Wednesday, February 20, 2008
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Name Obama's Accomplishments
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Posted by:
Mary Katharine Ham at
10:11 AM
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I believe this is Part III in a series started by Sean Hannity and continued admirably by Chris Matthews last night.
Texas state Sen. Kirk Watson is a "big Obama supporter" but couldn't come up with one legislative accomplishment. Oops.
Update: Oops, sorry for the double post of this clip. Matt's got it below, too. My bad, but I'll keep it up because our friends at Media Research Center offered the clip through their cool, new site, Eyeblast.tv, so click through and take a look at their offerings.
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Please provide me with JUST ONE McCain accomplishment in his 25 years as senator that did not involve handing the Democrats landmark victories. We will be presented with TWO useless candidates in November. One is a blank slate, the other can be relied upon to deliver most of the programs he will be criticizing the blank slate for. The only issue is: do you want a young black liberal who may not be as bad as people think, or a cranky old man who has made a career of stabbing his friends in the back? At least the Dems are getting the candidate they want. Why can't the GOP do at least that much?
I've been asking for a month now. Hello? Anybody home? Does no one see the irony here? |
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This is not a conservative attack. Chris Matthews worked for Jimmy Carter. That was his own supporter who cannot name one of his accomplishments. That is pretty sad. |
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Can someone name Hillary's legislative accomplishments? Has someone totaled up the bill on her policy proposals? Has someone checked out what solutions actually occurred in her "35 years of solutions"? The point is, they're both ultra-liberals with nothing substantial to say for themselves. Such is the nature of Socialist thought. I'd rather take on the one that will fight fairly cleanly, that will NOT be able to somehow get away with a lifetime of lies, and that we can beat. So, I'm not criticizing Barack to the benefit of Clinton until he IS the nominee. Hold your fire just three more weeks, fellow conservatives. Go Barack. |
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Obama holds assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and Veterans' Affairs, and he is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus
109th Congress
Senate bill sponsors Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Obama discuss the Coburn-Obama Transparency Act.
Obama took an active role in the Senate's drive for improved border security and immigration reform. In 2005, he co-sponsored the "Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act" introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).[54] He later added three amendments to the "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act", which passed the Senate in May 2006, but failed to gain majority support in the U.S. House of Representatives.[55] In September 2006, Obama supported a related bill, the Secure Fence Act, authorizing construction of fencing and other security improvements along the Mexico–United States border.[56] President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act into law in October 2006, calling it "an important step toward immigration reform."[57]
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Partnering first with Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN), and then with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), Obama successfully introduced two initiatives bearing his name. "Lugar-Obama" expands the Nunn-Lugar cooperative threat reduction concept to conventional weapons, including shoulder-fired missiles and anti-personnel mines.[58] The "Coburn-Obama Transparency Act" provides for the web site USAspending.gov, managed by the Office of Management and Budget (and based off of the more extensive fedspending.org, managed by OMB rival and partner OMB Watch). The site lists all organizations receiving Federal funds from 2007 onward and provides breakdowns by the agency allocating the funds, the dollar amount given, and the purpose of the grant or contract.[59] In December 2006, President Bush signed into law the "Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act," marking the first federal legislation to be enacted with Obama as its primary sponsor.[60]
As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In August 2005, he traveled to Russia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan. The trip focused on strategies to control the world's supply of conventional weapons, biological weapons, and weapons of mass destruction as a first defense against potential terrorist attacks.[61] Following meetings with U.S. military in Kuwait and Iraq in January 2006, Obama visited Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian territories. At a meeting with Palestinian students two weeks before Hamas won the legislative election, Obama warned that "the U.S. will never recognize winning Hamas candidates unless the group renounces its fundamental mission to eliminate Israel."[62] He left for his third official trip in August 2006, traveling to South Africa, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Chad. |
