Michael Roston

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Michael Roston

The Huffington Post

MoveOn Vote: Clinton a "No," Obama a No-Show

September 20, 2007 04:43 PM


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Presidential hopeful and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) is claiming that he deliberately sat out a vote mounted by Senate Republicans to condemn the group MoveOn.org. Obama said that he was taking the high road by staying out of the GOP-driven fray over the group's "General Betray Us?" advertisement.

"The focus of the United States Senate should be on ending this war, not on criticizing newspaper advertisements," the senator said in a statement e-mailed to the Huffington Post. "This amendment was a stunt designed only to score cheap political points while what we should be doing is focusing on the deadly serious challenge we face in Iraq. ... By not casting a vote, I registered my protest against this empty politics."

Obama and Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) both missed the vote on a resolution sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) to condemn MoveOn for its advertisement last week that criticized Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of US forces in Iraq. The ad has been the focus of Republican attacks on Democrats in Congress for the past week.

The measure passed on a 72-25 vote. Obama had earlier voted in favor of an alternative motion sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) that criticized actions that question the honor of armed services members generally, and highlighted partisan attacks against former senator Max Cleland and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), both Vietnam veterans. The Boxer measure failed to advance.

The Huffington Post is still awaiting a reply from Biden's office on how he would have voted on the measure if he had attended the vote.

Obama's main rival on the campaign trail, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), voted against the Cornyn measure. Her vote drew fire from Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The former Massachusetts governor accused Clinton in a statement of siding "with the libelous left wing of her party."

Romney said, "The idea that she would be a credible commander-in-chief of our armed forces requires the willing suspension of disbelief."

Another Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), also voted against the Cornyn measure, but he seemed to share some of Obama's sentiment.

"It is a sad day in the Senate when we spend hours debating an ad while our young people are dying in Iraq," Dodd said. "Now that the Senate has twice voted on this ad, it is time to move on and vote to end the war."

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- fourex I'm a Fan of fourex 15 fans permalink
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What makes the Democratic supporters of the Cornyn resolution so disgusting is that the Cornyn resolution never debates the facts of the ad, but instead lies about it's content. I’ve asked my Sen., Feinstein to apologize for this lie.

"Whereas a recent attack through a full-page advertisement in the New York Times by the liberal activist group, Moveon.org, impugns the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all the members of the United States Armed Forces: Now, therefore, be it...'

The ad does no such thing. So Feinstein has joined in a attack on speech and signed onto a lie about other Dems.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:23 PM on 09/21/2007
- Podewumun I'm a Fan of Podewumun 32 fans permalink

abstain (ab stAn) v.i. 1.to refrain from voluntarily, esp. from something regarded as improper or unhealthy.

CAN YOU...
FUCKING...
HEAR ME NOW?

And to think a middle-aged woman with a Bachelor's in Education from a land-grant college in the red-ass south is getting her 'Uppity On' with Ms. Diane...!

This here SHIT
has GOT TO BE
the ultimate
in CODE RED I-RO-NEE!!!!!!

I M 1, Grade A POde MoFo

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:31 PM on 09/21/2007
- Podewumun I'm a Fan of Podewumun 32 fans permalink

When it comes to PURE, UNADULTERATED COWARDICE...any Democrat who cast an AYE in favor of this...you have a vision problem.
Your AYES are blind to the WILL OF THE PEOPLE!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:41 PM on 09/21/2007
- ajax2 I'm a Fan of ajax2 24 fans permalink
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There is no reason for Sen. Feinstein to remain in the Democratic Party. Her support for pre-emptive wars, for torture, imprisonment without charges, domestic spying, corporate welfare, and now restrictions on speech, all align her with the Neo Cons and fascism. For her own self respect she should leave.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:12 PM on 09/21/2007

If Hillary had chosen to sit this one out, the media (and by media, I mean liberals) would have been all over her. Why the double standard?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:08 PM on 09/21/2007

Keep up the pressure Move On and all you other wacko lefties. With your help we'll get another Republican in the White House.

The American People know that you all are extremists and the more you show it the better it is for the Republicans.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:30 PM on 09/21/2007
- MAC2 I'm a Fan of MAC2 permalink

Not sure what you mean here,

Move-On, did not create the Craig thing, I am not gay nor have I ever been gay.

Move - On, did not create the Vitter thing, I have explained my infidelity to my wife.

Move-On, did not create the Foley thing, Another I am not gay nor have I ever been gay.

