrion. He has shown he knows how to manage an operation and how to lead.
Hillary Clinton is the Emporer Who Has No Clothes. Her storied competence and knowledge of how to get things done is a myth . . . the biggest fairy tale I've ever heard (copyright Bill Clinton . . . if those words were originally his and not some speechwriter's)
Joe
Posted by: joe shmoe | February 23, 2008 12:20 PM
Bush jr got to office through family connections. Obama is getting there through hard work and brilliant intelligence.
His supporters can proudly bring up his work organizing on the south side of Chicago and his legislative accomplishments.
It is sad that Hillary is so desperate that she would resort to this. Like all of her other tactics, it won't work.
Posted by: Vivienne | February 23, 2008 12:22 PM
ROCK ON HILLARY! We LOVE Hillary and can't wait to vote for her in Ohio! We love Ted Strickland too, he's a great governor and very popular in Ohio.
When the ievitable "bloom if off the rose" Obama will be unelectable. He's not qualified to be President of the U.S. The backlash is just beginning.
We are Dems who have never voted for a Republican but if the Dems squander their best chance for victory in November by nominating Obama, we will vote Republican for the first time. We know so many other Dems who feel the same way. Obama is ruining the Dem party and ruining our chance for victory in November. WAKE UP DEMS!!
Reason? Obama is not qualified to be President of the U.S.
Country first, party second.
VOTE SMART! VOTE HILLARY!
Posted by: James & Jen | February 23, 2008 12:25 PM
Uh, Hillary is making an argument that might hold sway for Republicans - but it won't help her in the Democratic primary. Democratic voters knew EXACTLY what we were getting with W. That's why we didn't vote for him. We weren't fooled. W's problem wasn't that he wasn't compassionate - maybe he is - it's that he's a moron and he abdicated decision-making to a bunch of corporate fools.
She's making an effort at least, but comparisons to Bush...that's a stretch.
Posted by: Baker | February 23, 2008 12:26 PM
More desperation from the Clinton Campaign.
Sigh...
!GOBAMA!
Posted by: Doug Zook | February 23, 2008 12:26 PM
Clinton is trying to create doubt, but the experience argument is quite weak. After all, with her vast "experience" she voted for a war with Iraq without even reading the bill and saying that she was giving Bush the benefit of the doubt. We know that Rumsfeld and Cheney had loads of experience and now Bush has 7 years experience. It's wisdom, it's judgement that we seek.
Posted by: Clemo | February 23, 2008 12:27 PM
Hillary continues to hurt herself. Fire your scriptwriter.
I don't get her point!! BUSH won.
Posted by: Greg | February 23, 2008 12:29 PM
Susan.
YAWN.
Please stop. Nobody cares.
Posted by: Steve | February 23, 2008 12:33 PM
Read Andrew Gambel's HuffPo column on Clinton's recent debate comments revealing her so-called "expert knowledge" of foreign policy/affairs re: Serbia-Kosovo. Compare to Obama's response. Any questions?
Posted by: Dahveed | February 23, 2008 12:33 PM
Read Andrew Gumbel's HuffPo column on Clinton's recent debate comments revealing her so-called "expert knowledge" of foreign policy/affairs re: Serbia-Kosovo. Compare to Obama's response. Any questions?
Posted by: Dahveed | February 23, 2008 12:37 PM
The spectators are lost. Yes, Hillary cares. No one is denying that. Hillary CAN'T get anything done. THAT ONE REPUBLICAN SHE CONSISTANTLY BOASTS about in passing ONE BILL, will need more to change the problems in Washington. Either her supporters are in a position "TO NOT CARE", or they've been bought. The majority of people in this country are finally realizing this.
Posted by: Cynthia | February 23, 2008 12:39 PM
Is Halle Berry going to hire a plumber or secretary or even handy man without experience? How about you guys, would anyone of you hire anyone like that just based on an interview? Most people who want their kitchens or bathrooms or floors remodeled ask for previous experience of the contractor (with pictures etc). You do that because you don't want to spend tons of money not knowing if the work will be ok.