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110th Congress
In the first month of the newly Democratic-controlled 110th Congress, Obama worked with Russ Feingold (D–WI) to eliminate gifts of travel on corporate jets by lobbyists to members of Congress and require disclosure of bundled campaign contributions under the "Honest Leadership and Open Government Act", which was signed into law in September 2007.[65] He joined Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in sponsoring S. 453, a bill to criminalize deceptive practices in federal elections, including fraudulent flyers and automated phone calls, as witnessed in the 2006 midterm elections.[66] Obama's energy initiatives scored pluses and minuses with environmentalists, who welcomed his sponsorship with John McCain (R-AZ) of a climate change bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds by 2050, but were skeptical of his support for a bill promoting liquefied coal production.[67] Obama also introduced the "Iraq War De-Escalation Act", a bill to cap troop levels in Iraq, begin phased redeployment, and remove all combat brigades from Iraq before April 2008.[68]
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Later in 2007, Obama sponsored with Kit Bond (R-MO) an amendment to the 2008 Defense Authorization Act adding safeguards for personality disorder military discharges, and calling for a review by the Government Accountability Office following reports that the procedure had been used inappropriately to reduce government costs.[69] He sponsored the "Iran Sanctions Enabling Act" supporting divestment of state pension funds from Iran's oil and gas industry,[70] and joined Chuck Hagel (R-NE) in introducing legislation to reduce risks of nuclear terrorism.[71] A provision from the Obama-Hagel bill was passed by Congress in December 2007 as an amendment to the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill.[71] Obama also sponsored a Senate amendment to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to provide one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries.[72] After passing both houses of Congress with bipartisan majorities, SCHIP was vetoed by President Bush in early October 2007, a move Obama said "shows a callousness of priorities that is offensive to the ideals we hold as Americans."[73] |
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This will be the election year of contrasts. In order for McCain to win, he has to emphasize the contrast between him and Obama, assuming he becomes the Dem’s nominee. Among the contrasts: McCain, the experienced public servant versus Obama, the relative rookie; radical liberal versus moderate-conservative policies; and style (Obama) versus substance (McCain). McCain also needs to contrast his kind of change versus Obama’s kind of "change", i.e., big taxes, big government, weaker America, etc. Obama's kind of hope (hope in hope or hope in big government) versus the Republican’s vision of hope (independence, liberty, freedom - the classic conservative Reagan party but also the innovative-thinking party of Lincoln). The contrast between the victim mentality party (Democrats) versus the victors (Republicans). As someone who has overcome great odds and hardships as a POW for six years, McCain embodies the victor. You want to talk about "hope"? I think McCain knew more about hope from a dark prison torture chamber than Obama did from his paradise prep school and lawyer life days. McCain was left for dead -- both physically and politically -- in the past. But I believe he can once again be the comeback kid if Obama, the rock star, continues to ride his metaphoric 15 minutes of fame. |
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Chris Matthews should absolutely ashamed of himself and his on-air harassment of Kirk Watson, the Texas State Senator, last evening concerning Barack Obama's accomplishments.
Its no secret that Chris Matthews has a big thing for Hillary Clinton, but I would have thought that as a newsman he would have at least the professional courtesy to move on after the Texas could not answer his question. Repeatedly badgering his guest is rude and offensive. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a Clinton supporter was not asked about Clinton's voting record and if she was asked about Clinton's voting record she probably would have been rendered speechless as well.
Many people are not aware of Obama's legislative achievements because the media have not devoted enough attention to Obama's bills and the effort required to pass them.
Here's a few examples for you Chris, since your assistant's can't seem to help you with your research:
U.S. Senate:
* Introduced a bill (S.1194) directing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to establish guidelines for tracking spent fuel rods.
* Introduced a bill (S.1426) extending provisions in the Safe Drinking Water Act that relate to preventing and detecting contamination.
* Introduced a bill (S.1920) amending the Clean Air Act to establish a renewable diesel standard.
* Introduced a bill (S.3988) improving benefits and services for members of the armed forces and veterans.
Here Chris, go here and see what Senator Obama has done:
http://www.ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm
Senator Obama's intelligence, courage, passion, vision, authenticity and ability to communicate in a clear and powerful way to a wide range of people is why people are voting for him.
