The Question For Obama Supporters
On the eve of the most important Presidential election in recent history – the most important vote since 2004 at any rate – the one thing that sticks in the craw is that America seems to be on the verge of putting a mediocre politician of no great accomplishment into the White House.
It is probably too late to rehash the issue of experience (when it was brought up by McCain in August he took a lead in the polls) but can someone point out just one legislative accomplishment that Barack Obama has done either in the U.S. Senate or the Illinois State Legislature?
We’re not talking about a speech Obama gave or the fact that he – and a pair of ghostwriters – authored two books.
Off the top of your head, name one actual accomplishment, or a bill Obama has passed. Or even fought to pass?
Every time this hicktown reporter asks that question, the Obama supporter queried inevitably gives a puzzled look before replying, “You know, I can’t think of anything right now.”
With nearly all of the characters that have performed on the national stage for the past three years, one can point to at least a single signature issue you can tag them with, whether you like the candidate's politics or not.
Like or lump John McCain, and there are both Democrats and Republicans who’ll opt for Choice B, when you say his name you can reel off any number of pieces of legislation he’s authored from campaign finance reform to the latest immigration bill.
We've only become fully aware of Sarah Palin for about two months. In that time, with the intensity of media coverage on her family, her background and her service as mayor of a small town and Governor of Alaska the nation probably has a greater understanding of the America’s most famous Hockey Mom than any VP candidate in history. Cutting federal earmarks, helping push through a natural gas pipeline or opposing the so-called “Bridge to Nowhere” after supporting it.
Here’s the deal. If the Democratic Party had selected Hillary Clinton instead of “That One”, most Republicans would naturally disagree with her politics (Hillary Care/Universal Health Care) but there would be an assurance that the old gal would know where the office supplies, secret FBI files and nuclear weapon codes are kept in the Oval Office.
Name something Obama has done? Not a speech he's given. Not some vague recollection of being a community organizer i.e. a lawyer for ACORN in Chicago's corrupt political machine.
After nearly three years, that question has not been answered. If you can't answer the question, it might be a good time to rethink your voting habits.
19 comment(s)
Seely says:
Anybody who accuses the Weekly of being a left-wing propoganda machine need only look to Don's posts for a serious debunking of that notion. But while it's fair to call Obama's experience into question, dismissing him as a mediocre politician is pretty foolhardy. Mediocre legislator? Maybe. But the guy's a MASTER politician. Even right-wing pundits have conceded that his is the most disciplined, well-oiled campaign machine they've ever seen, and the dude still draws rock star crowds, with our without Springsteen at his side.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 3 2008 @ 2:37PM
Sadie says:
This is absurd. Obama sponsored 113 bills as senator in the 110th congress alone. See http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/20/172059/936 for the list.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 3 2008 @ 4:01PM
K says:
Federal Funding Accountability Act of 2006.
Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation act of 2007.
STOP FRAUD act of 2007.
To name a few.
But really, you don't need to depend on commenters to get your information, do you? You can always just, you know, do a little fucking journalistic research. Novel concept, I know. You could have gone to the Obama website. Or you could have gone to any number of reference sites from Wikipedia to Congress itself.
But no, you wanted to make a snide anti-Obama post -- waxing on a tired, debunked, old anti-Obama saw -- and make it look like it was neutral, hoping everyone would forget that you're blogging on a newspaper's website.
Well, you fail.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 3 2008 @ 4:25PM
YLB says:
So freaking what if some Obama voters are voting with their gut?
The country's been run on a dry drunk's upset stomach for the last 8 years.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 3 2008 @ 8:02PM
xt says:
@ seely, the Obama bashing isn't about Obama. it's about Hillary. They're still a left-wing rag, god love 'em.
@ sadie and K, way to rock it. Keep hope alive!
@ Don Ward, why resort to the same type of insinuation as McShame and raise baited questions about issues (and non-issues) that can be verified?
In my opinion, Obama's leadership is his strength and that will do more good for the nation than any real or perceived experience gap could do harm.
With the level of popular support he has and around the world he will be a very effective president. The momentum is only going to increase after his election victory, as people realize that America has cast our vote for hope!
