Obama v. McCain... A Look At Their Voting Records
Posted by Joe Rivett on 02.25.2008
With Obama looking more like the front-runner, I decide to compare the similarities and differences between Obama and McCain strictly on their voting records.
Before I begin, I would like to follow up on my downfall of Hillary Clinton column. I forgot to mention that Hillary's major mistake was competing in Iowa. From what I have read, she spent 25 million dollars to finish in third and give Obama a boost. She should have skipped it entirely the way her husband did and let Edwards and Obama battle it out. Even McCain was smart enough to concede a state that he had little chance in. By skipping it, you make the winner irrelevant.
I like looking at voting records. Politicians are full of crap, and their voting record is the only thing you can go by these days. Not knowing what to write about this week, I decided to examine Obama's voting record and compare it with McCain's just for kicks. Here is a synopsis of what I found (Keep in mind, I will only be comparing records since Obama entered the Senate)…
Immigration
He voted for the failed 2007 Immigration Act along with McCain.
He voted against a bill that would prohibit undocumented immigrants convicted of aggravated felonies, domestic violence, stalking, violation of protection orders, crimes against children, or crimes relating to the illegal purchase or sale of firearms, from gaining legal status. McCain also voted against it.
He sponsored a bill which would have increased the level of family sponsored immigrants from 226,000 to 567,000. McCain voted no.
He cosponsored to pass an amendment that reduces the annual limit on guest workers to two hundred thousand from a ceiling of six hundred thousand proposed.
He voted for an amendment that declared English to be the common language of the United States. John McCain voted no. However, he voted against English being the national language whereas McCain voted yes. HOWEVER Obama voted for English to be the unifying language and McCain agreed. It is all about semantics I guess.
He along with McCain voted for triple layered fencing at the boarder but against double layered fencing. Why not four layers?
Constitution
He voted against the flag desecration amendment along with Hillary Clinton while John McCain voted yes. Expect McCain or the 527 groups to jump all over Obama on this issue.
Even though he was at Congress, he did not vote on the moveon.org resolution that criticized the group for bashing General Petraeus. Hillary voted no while McCain voted yes.
He voted against giving himself a pay raise. Only six senators had the balls to vote for the pay raise. I can understand the Hawaii senator wanting a pay raise, it probably costs a shitload for him to fly.
He voted for an amendment that opposes criticism of our military. Apparently the first amendment does not apply to the military? Even John McCain voted against this bill.
He voted to grant habeas corpus to persons being detained by the US. Apparently John McCain does not recognize the bill of rights as he voted against it.
He along with McCain rejected the same sex marriage amendment.
Katrina
He voted to allow for a vote on an amendment to increase the federal governments financial aid package to the victims of Hurricane Katrina by providing food assistance, bankruptcy relief and tax help. McCain voted no. Obama might be able to use this to win in Louisiana.
He voted for a congressional commission to study what went wrong with Katrina. McCain also voted no against this. If Obama is smart, he will point this out.
Iraq
He voted for a congressional committee to study how contracts were to be handed out in Iraq and Afghanistan. McCain voted no.
He did not vote on the future military funding for Iraq amendment which would have adopted a non-binding, amendment that expresses the Senate's will that future military operation funds be included in the regular budget proposal and not in an emergency supplemental appropriation bill.
In November of 07, he voted to give an extra 50 billion to fund operations in Iraq along with McCain.
Appointments
He voted against Alito and Roberts. McCain voted yes.
He voted against Gonzo and for Condi. McCain supported both.
Economics
He voted against the bankruptcy reform bill in 05. Hillary Clinton was the only one that didn't vote.
He cosponsored a bill to limit farm subsidies for married couples to 250,000 along with John McCain.
He did not vote on the economic stimulus package. McCain voted yes.
He voted against the sunset of the estate tax. McCain is now for it.
He along with McCain voted against increasing the debt limit of 8.97 trillion and no that is not a typo.
He voted to extend pay as you go until 2011 along with McCain.
He voted for a temporary crude oil profits tax. McCain voted against it.
Ethics
He voted for the ethics bill but was not a cosponsor. For some reason, Obama always points to this as his great achievement. McCain voted against it. Expect Obama to make a big deal about this vote.
Environment
He voted against ANWR. McCain also voted no.
He voted for carbon and mercury limits. McCain also voted for the limits.
Education
He voted to increase Pell Grants. McCain voted no.
Veterans
He voted to provide 500 million to help vets deal with PTSD and substance abuse. McCain voted no.
Trade
He voted against CAFTA but voted for free trade with Oman. McCain voted yes on both. Interestingly, some douche that writes for Rolling Stone that shows up on Bill Maher's show stated that Hillary voted for the Peru free trade when she along with Barack and McCain did not vote. Liar.
