Nelson isn't a Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Barney Frank Democrat that's certainly true but you underestimate his voting record. He has been very much pro union, pro worker, pro consumer,pro health care, pro-choice, and generally pro-environment, this vote not withstanding.
He is a moderate Democrat in a Southern State. He can't run all the way to the left like Ted Kennedy or Barbara Boxer, etc. He has to run somewhat more to the center if he wants to get re-elected. Also, he has taken quite a lot of risks in terms of voting his conscience over the years when he could have played it safe.
Why don't you compare his record to Mel Martinez (R-FL) or Bill Frist (R-TN) if you want to see the difference.
The following is from an organization that rates politicians on a broad range of issues and gives a fair overall picture of their voting records:
www.issues2000.org
http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/Bill_Nelson.htmGo look up Nelson, Frist, and Martinez and make the comparison yourself. Nelson is by no means a Republican.
Personally I'm very upset that Bob Graham retired retired down here in Florida in 2004 so he could chase after the Presidency which anyone could have told him he could never win. The end result is we traded a moderate Democrat (Graham) for a wing-nut Republican (Martinez).
So be nicer to Nelson, is my point. Do you want to have two Wing-Nut Republican Senators from Florida instead of just the one?
Doug De Clue
Registered Democrat,
Democratic Precinct Leader,
Precint 311
Orange County, Florida
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Click here for 4 full quotes on Abortion OR background on Abortion.
Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003)
Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record. (Dec 2003)
Expand embryonic stem cell research. (Jun 2004)
Bill Nelson on Budget & Economy
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No stance on record.
Bill Nelson on Civil Rights
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Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
Rated 60% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
Bill Nelson on Corporations
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Voted NO on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy. (Jul 2001)
Rated 48% by the US COC, indicating a mixed business voting record. (Dec 2003)
Bill Nelson on Crime
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More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes. (Apr 2001)
Bill Nelson on Drugs
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No stance on record.
Bill Nelson on Education
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Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
Rated 91% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
Bill Nelson on Energy & Oil
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Voted YES on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003)
Voted YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010. (Jun 2003)
Voted YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. (Mar 2003)
Voted NO on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)
Voted NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months. (Mar 2002)
Include pickup trucks in CAFE; include hybrids in HOV lanes. (Feb 2002)
Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy. (Mar 2004)
Bill Nelson on Environment
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Voted YES on confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior. (Jan 2001)
Rated 79% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
EPA must do better on mercury clean-up. (Apr 2004)
Bill Nelson on Families & Children
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Rated 16% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record. (Dec 2003)
Bill Nelson on Foreign Policy
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Get State Dept. to do more for Holocaust victims. (Jan 2001)
Voted YES on enlarging NATO to include Eastern Europe. (May 2002)
Bill Nelson on Free Trade
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Voted YES on establishing a free trade agreement between US & Singapore. (Jul 2003)
Voted YES on establishing a free trade agreement between the US and Chile. (Jul 2003)
Voted YES on extending free trade to Andean nations. (May 2002)
Voted YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam. (Oct 2001)
Voted YES on removing common goods from national security export rules. (Sep 2001)
Rated 33% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues. (Dec 2002)
Bill Nelson on Government Reform
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Supports McCain/Feingold campaign finance reform. (Oct 2000)
Voted YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads. (Mar 2002)
Voted NO on require photo ID (not just signature) for voter registration. (Feb 2002)
Voted YES on banning campaign donations from unions and corporations. (Apr 2001)
Bill Nelson on Gun Control
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Voted NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence. (Mar 2004)
Bill Nelson on Health Care
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Voted YES on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Jun 2003)
Voted YES on allowing importation of Rx drugs from Canada. (Jul 2002)
Voted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001)
Voted NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Apr 2001)
Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record. (Dec 2003)
Bill Nelson on Homeland Security
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Let all military overseas vote via Internet. (Jan 2001)
Upgrade the military. (Oct 2000)
Deploy limited missile defense shield. (Oct 2000)
Establish Maritime Security grants for ports and vessels. (Nov 2002)
Federalize aviation security. (Nov 2001)
Rated 70% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record. (Dec 2003)
Bill Nelson on Immigration
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No stance on record.
Bill Nelson on Jobs
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Voted NO on repealing Clinton's ergonomic rules on repetitive stress. (Mar 2001)
Protect overtime pay protections. (Jun 2003)
Rated 77% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-labor voting record. (Dec 2003)
Bill Nelson on Principles & Values
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Member of Democratic Leadership Council. (Nov 2000)
New Democrat: "Third Way" instead of left-right debate. (Nov 2000)
Member of the Senate New Democrat Coalition. (Jan 2001)
Bill Nelson on Social Security
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Opposes efforts to partially privatize. (Oct 2000)
Rated 90% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
Bill Nelson on Tax Reform
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Voted against repealing estate tax; but now supports it. (Oct 2000)
Voted NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years. (May 2003)
Voted NO on cutting taxes by $1.35 trillion over 11 years. (May 2001)
Voted YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates. (May 2001)
Voted YES on increasing tax deductions for college tuition. (May 2001)
Rated 14% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)
Bill Nelson on Technology
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Represented Space Coast; flew on Space Shuttle. (Oct 2000)
Voted YES on disallowing FCC approval of larger media conglomerates. (Sep 2003)
Bill Nelson on War & Peace
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Voted YES on $86.5 billion for military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Oct 2003)
Voted YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq. (Oct 2002)
Bill Nelson on Welfare & Poverty
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Establish a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund. (Jul 2003)