Why is it that you don't think like that while electing for the most powerful position in the world? Is the presidency of United States such an easy job that anyone could do it without experience? If it's so easy and all you need is someone to just talk we should probably elect people who do a better job at it like Oprah, Deepak Chopra etc.
I remember all the newspapers endorcing Bush in 2000 saying he is change, works across the aisle, Washington outsider
etc etc. See how we payed when we didn't care about experience ( in Bush's case bad experience in every business he ran ).
Think hard before you vote otherwise we might end up with a Liberal version of Bush (Obama).
Posted by: Vic | February 23, 2008 12:43 PM
She has 35 years of experience as a "back seat driver", shrieking and pointing fingers of blame while her biggest fault was caring too much for the children. I can't stand people who disrespect this strong women who along side her husband provided so much for so many of this country's minority population.
Posted by: whatnow | February 23, 2008 12:45 PM
Dear Susan, Everything you mentioned in your slanderous assault on Hillary Clinton was million dollars by a myriad of Republican committees and there was not one charge against Hilary Clinton. So you know what to do now.
Secondly..ask your candidate Obama about lying on national tv-denying his friendship with Rezko and while you are at it ask him why he passed on 140 important votes in the Illinois Senate. Whoops...'silliness' that he uses drugs and sells them. 'Silliness that his wife will not release her anti-white college thesis..'Silliness' that Obama promises to change politics as they are and continues to not only plagiarize other 'folks' speeches but doesn't have one minority person on his top tier campaign staff and would not go stand for the Jenna 5..why? Its 'silliness' that he felt if he did he would be perceived as Black. Guess what? He is and he knows how to play the very delicate balance of hiding from the parents of the Jenna 5 Black kids...if it weren't for a really true Black hero-Jesse Jackson- those kids would spend the rest of their lives in prison while Obama was pretending that week he is white. 'Silliness' goes on and on doesn't it? Get off your saint Obama pedestal because there are more Larry Sinclair out there and they are coming for their 5 minutes just like the great orator Obama..
Posted by: Marysia Miller | February 23, 2008 12:47 PM
To the person questioning Bill Clinton's experience. He was a governor, Obama was first elected to State Senate in 1996. His most notable accomplishment in the state was "Interrogation Techniques", which was a copy of other states who already has it.
BTW, that is the only accomplishment he has in his short political life.
Posted by: Rob | February 23, 2008 12:49 PM
This comment was suggested by Morning Joe. What do you call this?
Without mentioning Obama’s name, Clinton contended her rival has sought to portray having experience as “a disadvantage” and something “that doesn’t count for much anymore.” But she said, if a person needs a serious operation, they don’t ask for a surgeon who’s never performed the procedure
Posted by: linda | February 23, 2008 12:49 PM
Untested? Is she trying to compare an alcoholic, drug-abusing draft dodging moron to an intelligent human being who can speak English and doesn't need Osama bin Laden to stay in office?
Posted by: Karen, New York | February 23, 2008 12:51 PM
One has to seriously wonder about Senator Clinton's gambit of comparing Obama to Bush.
She is now acting like the jilted lover who maimed her former paramour to keep him from anybody else.
Clinton must be careful not to destroy her place.
She must be more careful not to devalue the Democratic nomination by infighting.
Posted by: robert chapman | February 23, 2008 12:53 PM
Jerry - at least Bush went to war with an enemy. Obama wants to attack Pakistan who is a friend in need and in problems.
Posted by: Rob | February 23, 2008 12:54 PM
"But she said, if a person needs a serious operation, they don’t ask for a surgeon who’s never performed the procedure."
yet if you have to pick between 2 trainees who both never preformed the procedure, you'd prefer the one that at least did that other 'simple' procedure* right, instead of the trainee who claims (s)he's the best because her husband is a former surgeon.