Chris Matthews owes Senator Watson, Senator Obama and the American people an apology.
Embarrassing a guest is unprofessional and we don't need to watch this behavior on television. |
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When did accomplishments become important? I thought the Dem contest was about "Change"? My bad... it is about who can promise the most handouts.
My concern with Obama(or Hillary) is not his accomplishments, but his plans for the future. I am trying to figure out where in the US Constitution that the President can create Universal Health Care, create new jobs, stop big oil, stop drug companies, stop insurance companies..and create new jobs..and all these other promises. How in the world will you create jobs, if you are killing the companies that create them? Where is the money going to come from? |
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I agree with you on one point. Hillary has had ZERO accomplishments in the Senate. |
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King Liberal, you suggested we look up Obama’s record here is sampling*:
Project Vote Smart collects performance evaluations from special interest groups who provide them, regardless of issue or bias.
Abortion Issues:
Senator Obama supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2006.
Senator Obama supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 100 percent in 2006.
Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 2005-2006.
Budget, Spending & Taxes:
Senator Obama supported the interests of the Americans for Tax Reform 15 percent in 2006.
Senator Obama supported the interests of the FreedomWorks 25 percent in 2006.
Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Taxpayers Union 16 percent in 2006.
Promote Business and Industry:
Senator Obama supported the interests of the Business-Industry Political Action Committee 10 percent in 2006. (BIPAC identifies and supports pro-business candidates who have demonstrated the skill and leadership necessary to fuel a pro-business Congress). Senator Obama supported the interests of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 55 percent in 2006. Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Association of Manufacturers 16 percent in 2005-2006 (the following ratings indicate the degree that each elected official supported the interests of the organization in that year).
Obama doesn’t protect the life of the unborn, he has a tax and spend track record, and he has a less than stellar record on promoting business and industry. And, by the way, he has no experience with the military. If you're liberal, and you don’t care about growing the economy, less government spending, and weak military leadership, cast your vote in November for Obama—he’s your man.
*Issues of interest or concern for Conservative Republicans
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King Liberal, you suggested we look up Obama’s record here is sampling*:
Project Vote Smart collects performance evaluations from special interest groups who provide them, regardless of issue or bias.
Abortion Issues:
Senator Obama supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2006.
Senator Obama supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 100 percent in 2006.
Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 2005-2006.
Budget, Spending & Taxes:
Senator Obama supported the interests of the Americans for Tax Reform 15 percent in 2006.
Senator Obama supported the interests of the FreedomWorks 25 percent in 2006.
Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Taxpayers Union 16 percent in 2006.
Promote Business and Industry:
Senator Obama supported the interests of the Business-Industry Political Action Committee 10 percent in 2006. (BIPAC identifies and supports pro-business candidates who have demonstrated the skill and leadership necessary to fuel a pro-business Congress) Senator Obama supported the interests of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 55 percent in 2006. Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Association of Manufacturers 16 percent in 2005-2006. The following ratings indicate the degree that each elected official supported the interests of the organization in that year.
If you don’t care about growing the economy, less government spending, and weak military leadership, cast your vote in November for Obama—he’s your man.
*Issues of interest or concern for Conservative Republicans
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McCain was leading every important Democratic Party initiative. It's part of the seniority system in Congress. I'm sure if he hung around long enough, he too could have co-sponsored a major piece of liberal legislation with McCain. |
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It's not necessarily if he does or does not have any legislative accomplishments, it's taht his supporters are clueless as to what this man is. They only know that he's a good speaker and he makes his wife finally proud to be an American and lot's of people go to his rallies so he must be the second coming of JFK - except JFK wouldn't even recognize the democrat party of today.
