Obama Won't Show for Mukasey Vote

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/

November 08, 2007
Obama Won't Show for Mukasey Vote

Barack Obama, on a bus tour through Iowa the last two days, will miss the Senate vote tonight to confirm Michael Mukasey for attorney general, according to a spokesman.

"Sen. Obama won't be going back to DC tonight to vote for Mukasey," said Robert Gibbs, Obama's communications director. "He's already announced his position on it. I don't think the vote will be close."

Obama has told reporters on the trail with him that he could not support a nominee unwilling to be candid about his feelings on torture, according to NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan.

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Every single time there is a conterversary in the vote Obama doesn't show up. AND if you don't believe me, go to the congressional record...where I found it.

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If this "Senate thing" is taking up too much of his time why doesn't he just up and quit like Edwards did?

The vote won't be close so his vote won't matter, and he opposes it out loud beforehand.

Let the evisceration begin.

Run for president and be there for the votes that make a difference.

The sphincter police are using Obama's attendance record as a lame cudgel, the very same tact used against John Kerry in 2004.

How could you really believe that voting is optional?:shrug:

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or is representing his state too much to ask?

I would be pretty damn mad. What is wrong with him, he is getting some really bad advice I think!!

By not taking a stand on the record, he will be seen as showing a lack of leadership....the death nell for anyone running for president!

He thinks it was an important vote, but he skipped that one too. When he was in the State Legislature, he ducked a bunch of votes on abortion

to pile on! I'm really shocked at BO. How will people know where he stands if he DOESN'T TAKE A STAND?

I hope his constituents will e-mail this thread to him or send one of their own.n BAD STRATEGY..........especially when you are running for president!

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I think it's important enough to interrupt a campaign trip - it is what he's getting paid for.

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Who the hell cares that the vote won't be close enough for Obama to effect an outcome? That's not the issue.

The issue at hand is that he is a U.S. Senator. And he should want to add his voice to the Congressional Record as being against Mukasey.

It's one thing to say you are against someone or something. But you should back that up with a VOTE. It's about going on record WITH YOUR VOTE.

fuck this bullshit-i`m out of here... after the two republicans, oh wait, they are democrats caved, why in the hell should anyone waste their time...

He is suggesting that voicing his opinion on it is sufficient?

he doesn't show up? Unacceptable...by any Democratic Nominee

His people seem to think that just because the vote won't be close enough for Obama to effect the outcome....means Obama doesn't need to vote. That's an absurd conclusion.

How about wanting to add your voice to the Congressional Record? As a U.S. Senator, he should want to be noted in the Congressional Record as having voted NO on Mukasey. It's one thing to say you are against him. LET YOUR VOTE PROVE IT!

to decide whether he should stay or go...

to tender his resignation and say 'I'm no longer effective in this position.'

have a senate seat to return to next time......this is the third time in last few months, and it's getting noticed......

Care to rephrase?

But you could answer my PM, you little devil you....LOL

I will very soon.

Isn't politics fun? Aaaarrgggghhhh!!!!

Energy Czar....focus on renewal energies and saving the f---king planet......

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Go read the rules again.....

since she didn't bother to show up for the vote either? :shrug:

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but this is ridiculous.

I like Obama very much.

However, this vote is important. Furthermore, as my senator, his vote is effectively my vote.

I would like it if the people of Illinois who voted for the senator, as I did, had their voice recorded in matters like whether or not the United States of America condones torture.

I understand running for president requires a rigorous travelling schedule. I'm not going to get on him for his general attendance record. That's the reality of a campaign.

But I wish he was in D.C. for this one.

I don't expect 100% attendance, but come on. He's missing all the big votes, and that's just inexcusable.

:eyes:

He is a complete joke as a senator. Why does anyone think he would be ANY different as president. No experience AND irresponsible! What a combo.

Romney became Governor of Massachusetts.

Steppingstone jobs.

It's why his constituents put him in office. Not to be used as stepping-stones. I realize he needs to campaign but he still needs to vote. If he can't do both what is he going to do IF (god forbid) he became president?