*obviously talking about managing the campaign
yours,
Tim (resident in the netherlands)
Posted by: Tim | February 23, 2008 12:59 PM
It seems to me very important inform the public of the IQ scores of both Obama and Bush in evaluating their ability to run this country. I belived that Bush at a 91 score . what is Obama's???
Posted by: florence kochevar | February 23, 2008 1:02 PM
Linda - My question to you is would you use a plumber without experience?
I agree Clinton was not a president however, she participated in her husbands presidency, you could call that as getting practical experience before working on a real job (like internship ).
If you are familiar with how MBA hirings happen, most of the freshly minted MBA's from great schools first work as interns before getting a full time job.
Posted by: Rob | February 23, 2008 1:03 PM
I love how she acts all tough at her own rallies but when she could have confronted him at the debate she didn't for the first half and when she did it was with all prewritten 'zingers' that fell flat. Then at the end, when all else fails she gets all emotional trying to conjure up some tears and sympathy votes.
She has proven herself to be pathetic, just like her campaign.
Posted by: siobhan | February 23, 2008 1:15 PM
It has really been bothering me - the charges that Obama is all talk and no action. Those of us who support him and have reviewed his record know there is no basis to this charge, but just to make sure, I went to the Congressional Record (www.thomas.gov) and did a search for bills sponsored or co-sponsored by Senator Obama in his three short years in the US Senate. I searched the 109th and 110th Congresses which cover the years 2005-2007.
In a nut shell I found:
Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress.
Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.
Senator Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate.
His record is in fact quite impressive for a junior Senator from Illinois.
Below I summarize Senator Obama's legislative record in the US Senate.
First I list the bills he sponsored that have become law.
Next I summarize the bills that he has sponsored or cosponsored since he became a US Senator in 2005.
I have only included major pieces of legislation and have not summarized continuing resolutions or naming post offices, for example.
His record suggests several priorities and the bills he supports address many of our most pressing problems.
Most of his legislative effort has been in the area of Energy Efficiency and Climate Change (25 bills), health care (21 bills) and public health (20 bills), consumer protection/labor (14 bills), the needs of Veterans and the Armed Forces (13 bills), Congressional Ethics and Accountability (12 bills), Foreign Policy (10 bills) Voting and Elections (9 bills), Education (7 bills), Hurricane Katrina Relief (6), the Environment (5 bills), Homeland Security (4 bills), and discrimination (4 bills).
Of the 15 bills Senator Obama sponsored or co-sponsored in 2005-7 that became law:
Two addressed foreign policy:
Promote relief, security and democracy in the Congo (2125)
Develop democratic institutions in areas under Palestinian control (2370).
Three addressed public health:
Improve mine safety (2803)
Increased breast cancer funding (597)
Reduce preterm delivery and complications, reduce infant mortality (707).
Two addressed openness and accountability in government:
Strengthening the Freedom of Information Act (2488)
Full disclosure of all entities receiving federal funds (2590)
Two addressed national security
Extend Terrorist Risk Insurance (467)
Amend the Patriot Act (2167)
One addressed the needs of the Armed Forces
Wave passport fees to visit graves, attend memorials/funerals of veterans abroad (1184).
