OBAMA: LIBERAL ILLINOIS AND U.S. SENATOR
While Running For Illinois Senate, Obama Showed True Liberal Agenda:
While Running For State Senate In 1996, Obama Took "Unabashedly Liberal Positions" In A Questionnaire. "When Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was seeking state office a dozen years ago, he took unabashedly liberal positions: flatly opposed to capital punishment, in support of a federal single-payer health plan, against any restrictions on abortion, and in support of state laws to ban the manufacture, sale and even possession of handguns." (Mike Allen and Ben Smith, "Liberal Views Could Haunt Obama," The Politico, 12/11/07)
Obama Was Against The Death Penalty. "‘Do you support ... capital punishment?' one question asked. ‘No,' the 1996 Obama campaign typed, without explaining his answer in the space provided." (Mike Allen and Ben Smith, "Liberal Views Could Haunt Obama," The Politico, 12/11/07)
Obama Wanted To Ban The Manufacture, Sale, And Possession Of Handguns. "‘Do you support state legislation to ... ban the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns?' asked one of the three dozen questions. ‘Yes,' was Obama's entire answer." (Mike Allen and Ben Smith, "Liberal Views Could Haunt Obama," The Politico, 12/11/07)
Note: Obama's Campaign Claims Sen. Obama Did Not Fill Out Survey. "Obama's presidential campaign contends that voters can't learn anything about his views from the 1996 questionnaire, which was for an Illinois good-government group known as the IVI-IPO. Aides say Obama did not fill out the questionnaire and instead it was handled by a staffer who misrepresented his views on gun control, the death penalty and more." (Christopher Wills, "Obama's Views Have Changed With Time," The Associated Press, 12/22/07)
"IVI-IPO Officials Say It's Inconceivable That Obama Would Have Let A Staffer Turn In A Questionnaire With Incorrect Answers. The Group Interviewed Obama In Person About His Answers Before Endorsing Him In That 1996 Legislative Race, And He Didn't Suggest Then, Or Anytime Since, That The Questionnaire Needed To Be Corrected, They Said." (Christopher Wills, "Obama's Views Have Changed With Time," The Associated Press, 12/22/07)
Obama Is A Rubberstamp For Democrats:
Obama's Democrat Party Unity Score For The 109th Congress Was 97, Higher Than 2004 Democrat Presidential Nominee John Kerry (96). (Congressional Quarterly Website, www.cq.com, Accessed 2/1/07)
The Washington Times: "Mr. Obama Hasn't Done Much At All On Any Particular Issue Aside From Obediently Follow His Party." "Although a longtime critic of the Iraq war, Mr. Obama hasn't been as vocal as, say, Rep. Jack Murtha. Although he voted against Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, Mr. Obama hasn't staked out much territory on judicial issues like abortion or homosexual ‘marriage.' In fact, Mr. Obama hasn't done much at all on any particular issue aside from obediently follow his party." (Editorial, "Barack Obama, U.S. Senator," The Washington Times, 12/19/06)
Obama Is A Top Rated Liberal:
Americans For Democratic Action (ADA), America's Oldest Liberal Organization, Rated Obama (95) As Liberal As California Democrat Senator Barbara Boxer (95) And Massachusetts Democrat Senator John Kerry (95) In 2006. (Americans For Democratic Action Website, www.adaction.org, Accessed 2/5/07)
According To The Non-Partisan National Journal, Obama (82.5) Rates More Liberal Than New York Senators Hillary Clinton (79.8) And Chuck Schumer (77.8). (National Journal Website, nationaljournal.com, Accessed 2/15/07)
The Washington Times: "As With His Illinois State Senate Days, The Impression One Gets From Mr. Obama's Brief Tenure As A U.S. Senator Is That He Is An Unabashed Liberal. And One Would Be Right." (Editorial, "Barack Obama, U.S. Senator," The Washington Times, 12/19/06)
Newsweek's Jonathan Alter: "Obama's A Blue State Democrat, All Right, And By Most Standards A Liberal One." (Jonathan Alter, Op-Ed, "The Audacity Of Hope," Newsweek, 12/27/04)
The Examiner's Bill Sammon: "Obama Almost Always Ends Up Voting Liberal." "Although he frequently makes a point of finding something charitable to say about his opponents' arguments, Sen. Barack Obama almost always ends up voting liberal." (Bill Sammon, "Perception Vs. Reality," The [Washington] Examiner, 1/31/07)
Obama Hides His Liberal Record Behind Moderate Rhetoric:
The Washington Times: "Obama's Record As An Illinois State Senator Was Down-The-Line Liberal." "In short, Mr. Obama's record as an Illinois state senator was down-the-line liberal. For someone representing a liberal district in Chicago, that's not very surprising. What is surprising is how Mr. Obama's liberal label has been effectively wiped clean since he entered the U.S. Senate." (Editorial, "The Other Barack Obama," The Washington Times, 12/14/06)
"Obama Has A 95 Percent Liberal Rating From Americans For Democratic Reform, A Liberal Advocacy Group That Ranks All Members Of Congress. Yet He Is Often Portrayed As A Centrist." (Bill Sammon, "Perception Vs. Reality," The [Washington] Examiner, 1/31/07)
Political Analyst Larry Sabato: "His Record Is Liberal, And His Rhetoric Is Moderate." (Bill Sammon, "Perception Vs. Reality," The [Washington] Examiner, 1/31/07)
The Augusta Chronicle: "The Truth Is, Despite Obama's JFK-Style, ‘Centrist Democrat' Press Coverage, The Man Is A Dyed-In-The-Wool Liberal." (Editorial, "Biden Is Wrong On All Counts There's Nothing Clean, Bright Or Articulate About Senator's Gaffe," The Augusta [GA] Chronicle, 2/5/07)
The Washington Times: "For now, Mr. Obama's trick of voting like a liberal and talking like a moderate is working. But if he truly envisions himself in the mold of presidents his supporters so often compare him to, eventually Mr. Obama will have to take a stand." (Editorial, "Barack Obama, U.S. Senator," The Washington Times, 12/19/06)
- The Washington Times: "Until then, he's just another Democrat who's more liberal than Hillary Clinton." (Editorial, "Barack Obama, U.S. Senator," The Washington Times, 12/19/06)
