Barack Obama on the issues
I recently had a conversation with a good friend of mine about Barack Obama. When he told me that Obama represents “change” and a break with the past, I agreed. I said that Hillary Clinton has been around forever and people are tired of the Clintononian will to power. Many Democrats are embarrassed by their racial comments and attempts to divide minority groups against each other for their own political purposes.
But if Barack Obama is going to change things, shouldn’t we talk about the direction he will take the country if elected? Too many of his enthusiastic, young supporters have no clue what he has voted for or against during his years as a state senator in Illinois or as a United States Senator.
One of the most comprehensive websites for such voting records is OnTheIssues.org
A quick glance at this website shows us that Obama voted against banning partial birth abortion, a most gruesome procedure that is akin to infanticide. He also opposed a bill that would require parental notification for minors that get abortions across state lines.
Obama has voted YES on banning exploration for oil in Alaska. So when he talks about weaning us from our dependence on foreign oil, how serious can he be? If he doesn’t support increasing the domestic supply of oil and gas, how does he expect us to use less foreign energy and keep our own prices down?
Obama has recently been part of a growing Democrat cacophony of free trade bashing, along with Hillary Clinton. He voted against the Central American Free Trade Agreement, and has indicated he would amend the North American Free Trade Agreement. Never missing an opportunity to reward the unions, he supports doing away with secret ballots for union organizing, which would only allow more union intimidation of workers.
Obama voted YES on giving illegal aliens Social Security benefits. He also supports raising taxes on legal residents to pay for the Social Security shortfall. At the same time, he voted against stopping the raid on the Social Security Trust Fund! This means that Obama would rather raise taxes on the rest of us than make sure that the money meant for Social Security is applied to those entitled to legal Social Security benefits.
Obama has secured millions in pork barrel projects, including $3 million for Chicago Parks and $1 million to the GoGirlGO! Chicago Initiative. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. He has directed taxpayer dollars to pay for projectors at a planetarium and renovating entire buildings in his district.
Obama voted against repealing the death tax, against repealing the alternative minimum tax, supports repealing capital gains taxes, voted NO on extending the capital gains and dividend tax cuts and is rated a 100% liberal by the left-wing Citizens for Tax Justice.
I will continue to post information on Obama’s votes and public statements in the quixotic hope that at least some of his emotionally charged supporters will begin to think about what his presidency will mean for their pocketbooks, the economy as a whole, our foreign policy and our culture.
March 1st, 2008 at 2:02 am
Good to know that Obama is capable of voting for something!!! In the past, his history speaks for itself. He voted “Present” because he couldn’t make up his mind.
We need a President who is decisive and will take a stand!
We need Hillary!!!