Of the 570 bills Senator Obama introduced into the Senate during the 109th and 110th Congress (Senate Bill numbers are in parentheses), they can be summarized as follows:
25 addressed Energy Efficiency and Climate Change
Suspend royalty relief for oil and gas (115)
Reduce dependence on oil; use of alternative energy sources (133)
Increase fuel economy standards for cars (767, 768)
Auto industry incentives for fuel efficient vehicles (1151)
Reduce green house gas emissions (1324)
Establish at NSF a climate change education program (1389)
Increase renewable content of gasoline (2202)
Energy emergency relief for small businesses and farms (269)
Strategic gasoline and fuel reserves (1794)
Alternative diesel standards (3554)
Coal to liquid fuel promotion (3623)
Renewable diesel standards (1920)
Reducing global warming pollution from vehicles (2555)
Fuel security and consumer choice (1994, 2025)
Alternative energy refueling system (2614)
Climate change education (1389)
Low income energy assistance (2405)
Oil savings targets (339)
Fuel economy reform (3694)
Plug-in electric drive vehicles (1617)
Nuclear release notice (2348)
Passenger rail investment (294)
Energy relief for low income families (2405)
21 addressed Health Care
Drug re-importation (334)
Health information technology (1262, 1418)
Discount drug prices (2347)
Health care associated infections (2278)
Hospital quality report cards (692, 1824)
Medical error disclosure and compensation (1784)
Emergency medical care and response (1873)
Stem cell research (5)
Medical Malpractice insurance (1525)
Health centers renewal (901, 3771)
Childrens health insurance (401)
Home health care (2061)
Medicare independent living (2103)
Microbicides for HIV/AIDS (823)
Ovarian cancer biomarker research (2569)
Gynological cancers (1172)
Access to personalized medicine through use of human genome (976)
Paralysis research and care (1183)
20 addressed Public Health:
Violence against women (1197)
Biodefense and pandemic preparedness and response (1821, 1880)
Viral influenza control (969)
End homelessness (1518)
Reduce STDs/unintended pregnancy (1790)
Smoking prevention and tobacco control (625)
Minority health improvement and disparity elimination (4024)
Nutrition and physical education in schools (2066)
Health impact assessments (1067, 2506)
Healthy communities (1068)
Combat methamphetamines (2071)
Paid sick leave (910)
Prohibit mercury sales (833, 1818)
Prohibit sale of lead products (1306, 2132)
Lead exposure in children (1811, 2132)
14 address Consumer Protection/Labor
Stop unfair labor practices (842)
Fair minimum wage (2, 1062, 2725, 3829)
Internet freedom (2917)
Credit card safety (2411)
Media ownership (2332)
Protecting taxpayer privacy (2484)
Working family child assistance (218)
Habeus Corpus Restoration (185)
Bankruptcy protection for employees and retirees (2092)
FAA fair labor management dispute resolution (2201)
Working families flexibility (2419).
13 addressed the Needs of Veterans and the Armed Forces:
Improve Benefits (117)
Suicide prevention (479)
Needs of homeless veterans (1180)
Homes for veterans (1084)
GI Bill enhancement (43)
Military job protection
Dignity in care for wounded vets (713)
Housing assistance for low income veterans (1084)
Military children in public schools (2151)
Military eye injury research and care (1999)
Research physical/mental health needs from Iraq War (1271)
Proper administration of discharge for personality disorder (1817, 1885)
Security of personal data of veterans (3592)
12 addressed Congressional Ethics and Accountability
Lobbying and ethics reform (230)
Stop fraud (2280)
Legislative transparency and accountability (525)
Open government (2180, 2488)
Restoring fiscal discipline (10)
Transparency and integrity in earmarks (2261)
Accountability of conference committee deliberations and reports (2179)
Federal funding accountability and transparency (2590)
Accountability and oversight for private security functions under Federal
contract (674)
Accountability for contractors and personnel under federal contracts
(2147) Resctrictions awarding government contracts (2519)
10 addressed Foreign Policy:
Iraq war de-escalation (313)
US policy for Iraq (433),
Divestiture from Iran (1430)
Sudan divestment authorization (831)
Millennium Development Goals (2433)
Multilateral debt relief (1320)
Development bank reform (1129)
Nuclear nonproliferation (3131,977,2224).
