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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- joselopez I'm a Fan of joselopez 10 fans permalink
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it is sads toi see how far this woman would pander to win votes. You are already getting a taste of how corrupt another Clinton Administration will be...

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:48 PM on 09/20/2007
- thos I'm a Fan of thos 2 fans permalink

Can I get a witness!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:52 PM on 09/20/2007

The fact is: both major political parties have sold their souls years ago.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:34 PM on 09/20/2007
- Robinsong I'm a Fan of Robinsong 10 fans permalink
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Yes, as a lifelong Democrat I changed my registration to Independent 2 years ago and it feels better and better as time goes on. Nevertheless the performance of Democratic congressional leaders and even the new 2006 elected representatives and Senators sickens me.

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

Let me get this right...

MoveOn.Org runs and ad that states what the majority of the American believe but the politicians are too afraid to say, and they get a Senate resolution against them.

Yet, George W. Bush and his neoconservative puppeteers deliberately misled the nation into war against the wrong country under false pretenses (a.k.a. "lies") and there hasn't been a peep or even an attempted peep from the Democrats in Congress.

Would those Democrats show the same speed and conviction in trying to end this war.

Once again, the Democrats bring pillows to a political knife fight and then get beaten again.

What does it take to get Democrats in Congress to fight just as hard and just as dirty if necessary as the Republicans clearly have no shame or hesitancy in doing? Yet another reason to vote Green Party for Congress in 2008.

But the Washington pundits don't like moveon.org or the movement and constituency they represent. The DLC wing hates getting pressure to do the right thing when there are corporate interests to take of and corporate campaign contributions to get.

Get those primary challenges ready.

And how did Reid let this get to the floor? Would the Republicans let a Senate Resolution condemning the Swift Boat Veterans for lies reach the floor? No.

And why wasn't this filibustered as a waste of time?

Idiots.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:30 PM on 09/20/2007

Reid and Pelosi are clearly the wrong leaders for this time in history.

We actually need "LEAD-ERS", implying namely, that they LEAD.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:35 PM on 09/20/2007

I am proud member of MOVEON and I recognize our role in trying to stop the Iraq war before it began. I believe that the time has come to hold ALL those politicians who voted for this war accountable. I am talking about all those democrats who NOW find it convenient to be against this war – where were you even as recently as 2006? You specifically Hilary (the Panderer-in-chief) did not stand up to be counted when it mattered most. I do not recall you supporting the war-opponents from across the world who put their views out and even where arrested. I am frustrated by the continued triangulation and fake votes that are meant to be cosmetic in intent. Do these politicians believe that the public has forgotten the many democrats and republicans who cast their critical vote to get us into Iraq? I personally will NEVER SUPPORT a candidate who voted for this Iraq war because it means that I re-affirm his /her vote!!! Worse still, I do not believe that a person like Hilary would never have read the National Intelligence Estimate like she claims. The challenge for all potential voters is this: When all the votes have been cast, will you have any buyers’ remorse or will you re-affirm that you did the best you can and chose the candidate with the highest integrity?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:52 PM on 09/20/2007
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Feinstein.­...yes. That should make Arianna PRO-resolution.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:51 PM on 09/20/2007
- Qbear I'm a Fan of Qbear 51 fans permalink

Out of Iraq
Out of Congress


pick one

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:50 PM on 09/20/2007

I was so peed off by the senate wasting my money on a newspaper ad(for Gods sake theres a war going on people) that I joined MoveOn and contributed 100.00. The rate this president and congress are going I should be broke by Halloween. Remember the Swift Boat ads? When in the hell was was that vote taken? Must have missed it. Damn hypocrites.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:43 PM on 09/20/2007
- Democrab I'm a Fan of Democrab 19 fans permalink
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Just vote for the only one with balls, Hillary Clinton.

She usually gets it right.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:40 PM on 09/20/2007
- Zhonni I'm a Fan of Zhonni 15 fans permalink
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Say, Hillary got balls huh? If she got balls, I don't want her in the While House.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:07 PM on 09/20/2007
- Democrab I'm a Fan of Democrab 19 fans permalink
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Let's don't get too literal here

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:54 AM on 09/21/2007
- youngharry I'm a Fan of youngharry 3 fans permalink

AS A VETERAN, I APPLAUD MOVEON.ORG­. THEY SENT THE RIGHT MESSAGE ABOUT PETREAUS, WHO DID BETRAY US WITH PHONY FACTS AND PROPAGANDA TO PLEASE HIS POLITICAL BOSSES.

MOREOVER, HE STEPPED ACROSS THE LINE AND ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BE USE AS A SHIELD FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES. HE NOT ONLY BETRAYED US, HE BETRAYED HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY TO SAY NOTHING ABOUT THE TROOPS IN IRAQ.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:39 PM on 09/20/2007
- thos I'm a Fan of thos 2 fans permalink

Remember, it's MoreOn.Com that got these pussocrats elected.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:39 PM on 09/20/2007
- didereaux I'm a Fan of didereaux 5 fans permalink

2 points Hillary - for taking the shot
-2 points Obama for ducking out.

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    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:34 PM on 09/20/2007

as my Grandmother used to say, "that beats a goose a gobbling". Yesterday the Senate couldn't vote in favor of giving our troops more time at home in comparison with their duty in Iraq but they can all come together to condemn a newspaper ad. Another "freedom of speech" censor if you ask me!
And shame on you Democrats who voted with this poitical theater shenanigan!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:33 PM on 09/20/2007

Hilary is the Panderer-in-Chief so stop attacking Obama. Wake up people and see the clear manipulation of your minds by Clinton who will do anything to get elected!!! Please remember that Hilary and not Obama voted for this war. Check any where on line and you can find tapes of Hilary affirming her pride in Bush and the Iraq war. She has the greatest responsibility for the consequences and now is trying to convince the gullible that she is in tune with you. She has never apologized for her vote. How many times must you be taken for a ride? Please think clearly as you try to push her candidacy because I am positive that a number will come to regret when republicans point out her hypocrisy. Are you prepared to take the consequence of Hilary’s candidacy in the general election when people once again are forced to choose the lesser of two evils? Remember flip-flopper any one?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:33 PM on 09/20/2007

So, when did the Senate vote to condemn the f*cking "Swiftboat Liars"? Never!

I've never made a donation to Move On before, but I just made one now.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:30 PM on 09/20/2007
- thos I'm a Fan of thos 2 fans permalink

How much?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:31 PM on 09/20/2007
- uglybetty I'm a Fan of uglybetty 6 fans permalink

Where was this SORRY SO CALLED P RESIDENT when his REPUKES were SWIFTBOATING a war HERO!!!

SWIFTBOAT.­..SWIFTBOA­T...SWIFTB­OAT !!! YOU DISGUSTING BUSH !!!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:23 PM on 09/20/2007
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