Stem Cells
He along with McCain voted yes to embryonic stem cell research.
Conclusion
There you have it. I tried to give a simplified approach to the voting record differences and similarities between Obama and McCain. The candidates seem to agree mostly on immigration, stem cells, gay marriage, and the environment. Where they differ is on Supreme Court Justices, taxes, Iraq, trade, and ethics.
The Clintons have stated that Obama is a roll of the dice. The only votes that I found which could come back to haunt Obama is on the issue of taxes where he is very liberal. He has intelligently voted on the Iraq War in the sense that he hasn't made much noise vote wise in his opposition, so if the war continues to go better, he can point to the fact he always funded it, etc.
Where Obama will be a roll of the dice is on the intangibles such as his wife, a button on a lapel and/or his middle name. I doubt his liberal voting record will hurt him.
Interesting and informative article. Thank you for your time and effort putting it together.
Posted By: Tom (Guest) on February 25, 2008 at 12:42 PM
"Apparently John McCain does not recognize the bill of rights"
um...apparently you don't recognize that the Constitution only applies to US citizens.
Posted By: Eric (Guest) on February 25, 2008 at 01:03 PM
Actually, there are certain amendments that apply to citizens, and others that apply to all. This is the difference between "civil rights" and "civil liberties". The government does not have the right to suspend the writ of habeas corpus.
Posted By: Kevin (Guest) on February 25, 2008 at 02:25 PM
Voting records cannot be argued with. However, you fail to provide explanations for the way votes were cast. I was sitting in the Senate and a bill that, on the surface, appeared to be good for the country, but had some serious flaws, such as infringing on civil liberties or adding a huge pork barrel project into the riders, I would vote against it, too. What you have here does not amount to anything more than innuendo by omission.
Posted By: JSims (Guest) on February 25, 2008 at 07:49 PM
The Constitution applies to anyone on US soil. Just as murder applies to everyone, could you imagine if that didn't apply to non-citizens? When you go to a foreign country, you are subject to their laws and rules.
Yes I didn't provide explanations as I did not want to spend an entire day and 100 pages on a column. However, this is how politicians will paint the voting records in commercials.
Posted By: Joe Rivett (Registered) on February 25, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Habeas corpus was suspended during the Civil War in certain areas and during WWII for unlawful combatants.
Posted By: MikeD (Guest) on March 25, 2008 at 01:34 PM
Detainees who are not US Citizens D
Posted By: Guest (Guest) on June 04, 2008 at 05:32 PM
Detainees who are not US Citizens DO NOT QUALIFY FOR ANY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS!!!!INCLUDING HABEAS CORPUS. If, however, they are US Citizens detained because of their race then they do qualify.
Posted By: Guest (Guest) on June 04, 2008 at 05:34 PM
Excellent information pros and cons for the potential Presidents
Posted By: AFORD (Guest) on June 04, 2008 at 08:32 PM
Nicely done. No spin.
Posted By: Kelly (Guest) on August 22, 2008 at 08:36 PM
The constitution regulates and limits the powers of the govornment. It does not dictate the rights of one people above another. This intention was made clear by our founders in the first line of the declaration of independence. As citizens, we receive services from the govornment that we pay for in taxes, but rights are not a service, they are what limits our govornment from using us for their own benifit. Abusing that system for this perceived short term political gain is a mistake.
Posted By: Guest#3414 (Guest) on August 28, 2008 at 10:44 AM
'The Constitution applies to anyone on US soil. Just as murder applies to everyone, could you imagine if that didn't apply to non-citizens?
I've got Diplomatic immunity!
Posted By: GUEST (Guest) on August 29, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Guest#3414: Exactly. Unfortunately, few look at it anymore.
Posted By: Christopher (Guest) on September 02, 2008 at 10:47 PM
It has been claimed that Obama dares to vote very little. By your comparing his voting record With McCain's, You only look at everything that he DID vote on. What about all the votes that McCain voted on, but he missed?
Posted By: Wendell Merritt (Guest) on September 06, 2008 at 09:03 PM
I am so sick of people arguing against the rights of detainees. Many of them have been proven to be innocent. In fact, more than 100 people have been released from Guantanamo, because they had done NOTHING WRONG. Why would HUMAN RIGHTS apply only to Americans. The constitution was designed because of it's inherent goodness. Why should we treat foreigners like they are not human. They ARE human. And, for the record, there is nothing wrong with being muslim or hindi or of any other religious faith. Fucking Americans make me sick; prideful hypocrites! Christians my ass.