Believe it.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 3 2008 @ 10:13PM
Sargon Bighorn says:
I have ONE fantastic reason for voting for Senator Obama. He saved my kitten when it was attacked by a Pit Bull wearing lipstick.
Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 4 2008 @ 1:59PM
John Galt says:
What's is this? The latest attempt by the Seattle Weekly to remain relevant? Don't like reporting from "hicktown?" Feel free to stop.
Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 4 2008 @ 2:03PM
tomasyalba says:
The average reader has never read anything Don Ward ever wrote. Therefore, according to Don Ward's logic, the average reader should not read anything he writes from today forward. Make a note of it.
Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 4 2008 @ 2:11PM
TroyJMorris says:
A criticism of Obama supporters is an interesting topic to undertake on Election Eve.
Poorly executed,however, as you flopped like a dying fish between the supporters and the candidate, never really resting on either side of the boat until finally you gave up and sucked your last breath with "rethink your voting habits."
Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 4 2008 @ 2:11PM
Fnarf says:
Obama wrote his own books.
Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 4 2008 @ 2:29PM
Nowhereman says:
He is a mere cipher. Empty suit with a golden tongue who has put half the electorate in this country to sleep.
Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 4 2008 @ 2:51PM
Keith says:
Here's a few for you. I know it's not as impressive as John McCain finishing in the bottom five of his Naval Academy class but it'll have to do.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4678548
Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 4 2008 @ 3:12PM
beef says:
but don you can only name vague things that Mr. McCain was involved. McCain Feingold is about the only thing any one can name off the top of their head.
If that is your basis for insinuating people shouldn;t vote for Obama, that's a straw man.
Hell, most people voting for McCain have no idea what McCain Feingold is, they just know he's a maverick who has done mavericky things in the past but they can't tell you what they are.
Weekly, please do us all a favor and save some trees, go to an all electronic version so i don;t have to look at you anymore.
Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 4 2008 @ 3:28PM
liberalles says:
I can certainly tell this bozo a few bills authored by Obama, I see several people have beat to it. I can tell you something McCain had a hand in, several pieces of anti-regulatory legesslation that was introduced by his sidekick Phil Gramm. Many turned the hounds loose on Wall St. and the banking industry. So, mayby this guy could tell me why he supported the old pilot?
Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 5 2008 @ 10:47AM
liberalles says:
I can certainly tell this bozo a few bills authored by Obama, I see several people have beat to it. I can tell you something McCain had a hand in, several pieces of anti-regulatory legesslation that was introduced by his sidekick Phil Gramm. Many turned the hounds loose on Wall St. and the banking industry. So, mayby this guy could tell me why he supported the old pilot?
Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 5 2008 @ 10:47AM
Keith Malloy says:
And oh yeah he just won a Presidential Election by handing John McCain's ass to him.
Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 5 2008 @ 11:23AM
AMR says:
I am an Illinois resident who helped elect Obama to the U.S. Senate in 2004 when it was a choice of either he or Alan Keyes. Not exactly the most difficult decision anyone's ever had to make.
However, I did not vote for Obama yesterday (I left the presidential section blank, lest anyone resort to false dichotomies here) because as my Senator, Obama did nothing to actually help his constituents. He has abstained from getting too close to helping the feds investigate our governor and avoided any allocation of federal funding to state-specific projects (Durbin has done the heavy lifting). I won't dare claim Illinois' problems are greater than anyone else's but at the same time I don't think it's unreasonable to ask my senator to look out for his adopted home state.
Prior to that, Obama represented the far South Side in Springfield after allegedly cleaning up Altgeld Gardens. I implore any voter, activist, journalist or spokesman to please tell me how much better off those areas are now because of Obama's work. Altgeld remains a crime-ridden blight and the rest of the far South Side is essentially the forgotten Chicago. And all of this while Obama caved in the face of Bobby Rush and the Illinois Democrats.
I can see why people in other cities, states and districts don't question these things; but if Obama didn't do anything as overtly evil as McCain, it's simply because Obama didn't do anything at all.
Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 5 2008 @ 12:49PM
Sadie says:
AMR: What about the 8 years prior to 1994 during which Obama was a member of the Illinois State senate - did none of these 800 + bills positively affect your life there? http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 14 2008 @ 8:57AM
Sadie says:
I mean prior to 2004 - sorry!
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 14 2008 @ 8:59AM