9 address Voting/Elections
Prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections (453)
Voter access to polls and services in Federal elections (737)
Voter intimidation and deceptive practices (1975)
Senate campaign disclosure parity (185)
Require reporting for bundled campaign contributions (2030)
Election jamming prevention (4102)
Campaign disclosure parity (223)
Presidential funding (2412)
Integrity of electronic voting systems (1487)
11 addressed Education
Increase access of low income African Americans to higher education (1513)
Establish teaching residency programs (1574)
Increase early intervention services (2111)
Middle school curriculum improvements (2227)
Public database of scholarships, fellowships and financial aid (2428)
Summer learning programs (116)
TANF financial education promotion (924)
Higher education (1642)
Build capacity at community colleges (379)
Campus law enforcement in emergencies (1228)
Support for teachers (2060).
6 addressed Hurrican Katrina
Hurricane Katrina recovery (2319)
Emergency relief (1637)
Bankruptcy relief and community protection (1647)
Working family tax relief (2257)
Fair wages for recovery workers (1749)
Gulf coast infrastructure redevelopment (1836)
5 addressed the Environment
Drinking water security (218, 1426)
Water resources development (728)
Waste water treatment (1995)
Combat illegal logging (1930)
Spent nuclear fuel tracking and Acountability (1194)
Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act (Introduced in Senate)[S.726.IS ]
4 addressed Discrimination
Claims for civil class action based on discrimination (1989)
Domestic partnership benefits (2521)
Unresolved civil rights crimes (535)
Equality or two parent families (2286)
4 addressed Homeland Security
Judicial review of FISA orders (2369)
National emergency family locator (1630)
Amend US Patriot Act (2167)
Chemical security and safety (2486)
I Say "NO" to John McCain's 100 years in Iraq and his crooked Lobbyist pals and I say "YES" to Obama in 08!
Posted by: Helenann | February 23, 2008 1:17 PM
Hillary Clinton is a horrible person. She refuses to stick to issues, instead deciding to attack the respectable Obama campaign like a 12-year-old. She wants to debate about his tactics? Wow. I sincerely hope she realizes how destructive she is being, and drops out of the race, for the sake of the American people.
Posted by: Warren Lawless | February 23, 2008 1:17 PM
I have still not heard Obama saying with pride and conviction that he is a Christian. It does not matter what religion he believes in. When Cassius Clay converted to Muslim, he took the name Muhammed Ali and was proud of his new religion. He made sure that everyone knew that he was a muslim. All Obama says when asked " I believe in Jesus" Even mainstream Muslims believes in Jesus as a holy prophet? One can remain techically a muslim even when they believe in Jesus as a prophet. Why cant he be proud of what he really believes in? Only when prodded then he painfully says with stress that he believes in Jesus and and again without saying that he is a Christian. Has he ever been baptised and confirmed as a Christian and what is his baptsim christain name?
It is the choice for all of us to believe in any religion and it does not matter to anyone if he is a muslim as long as he clarifies what he really believes in?
Is it too much to ask especially when choosing the next President for an honest answer to their belief?
Posted by: J Kumar | February 23, 2008 1:19 PM
this is just strictly rediculous she's the one that's been attacking him with worse distortions than the Repubs would of been able to come up with....
Fool me once, shame on him...Iraq
Fool me twice, shame on me...Vote for Iran
Shame on you HRC you dumb dumb lol
Go Obama....who is she tryna fool?
Posted by: kwaku | February 23, 2008 1:20 PM
If Hillary can't even produce a decent, well-managed campaign, why would anyone think that she could manage the federal government.
Experience is as experience does, and Hillary's doesn't.
Posted by: MARTIN EDWIN ANDERSEN | February 23, 2008 1:23 PM
Jerry - at least Bush went to war with an enemy. Obama wants to attack Pakistan who is a friend in need and in problems.
Posted by: Rob | February 23, 2008 12:54 PM
You're twisting Obama's words, Robby..
Try Again, Wingnuts!