People need to wake up to what this man is. He is NOT without substance. The problem is that that substance very closely resembles a communist. Please study his GLOBAL POVERTY ACT. |
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This will be the election year of contrasts. In order for McCain to win, he has to emphasize the contrast between him and Obama, assuming he becomes the Dem’s nominee. Among the contrasts: McCain, the experienced public servant versus Obama, the relative rookie; radical liberal versus moderate-conservative policies; and style (Obama) versus substance (McCain). McCain has to avoid the excessive political mudslingling while discusing his kind of change versus Obama’s kind of "change", i.e., big taxes, big government, weaker America, etc. Obama's kind of hope (hope in hope or hope in big government) versus the Republican’s vision of hope (independence, freedom, pioneering - the classic conservative Reagan party but also the innovative-thinking party of Lincoln). The contrast between the victim mentality party (Democrats) versus the victors (Republicans). As someone who has overcome great odds and hardships as a POW for six years, McCain embodies the victor. You want to talk about "hope"? I think McCain knew more about hope from a dark prison torture chamber than Obama did from his paradise prep school and lawyer life days. McCain was left for dead -- both physically and politically -- in the past. But I believe he can once again be the comeback kid if Obama, the rock star, continues to ride his metaphoric 15 minutes of fame. |
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This will be the election year of contrasts. In order for McCain to win, he has to emphasize the contrast between him and Obama, assuming he becomes the Dem’s nominee. Among the contrasts: McCain, the experienced public servant versus Obama, the relative rookie; radical liberal versus moderate-conservative policies; and style (Obama) versus substance (McCain). McCain has to avoid the excessive political mudslingling while discusing his kind of change versus Obama’s kind of "change", i.e., big taxes, big government, weaker America, etc. Obama's kind of hope (hope in hope or hope in big government) versus the Republican’s vision of hope (independence, freedom, pioneering - the classic conservative Reagan party but also the innovative-thinking party of Lincoln). The contrast between the victim mentality party (Democrats) versus the victors (Republicans). As someone who has overcome great odds and hardships as a POW for six years, McCain embodies the victor. You want to talk about "hope"? I think McCain knew more about hope from a dark prison torture chamber than Obama did from his paradise prep school and lawyer life days. McCain was left for dead -- both physically and politically -- in the past. But I believe he can once again be the comeback kid if Obama, the rock star, continues to ride his metaphoric 15 minutes of fame. |
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I think there is a delay now in the posts at Townhall, and I thought my post was too long and I edited the original -- now that I see other duplicate posts, I know to wait for the delay. |
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For a single accomplishment of a candidate you supposedly support "harrassing" him? Anyone who actually watches Hardball knows that Matthews treats all of his guests the same way, and he (and the rest of NBC) are huuuuuuge Obama supporters--so whoever talked about Matthews being a Hillary guy is sadly mistaken.
And yes, Obama does have some legislative accomplishments. But all of them are extreme leftist accomplishments, and once people get the facts on this guy and how liberal he is, he's going to be sunk. This country is right-center, not fringe-left. |
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You've got to love how Olbermann effectively slapped Tweety down for his odd bit of punditry. Tweety couldn't come up with a single accomplishment of the recent GOP-controlled senate when put on the spot, either.
And gosh, what are McCain's accomplishments again? Being against torture before he was FOR it? Being for public campaign financing before he used his own bill to stuff his straight talk express pockets? |
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I'm so tired of conservatives talking about "tax and spend"
I guess I would rather have a "tax and spend" government than what we've had for the last 8 years. We've been spending more than we earn and have been borrowing money from any nation that will lend it to us, building up a huge bill that future generations are going to have to pay off. I guess liberals are just more fiscally conservative than political conservatives are.
Why is it that the economy usually does better when a democrat is in the white house, could it be all the taxes that the middle class aren't paying and the ones the corporations and wealthy are? hmm. |
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Come on guys...can't you see it's all about HOPE...CHANGE...HOPE....CHANGE...FEELING PROUD....JUST (Deval Patrick's) WORDS...
Well, at least he roughed up Hillary. |
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Can anybody get Obama's recipe for rainbow stew?
Also, do we have to leave a bottle deposit when he gives us that free Bubble-Up? |
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