Move-On, did not kill Nelson Mandela, like Shrubman did.

Move-On did not say it is a small price we are paying in Iraq, it was Bohner or Boner, not sure about spelling.

You need to worry about your guy's cause they are stepping on land mines all over the damn place. Ain't it fun to be kicking ass.........

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:51 PM on 09/21/2007

None of those things mean squat when you compare them to the fact that NONE of the Democratic candidates spoke out against an organization that essentially called a decorated soldier a liar and a traitor.

When the real campaign starts most Americans will pull away from anyone that panders to an organization with such extreme views.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:05 PM on 09/21/2007
- MAC2 I'm a Fan of MAC2 permalink

The Move - On. Org newspaper ad hit it right on the head. Betrayus is a TV camera hunting dwib who sold out to Shrubman. It was his choice to become political person for the Neo-Cons.

Note over the last 5 years no General was taken to task by Move-On .org that includes Casey, Franks, Abiziad, Meyers, Pace. Difference was and is these guy's were military, some even made some very stupid comments (ie Pace, Iraq people were not happy with there liberation).

We do have a couple of things wrong here, Harry is not leader, he is constantly outfoxed by Rove and the neo-cons. He can't move one of our bills through his Senate but a minority senator can get a newspaper article censored. Amusing that a Texas senator brings a bill to senate, not sure but I think Karl resides in Texas.

One additional thing we have 22 Dem. senators who were bought and payed for by the Neo-Cons this is not a good thing as Martha would say.

Oh....we did have N. Korea not only building but marketing Atomic weapons to Syria. They Syria must have bought a turn key atomic weapons platform since N. Korea was building the site for Syria in Syria. We also had Israel attacking Syria to blow up the weapons platform. This is the same country Nordstrom girl Condi had made major break through with negotiating a stop to building and proliferating atomic weapons in the world.

And what did DC do about it, our illustrious Senate censored a newspaper article, and Shrubman would make no comment on the subject, must mean he once again has been outfoxed. Is everyone feeling safe now or what, Now our troops are in between Iran with Atomic weapons and Syria with Atomic weapons, so much for finding WMD................and we pay for these dwibs

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:18 PM on 09/21/2007

For a list of turncoats from the Democratic party in the Senate, please consider the following:


Those rejecting the Feingold amendment (Feingold Amdt. No. 2924) on September 20, 2007:


Baucus (MT), Bayh (IN), Bingaman (NM), Carper (DE), Casey (PA), Conrad (ND), Dorgan (ND), Johnson (SD), Landrieu (LA), Lincoln (AR), Lieberman (not a surprise, CT), Levin (MI), Lincoln (AR), McCaskill (MO), Mikulski (MD), Nelson (FL), Nelson (NE), Pryor (AR), Reed (RI), Salazar (CO), Tester (MT) and Webb (VA).


Many are from red, or at least purple areas, which is no excuse, but Carper, Casey, Levin, Mikulski, and Reed?


If you haven't had enough yet, there is also a list of turncoats from this morning's vote on the Levin amendment , Levin Amdt. No. 2898 -- September 21, 2007:

Dodd (CT), Lieberman (but, of course -- CT), Nelson (NE) and Pryor (AR).


Those not voting:


Boxer (CA), Durbin (IL) and Sanders (VT).


Remarkably, the Republicans were able to come up with three votes for the amendment, almost counterbalancing the damage done by the Dems on this bill:


Hagel (NE), Smith (OR) and Snowe (ME).


Hagel's retiring and Smith is coming up for re-election next year.


The turncoats are representing the wealthy defense contractors who are lining their pockets with enormous campaign contributions along with promises of lucrative lobbying positions once they leave the Senate.


The only thing missing is the "FOR SALE" sign in front of the U. S. Senate Office Building.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:17 PM on 09/21/2007
- hmmmmmer I'm a Fan of hmmmmmer 29 fans permalink

Democrats in congress that voted yes on this need to be taken out of office just like the Republicans that made this a priority. The troops are not a priority to this congress, let us be real about that. Politics is a priority. It is time to vote them out of office. Why can't the 67% that disagree overcome the 33% that are for Bush.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:47 AM on 09/21/2007

If the Senate were to be fair, they would have similarly condemned the Swiftboat liars, as well as Faux Noose, CNN, and all others who serve as megaphones for the Reich Wing.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:31 AM on 09/21/2007
- KeysDan I'm a Fan of KeysDan 23 fans permalink