Posted by: John E | February 23, 2008 1:25 PM
I see
Billary the uniter has entered the campaign. So much for that "I'm proud to be here onstage with Barak Obama" line. Cue the tears please.... and cut! That's a wrap for the Billary '08 campaign, see you in '16
Posted by: karl | February 23, 2008 1:25 PM
Yeah, and Clinton is tested, all right.... Focus group tested, dial-tested....
Posted by: James | February 23, 2008 1:25 PM
Erm....I'm no fan of Bush, at all, but he DID have 8 years of executive experience as governor of Texas, which is considerable more executive experience than Ms Clinton has for her resume....
Posted by: andrew | February 23, 2008 1:32 PM
This is ridiculous. Obama is nothing like GWB. And, as far as Hillary being ready on "day one", why hasn't she been ready from the beginning of this campaign. Her campaign management has been a joke. First of all, she totally underestimated the opponent. She said this would be over by Super Tuesday and made no contingency past. She was $7.6M in debt on 1/31. And, yet she wants us to believe she will be ready on "day one"??? Ready to do what? Obama has an extensive legislative record and anyone can check that out if they are honest enough to want to know. Hillary keeps talking about leading us on "day one", while Obama is already leading us!
Posted by: Donn | February 23, 2008 1:41 PM
Rob, Obama never said he would attack Pakistan. We know that al Qaida is located in a region of Pakistan. What he said is that he would talk with Pakistan to get them to do something about it but that if they wouldn't act, he would. They are the ones who attacked this country, remember? GWB diverted our attention to Iraq as if they attacked us. Obama is just getting us back on track by going after the terrorists who attacked our soil. Commander-in-Chief indeed! Obama 2008!
Posted by: donn | February 23, 2008 1:44 PM
Whoops! My last comment was meant for Rob, not Jerry. Rob was the one who said that Obama wanted to bomb Pakistan.
Posted by: donn | February 23, 2008 1:46 PM
The battle between Hillary and Obama for the Democratic nomination has now turned into a fight over Vision vs Experience. The question at heart is, when do we stop walking the same path, just because we are unsure where the other path will take us. Personally, I'm not concerned with the experience factor as much as the vision factor. Our present experienced leaders have brought us to one of the most morally morose and fiscally challenged times in U.S. history. there experience has returned us to the vietnam era, where we are making the exact same mistakes. Experience has brought us all time low education scores and sharp declines in the value of the U.S. dollar. Is experience really the lynchpin holding our country together. Our country was not founded on experience, it was founded on vision. And even though that vision did not include everyone here, the vision set a precedent to do so. Once again we stand at the doorway of opportunity, with a new chance to take the new path. It may not yield everything that was promised, but it also does not automatically condemn us to the same fates we suffered before. The past 8 years have tempered america, and now we are ready to have our blade re-honed. The "hope-mongering" of Obama has been one of the greatest things to hit our country in years. In the greatest country on this planet, we have been without hope, without faith in our own government, and without enthusiasm for our own political well being. If nothing more than hope and new inspiration comes from this election, we are better off for it. History has shown us what just a few people and a lot of hope can do. It is pertinent that we climb down off of our political and intellectual high horses. It's simple, when one way isn't working, its time for a new one. I, a 27 year old black man from the Robert Taylor Homes projects of Chicago, am able to believe in America again. I believe in change. I believe in Obama.
Posted by: Wendell | February 23, 2008 1:47 PM
The attacks on Hillary are becoming more and more vicious. Me thinks perhaps she is gaining ground? Sorry BOmaniacs but she is just smarter and she works harder than BO.
Posted by: greg | February 23, 2008 1:49 PM
If anyone is using the Karl Rove playbook it's Hillary. Her campaign has been negative and dirty from day one.
Posted by: GoonRide | February 23, 2008 1:50 PM
Obama is untested?
Hmh I don't recall Hillary ever being President before.
Posted by: Karen | February 23, 2008 1:51 PM
Wow. HRC is like the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde candidate. I was actually impressed that she was able to hold herself back from the petty phony attacks during the debate (well, she almost held herself back....). But this is just unbelievable--particularly since the Obama campaign has a lot more ammunition on the issue of who has led the distorting, misleading direct mail campaign. Why would she go the route that will expose her as a complete hypocrite!