Romney became Governor of Massachusetts.

Steppingstone jobs.

even if it won't change the outcome, his vote should be cast and recorded.

This is just unbelievable.:grr:

Ooooooooh!!!!!

This guy is not ready for prime time and the big leagues. The Republican Noise Machine would cut him down like an oak tree if he was nominated.

Guess he's not into icky fights like that.

n/t

Iran vote. His die-hard supporters may not care, but it's risky possibly pissing off those who are on the fence.

Plus, I'd like to have seen him come back to vote just on a HUMANE level. If that makes sense.

Sometimes Senators get stuck in a bind by the way the votes are scheduled if it doesn't give them time to rearrange their schedules and get back.

When they were in charge, the Republicans used to screw around with the Democrats by scheduling votes when they knew it would be hard for them to get back - and then orchestrating a close vote that made it look like the missing Senators' votes would have made a difference. This wreaked havoc on Kerry and Edwards back in 2004.

But I'm surprised that before scheduling the vote, Harry Reid did not quietly check with the Senators who are running in order to make sure that he was scheduling a vote at a time that they could all make it so one or more of them didn't end up looking bad.

Regardless, it's a shame that Obama isn't making this vote - even though his vote won't make a difference, he will catch hell for it.

I don't expect him to be in the Senate for every single vote, but he should be there for the votes on controversial and important issues.

If this is true, this is a fuck up on his and his campaign manager's part. He had enough time to get back for this vote unlike the Kyle/Lieberman vote.

Sadly, I think his priorities are wrong. I'll like to see him run for Governor and get some Executive Experience.

nt

this to the floor for a vote, so it's likely the vote wasn't scheduled until later today.

Sounds like Reid got rolled.

Again.

Part of being the Democratic Leader is protecting your troops - all of them - so none of them get caught up short on these kinds of things.

But this is the same leader who brought Southwick to a floor vote because the Republicans told him to, so what can you expect?

but maybe that's just me

nt

my bad

by scheduling it too late for Obama to get back for it. Reid has a way of scheduling things according to when the Republicans want to vote without any regard for what the folks on his own side need him to do.

For example, he did that on Southwick a couple of weeks ago. Announced on the floor with no warning to anyone that he was going to move Southwick because the Republicans wanted him to. No one had time to get organized to mount a strong filibuster fight or do much of anything else.

So, I wouldn't be surprised if Reid, once again, got played like a violin by the Republicans who pushed for an immediate vote and he just rolled over like he often does, without bothering to try to accommodate the schedules of Senators who are out of town (especially since it's not unusual for Senators to schedule things for Thursday night as the Senate often recesses on Thursdays).

FYI - before I get attacked by the Obama haters, I do not have a candidate in this fight, so don't start with me. I call 'em like I see 'em.

They might not be there either.

"The debate came after a tense day of negotiations that at one point featured Majority Leader Harry Reid threatening to postpone Mukasey's confirmation until December."

So, at some point today, Reid was threatening to postpone the vote until December, but ended up scheduling the vote for tonight.

Yeah, that'll show those Republicans!

http://cbs2.com/politics/politicsnational_story_312191908.html

it seems Reid moved it up.

And exactly how would his vote make a difference?

Obama is doing what he needs to do to change the nation. Showing up to vote on a foregone conclusion (thanks in no small part to Schumer and Feinstein) doesn't happen to be at the top of the list right now. Personally, I appreciate his ability to prioritize. Hell, I'm counting on it.

A rabid pile-on for not voting when it turns out none of them voted. And then when that tiny fact is exposed, it's "whoops." I'm calling bullshit on yet another episode of hypocrisy.

should be faulted.

they didn't make it back for the vote either.

:kick:

Not that he agrees with them, mind you. He's already expressed his disagreement. But making the effort to vote against them would be going too far.

Why are you so intolerant of people with different viewpoints? :)

They also missed the vote...they couldn't get back in time because Reid pushedthe vote.

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nt

:shrug:

Maybe she copied after him and didn't show up to vote.

NONE of them had time to get back for the vote after it was pushed by Reid.