Why make this into a Clinton v Obama discussion? The real issue, to me, is the danger (in an already dangerous political environment) of the U.S. Senate condemnation of political speech. Citizens are not required to gift wrap their questions and concerns to politicians or military officers. The all make good and bad judgments in the course of their professional life. Senator Boxer's version of this monstrosity was not much better in this regard. If impeachment is off the table for the Republicans, how about trying it on Senator Nelson (D, sort of. Fl) for starters. The charge: betraying the constitution they swore to uphold. The evidence: the vote. The Repulicans were grasping for cover for their undermining of the military by blocking the Webb proposal and the Democrats (no doubt in orchestrated voting) fell for it. Where was a intelligent debate about all of this before the either a yea or nay vote? And why a vote, at all?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:03 AM on 09/21/2007

it is just an ad

Hypocrite Hillary(DC Experience Matters?JFK & Bill HAD LIL

This Video Is Showing That Hillary is a hypocrite for saying obama has no experience

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBy3AKn_2Fk

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:56 AM on 09/21/2007
- THISTLE I'm a Fan of THISTLE 61 fans permalink

More evidence of what a pathetic little
coward Obama is, he waited until the very
last minute on a funding vote for Iraq.
He was hiding until waiting to see how the
Democrats were voting, then at the very last
minute voted.
He is a pathetic little coward.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:26 AM on 09/21/2007
- plutorage I'm a Fan of plutorage 12 fans permalink

What a great contrast this little imbroglio draws between Obama and Clinton. The red light is definitely on over Hilary's door.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:45 AM on 09/21/2007

Let's see: Hillary voted for the war; she said in front of the world she had to suspend disbelief in order to listen to the General's Report, she said when asked about her comment that she had the utmost respect for the General and then she votes against a resolution condemning a full page ad declaring him a betrayer.

Does anyone have any idea what she is saying or doing.

I only know I wouldn't want that woman as commander in chief or anywhere near control of the most powerful weapons on earth.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:25 AM on 09/21/2007
- HumeSkeptic I'm a Fan of HumeSkeptic 1627 fans permalink
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My reaction to all this was to send MoveOn more money.

If fascists don't like free speech, give them more of it.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:39 AM on 09/21/2007

Hopefully progressives will look at the Senate condemn moveon vote to give careful reanalysis to their belief that voting in more Dems really makes a difference. Remember when Tester, McCaskill, Cardin, Casey and Webb (and others) beat their Repuboican opponents in 2006? Well those 5 voted to kill more US troops by funding the surge AND voted in favor of the ridiculous mischaracterization of the moveon ad condemn moveon resolution just passed by the Senate, and most voted in favor of the Trample on Civil Liberties Act 2 (Protect America Act), just as their opponents would have voted. The problems isn't that there aren't enough Democrats. Partially it's that the Dems recruited by DLCers are Republicans in Democratic clothing.

There needs to be direct pressure placed on the whole bunch to get results, including on the Republicans.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:02 AM on 09/21/2007
- wanked I'm a Fan of wanked 9 fans permalink

Im no fan of Clinton, But thank you Hillary for sticking up for Move on..the ad spoke for me and everyone I know.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:52 AM on 09/21/2007
- Robinsong I'm a Fan of Robinsong 12 fans permalink
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Politically some things are better left unsaid or unsaid until a more fortuitous time rather than hand your enemy a stick to beat you with. I applaud the principles that MoveOn stands for but I am disappointed at their tact and timing, it was a temporary "feel good" shot but counter-productive at best. If you want to be a "shoot from the hip" mudslinger then join the Swiftboaters.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:44 AM on 09/21/2007
- lentinelia I'm a Fan of lentinelia 53 fans permalink
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I believe you are calling MoveOn "'shoot from the hip' mudslingers."

I think that the testimony offered by General Patraeus was pre-cooked by the Bush administration.
What he said to the congress was demonstrably misleading at best.
I would not have called it a betrayal because everyone knew what he was going to say in advance - but I can see why MoveOn members would feel that his testimony which was tailored to permit the continuation of the war in Iraq. I can see that they would consider this a betrayal of the people of this country and of the members of the military who have no choice but to be stuck in the hell-hole of Iraq for the indefinite future.

They have every right to their opinion.
It was wrong of Obama to condemn MoveOn by voting for the Boxer amendment.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:43 AM on 09/21/2007
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