Please, superdelegates, just weigh in now and let's put an end to this before HRC totally self-destructs!
Posted by: zebra | February 23, 2008 1:52 PM
Boy, did Clinton get this one completely wrong.
Bush was tested, over and over, and found wanting every time.
His entire adult life is one of no achievement with deals and offices handed to him.
Privileged and spoiled and lacking in any talent, his career included being a drunk, making a dirty stock deal in a little oil company that should have sent him to jail for securities fraud, going AWOL from the National Guard, and executing a record number of people as Texas's figurehead governor.
Even his campaign in 2000 was a bad joke. He was a terrible speaker and had nothing to say, but he had pockets stuffed with cash.
The wonder in 2000 is that the American people elected this creature.
Oh, that's right, they didn't elect him after all. The other guy got the majority, but the Court gave the election to Bush.
My faith in the people is restored.
Posted by: John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada | February 23, 2008 1:58 PM
Clinton says that Obama is akin to Bush in that he is untested. She goes on to associate a vote for Obama with a vote for Bush, saying that the American people didn't know what they were voting for in 2000, either, and look what we got... and I take offense to that.
I knew. A lot of people knew, even way back then. And we didn't vote for Bush. But look what we got.
If Clinton would like to use her thread of logic in a logical way, a vote for Obama is more akin to a vote for Gore or Nader, because that's who WE, the folks who knew what we were getting in 2000, voted for.
And this time, we're voting for Obama.
Posted by: Trevor | February 23, 2008 2:14 PM
Say did anyone see the sign in front of Hilary the other day. It read Bill Clinton for VP. Now if she's elected see can resign right aftershes sworn in and Bill is the new Pres. And he selects who? none other than Hilary for his VP. Its legal check it out.
Posted by: Retired | February 23, 2008 2:15 PM
Marysia,
I guess this post proves that you are at stage 2-"Anger/Bitterness"-in your grief over the imminent death of Hillary's candidacy. Never fear; acceptance will come soon and you won't have to resort to such scurrilous attacks against Senator Obama.
"Get help. You will survive. You will heal, even if you cannot believe that now, just know that it is true." I hope this helps...
Posted by: Jonathon | February 23, 2008 2:18 PM
Mrs. Clinton has "experience"?
She can't even manage a campaign. Her New York senate campaign was a financial mess and so is her current presidential nomination campaign. Just what we need from a "leader" in this time of economic chaos. The drive-by corporate media created her and has given her a free pass on her non-experience. Nevertheless, the American people are not buying anymore of her bullshit and she will not win another primary.
Posted by: nochickenhawk | February 23, 2008 2:21 PM
Mrs. Clinton has "experience"?
She can't even manage a campaign. Her New York senate campaign was a financial mess and so is her current presidential nomination campaign. Just what we need from a "leader" in this time of economic chaos. The drive-by corporate media created her and has given her a free pass on her non-experience. Nevertheless, the American people are not buying anymore of her bullshit and she will not win another primary.
Posted by: nochickenhawk | February 23, 2008 2:24 PM
Though I agree that Susan's post goes over a lot of dirty laundry we really don't need to review. The more interesting part is Obama vs. Clinton's legislative record, which is very easy to look up on the Library of Congress website (note: alot of bills aren't really policy, they are "declaration", like National Summer Learning Day, so I'm not counting those). If you want to get past the various "promises" on the part of both candidates, and you really care about comparing the two on merit without getting into all the emotional stuff people seem to be feeling, it's important stuff to review.