Posted By: chuck (Guest) on September 07, 2008 at 12:33 PM
I enjoy reading both sides of every argument, because I believe that is the only way to get the story right. But how can anyone read this and say no spin. Come on, it clearly was written with spin, and if you dont see this you are fooling yourself. I have yet to make up my mind, but I am so sick of people blindly picking a candidate because the media or your party tells you to. Know the issues, and pick based on your preference...not someone else who told you to pick that way.
Posted By: Josh (Guest) on September 15, 2008 at 04:35 PM
good work here. better than alot of the press. yes, it would be nice to see a list of all the bills in which their votes differed with a link to the thomas page. I don't know why cnn.com or someone doesn't do it.
Posted By: Danny (Guest) on September 19, 2008 at 04:56 AM
Well, Chuck (Guest)on September 7, 2008 I guess you don't know how to make an argument without cussing!!! It sounds like you are muslim or hindi trying to defend your race. You say F------ Americans, we make you sick, I guess you're not an American then. THEN LEAVE IT YOU DON'T LIKE IT HERE!!!!
Posted By: Pam (Guest) (Guest) on September 26, 2008 at 10:50 PM
GO PAM!
Posted By: keith (Guest) on September 30, 2008 at 08:24 PM
Just came across this site, haven't read it before, and after reading the comments, I know why. There are some truly ignorant people here. Anyone who thinks that the right to Habaes Corpus (as granted by the Constitution) only applies to "Americans" is a fool. What do you think "challenging your detention" means? Without the Habaes Writ, who is there to tell you're really an American? It's idiots like you who deserve to rot in a cell one day until you truly understand the depth of your ignorance.
Do some reading: http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/01/18/usdom12292.htm
Posted By: Habaes Corpus (Guest) on October 01, 2008 at 09:27 PM
first of all i would just like to say that i was looking for a sight with their voting records and this so far as given much more info than some of the other sights so thank you. and josh sept 15th, u r exactly right i agree 100% with everything u sd!!!! please people just educate yourself before going to the poles!!
Posted By: seger (Guest) on October 09, 2008 at 09:46 PM
I have been reading these discussions and comments with interest. I agree with Seger's (October 9) comment about "educate yourself". Sorry, but I can't resist - watch your spelling and grammar so as not to appear uneducated; sight(vision) should be site(place) and pole(slender piece of wood/metal) should be poll(recording of votes).
Posted By: barb (Guest) on October 12, 2008 at 04:30 PM
Heres what it comes down to, Who do I trust.Eventhough Obama is probrally a good man, theres a lot of "shady people" (Bill Ayers,His Minister,Resko) around him.
John McCain has crossed party lines and voted his mind and not with his party...Plus theres that prisoner of war thing that puts him far and above is compitition
Posted By: Wackynutty (Guest) on October 13, 2008 at 07:20 AM
Thank you for your time and effort into this article. It was very interesting to read. I'm not a political person, but I have gained a lot of knowledge about the candidates by reading. This is just another nail that I have hammered in my voters box. Thank you for helping me add to my decision.
God Bless you all and God Bless America! No matter what race or religion you are. God doesn't see colors, we are all made in HIS image.
Take care,
God Bless,
Mom2Twins
Posted By: Mom2Twins (Guest) on October 14, 2008 at 01:38 AM
Since Senators don't have line-item veto and we don't have the 'what else' was on each bill, you have essentially told us absolutely nothing.
Posted By: Del (Guest) on October 14, 2008 at 02:08 PM
A head-to-head comparison of how the candidates voted is interesting. However, during the current congress, Obama has missed 46% percent of the votes while McCain has missed 64%. That's like showing up for work only half of the time! Also, Obama has voted with the majority of his party members 96% of the time, McCain 88%. Have all of our elected officials forgotten that their purpose is to represent their constituents? They should be voting according to the needs and concerns of the people they represent, not to advance the party agenda. It appears to me that 'Of, For, And By The People' has become 'Of, For, and By The Party'. When a candidates' voting record so closely follows his party's line, can we really draw any conclusions on the candidates themselves?
Posted By: Ken (Guest) (Guest) on October 15, 2008 at 10:51 PM
The sad fact of the matter is that some detainees deserve the rights that habeas corpus protect and some don't. If there is a way to distinguish between the two, someone please tell me what it is. The constitution WAS in fact founded on "inherant goodness" but it was also set up to allow us to protect the citizens and visitors that are here alike. I don't discriminate against someone because of their religion, because our country was founded for religious freedom. Chuck, before you point fingers at "prideful hypocrits", make sure you're not doing exactly what you're getting mad about. Furthermore, this article, while there may have been a little spin, was overall very helpful. Thank you for your time and information Mr. Rivet
Posted By: Matt (Guest) on October 17, 2008 at 12:38 PM
STAY CURRENT