Fighting the Untruths: Obama voting "present" is not a bad thing

Now that we've established that Democrats aren't going to raise taxes for 95% of Americans, let's take on the notion that Obama voting "present," instead of yes or no, points to lack of experience or judgment. In fact, as you will see, it proves quite the opposite.

Low information voters love to toss that out. I've heard it all over the blogs: Obama votes "present," but what does that really mean?

It's true that Obama voted "present" dozens of times, part of the thousands of votes he cast in an eight-year span in Springfield. Illinois lawmakers commonly vote that way on a variety of issues, and he has countered that many of those votes were cast because of technical or legal considerations about the underlying legislation.

Often, Obama voted "present" with large groups of other Democrats to protest what they saw as Republican trickery or abuse of power. Other times, voting that way sends a message that a lawmaker supports a bill's intent, but has concerns about how the legislation is drafted. Voting this way also can be a way to duck a difficult issue, as McCain charged, although that's difficult to prove.

There are also cases where legislators vote "present" as part of a strategy. Obama did this on some abortion measures, voting "present" to encourage some wavering legislators to do the same instead of voting "yes". Their "present" votes had the same effect as "no" votes, so getting them to vote present helped defeat the bills.

—Jim Drinkard/AP

 

Put simply, it tells me about how Obama's mind works. It shows me that he carefully considers whether he can support a piece of legislation. It shows me that as president, Obama will have a steady hand at the wheel.

Bills are complicated. Votes, as we see from the explanation above, are complicated, too. A "present" vote obviously has significant meaning depending on the situation, so let's not dismiss it as a negative.

Americans, show the McCain campaign you can think for yourselves and his attemps to compare Obama and Palin are falling short. Don't let yourself be manipulated by a saucy quip or a verbal left jab. That's what they are counting on, and we're better than that.

—Stefania Pomponi Butler is present (and accounted for) and will fight each and every smear.

Comments

[Mom101]

Thank you so much for this. It's amazing little we know about our own legislative process - me included.

[LoveMyMarine]

Voting "present" is also a good indicator of someone without any core convictions and someone who wants to hedge their bets.

Obama has been very careful to try and not leave any tracks with respect to his positions and policies.

He has no record -- on anything.

Sorry, that's too big a risk to vote someone into the WH with.

[Stefania]

Me, too, Liz. As I look into these attacks, it's surprising how much I/we don't know. My only hope is that lots of other Americans are doing the same.

[Scheherazade Khan]

Education, education, education...it's what my mom always says overcomes ignorance...pithy little jabs and perky repetitive insults do not constitute having core convictions or "positions". Each and every verbal attack needs to be answered by someone with common sense, and actual knowledge of the subject at hand.

[SarahE]

This is EXACTLY the kind of smear by smear explanation of the truth we all need. Way to go Stefania.

[Jen Rohde]

I'm so psyched to have found this site. Thank you for your hard work and informative posts! I'm going to start linking to this ... Awesome job!

[Connie @ Young and Relentless]

So....Present means Maybe? I need a president that is more decisive.

[jaelithe]

Present DOES NOT mean "maybe," Connie. Obama had to go in to work and very deliberately CHOOSE to make those present votes. It wasn't a situation where he was on the fence about something and couldn't decide. He made a decision.

When you vote present in the Illinois state legislature, it is usually a way of signaling that you support the idea behind a bill but object to its wording, or that you mostly support the bill but object to a certain portion of the bill (like an amendment that has been added to it or something). It's a procedural vote, essentially. It's a way to encourage the authors of the bill to make changes to the legislation and bring it up for a vote again at a later date.

The Illinois Senate does not have the same rules as the national U.S. Senate, and the Republicans have been exploiting most voters' ignorance of Illinois's rules to make it seem as though Barack Obama was asleep at the wheel while in the IL State Senate, when in fact he was one of its most productive and effective members, sponsoring more than 800 bills, and working to pass landmark civil rights, campaign finance reform, and health care legislation that is still benefiting the citizens of Illinois today.

Illinois can thank Obama for helping to pass a prescription drug discount plan for seniors and the disabled.

Illinois can thank Obama for negotiating an unprecedented agreement between the ALCU and Illinois law enforcement to pass a bill that now helps track and prevent inappropriate racial profiling.

I wrote about the great legislation Obama helped pass in the IL Senate back in February on my own blog. You can read about it here: http://jaelithej.blogspot.com/2008/02/man-with-no-experience.html

[Robyn]

THANK YOU for posting this. I live in IL so I'm used to the whole "present" thing, but I guess I can see why it can appear lazy or nefarious to those in states where it's not common.

[Alysa]

We are presented with a lot of information that has little to none or just incorrect contexts. This is a prime example of that. Knowing how the "present" vote works, seeing Obama use it shows me that he has discretion and actually READS what is put in front of him.

[SacramentoBlog]

Present can also mean "I agree with the original bill but not the rest of the crap that someone tacked on in committee to satisfy a lobbyist".

[Jim]

I encourage all Obama supporters to vote "Present" at this year's presidential election :p.

[Voter]

Democrats Unite!

Vote "Present" in '08

On Election day go in take your Ballot and submit it with out marking anything!!

[Stefania]

Right, Voter. See, if I had a problem with my choice then maybe I would vote present, but I don't so I will be voting YES WE CAN for Obama!

Nice try, tho'!

[Drizzit]

MCain/ Palin will not vote present. Barack voted present because he didn't want you to know what his convictions were. He wants to make it up as he goes depending on who's in front of him.

[Drizzit]

Alysa, We call that Pork and Obama is one of the biggest porkers in the Senate, and you can fact check that. MCain/Palin are the reformers to end the pork from republicans and democrats.

[cynematic]

Drizzit, you obviously have been hiding your head in the sand when it comes to the amount Sarah Palin has earmarked for Alaska, including supporting the Bridge to Nowhere before it became politically fashionable to be against it.

Or do you not care about Palin's way of doing business as governor of Alaska?

You can fact-check THAT, Drizzit.