In the last year (and while dems have been a majority), Obama has written a much wider array of substantive bills. Almost half of Hillary's have been relatively narrow focused health/women/childrens related (gestational diabetes etc...). This is of course, a very important area, but there are other issues a president has to address, for instance Obama has written bills concerning global warming, she has none that I can see. Second, other than health care, Obama's have had far more co-sponsors, showing his ability to work with his fellow senators and their willingness to jump on board with him on legislation. One note on health care in the last year, only his (an amendment to a Kennedy bill) has actually passed. Thirdly, he has had more substantive bills "pass". Maybe this is due to Obama's background as a legislator in Illinois, I really don't know.
But it is important to check it out if you are arguing about their relative experience.
Posted by: Tammy | February 23, 2008 2:30 PM
OBAMA IS A FRAUD the NYTs called him out on his Karl Rove tactics before Super Tuesday his flyers are almost the direct replica of the rightwing smear campaing in 93 and 94 the "Harry & Louise" attack. Obama is also lying about NAFTA and HILLARY'S position and words obama claims that he got the info from a news source, THAT NEWSOURCE denounced obamas flyer as MISREPRESENTING. HillaryClinton.com has the article.
OBAMA is a LIAR AND A FAKE AND WILL NEVER GET MY DEMOCRATIC VOTE!!! Just as he played the race card and has lied and distorted Hillary's position, his change and hope of new politics is nothing but BS. Democrats did not use these disgusting tactics in 04 or 00 how dare you supporting obama continue your evil little crap!
SHAME ON YOU OBAMA!!!
Posted by: sjl | February 23, 2008 2:33 PM
"Democrats did not use these disgusting tactics in 04 or 00 how dare you supporting obama continue your evil little crap!
SHAME ON YOU OBAMA!!!" -sjl
"Leave Brittney alone!"
I loved your 'youtube' moment. It was great
Posted by: joe | February 23, 2008 2:50 PM
Shame on you Obama. Your camp did a hit job on the Clintons in SC saying they were using the race card.
Your campaign started out
"This isn't about race", yet all your speeches mention Selma, Ala, MLK,
etc. Now today, you say
I am black, I am your candidate, you still get it
wrong, why is it you cannot
say I am your biracial candidate. Shame on you for not identifying with your white people!
Posted by: electress | February 23, 2008 3:05 PM
I don't know if Barrack is "hands-on" with his campaign, but the outcome is proving that the man has very good management skills. He is either overseeing his campaign or hiring the right people.
Can Hillary say the same?
Posted by: Lawrence | February 23, 2008 3:05 PM
Clinton is vicious and is having a mental breakdown. She is going insane at the prospect of imminent defeat. Her attacks and negative campaign were destined to fail and the American people are sick of her and Bill. Today was just another disgraceful and counterproductive day in a long series of disasters for a horribly managed campaign.
Posted by: Joe Ruwe | February 23, 2008 3:10 PM
Wait a sec...wasn't Bush the Governor of Texas? Isn't that an executive position? What executive position did Hillary hold?
And just like Hillary's husband his daddy was pres...so he was ready on day one, right?
Jeeze, Hillary Clinton's experience slogan is the BIGGEST FAIRY TAIL of them all
Posted by: james | February 23, 2008 3:10 PM
Is it too much to ask especially when choosing the next President for an honest answer to their belief?
Posted by: J Kumar | February 23, 2008 1:19 PM
Nice try Kumar goes to White Castle,
That Obama lie isn't going to get crazy old man McCain elected especially since he calls himself a "Straight-talker" while at the same time his campaign is actually being run by crooked corrupt lobbyists.
NEXT!!!
Posted by: John E | February 23, 2008 3:13 PM
HRC supporters.. lose the bitterness .. we all know you will be dissapointed if she doesn't win, but Obama is a good man and a good candidate, and even though you may disagree with him, the American people will make their decision as a whole. and we need your support to get a Democrat in the white house NOT JOHN MCCAIN!
Posted by: mike d | February 23, 2008 3:16 PM
OBAMA is a LIAR AND A FAKE AND WILL NEVER GET MY DEMOC