Obama Having Trouble Voting

From Pat:

I think Hillary has done a better job as a legislator than Obama and
than she's being given credit for and her campaign needs help. This is
an important election and I'm saddened that someone that has chosen to
abstain from voting is doing as well as Barack is, while someone like
Hillary who has made hard decisions and actually voted, seems to be
getting little positive media attention.

I almost got caught up in all the hoopla and media frenzy over Barack. I
went and saw Teddy Kennedy in Oakland and also Michelle Obama in San
Jose. I was having a hard time deciding who to vote for. So, on the eve
of the election here in California, I compared their voting records on
votesmart.org. Many times Hillary made a hard decision and voted;
whereas Barack abstained.

I know Barack spoke against Iraq at the beginning but he wasn't eligible
to vote and when he did have an opportunity to vote on issues regarding
Iraq, he either voted the same as Hillary or abstained when she voted.
For instance,

4/18/05 Future Funding for Iraq - Barack No Vote (abstain);
9/20/07 Expressing Support For Petreus - Barack No Vote (abstain); Hillary
No;
9/26/07 Federalism in Iraq - Barack No Vote (abstain);
9/26/07 Iran and Islamic Revolution - Barack No Vote (abstain);
7/17/07 Guantanamo Detainees - Barack No Vote (abstain);
6/11/07 Atty General No Confidence - Barack No Vote (abstain); Hillary Yes.

On other issues such as immigration, Barack again abstained.

10/3/07 Border Fence & Customs Appropriations - Barack No Vote (abstain);
Hillary Yes
7/26/07 Dept of Homeland Security Appropriations - Barack No Vote (abstain);
Hillary Yes
7/26/07 Border Fence & Customs Appropriations - Barack No Vote (abstain);
Hillary Yes.

How many times has Obama abstained when Hillary has voted?

Obama seems to be getting a "free pass" from the media and the voters. I
think it's important how legislators vote, not just what they say in a
speech.