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How did Wright or Farrakhan specifically affect Obama's judgment on legislative achievements?
If it's true that Obama's associations with Rev. Wright or Louis Farrakhan has guided his judgment, or "moral compass", let's look at how it actually played out on a specific issue?
That's what it comes down to, right? How his alleged anti-American, black separatist beliefs have defined, or will define his politics?
How is it reflected in his approach to renewable energy and climate change, for example.
Or his plan to offer every American a college education?
How did his "moral compass" affect his judgment in any one of his legislative initiatives? Here's an edited list:
-Obama passed legislation with Republican Senator Jim Talent to give gas stations a tax credit for installing E85 ethanol refueling pumps. The tax credit covers 30 percent of the costs of switching one or more traditional petroleum pumps to E85, which is an 85 percent ethanol/15 percent gasoline blend.
-After a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Senator Obama worked with law enforcement officials to require the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases.
-His first law was passed with Republican Tom Coburn, a measure to rebuild trust in government by allowing every American to go online and see how and where every dime of their tax dollars is spent.
-Obama created the Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income working families in 2000 and successfully sponsored a measure to make the credit permanent in 2003. The law offered about $105 million in tax relief over three years.
-Obama joined forces with former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon (D-IL) to pass the toughest campaign finance law in Illinois history. The legislation banned the personal use of campaign money by Illinois legislators and banned gifts from lobbyists. Before the law was passed, one organization ranked Illinois worst among 50 states for its campaign finance regulations.
-As a member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Senator Obama has fought to help Illinois veterans get the disability pay they were promised, while working to prepare the VA for the return of the thousands of veterans who will need care after Iraq and Afghanistan.
-Obama has been a leading advocate for protecting the right to vote, helping to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act and leading the opposition against discriminatory barriers to voting.
- In the U.S. Senate, Obama introduced the STOP FRAUD Act to increase penalties for mortgage fraud and provide more protections for low-income homebuyers, well before the current subprime crisis began.
-Obama sponsored legislation to combat predatory payday loans, and he also was credited with lobbied the state to more closely regulate some of the most egregious predatory lending practices.
-Barack Obama introduced the Patriot Employer Act of 2007 to provide a tax credit to companies that maintain or increase the number of full-time workers in America relative to those outside the US; maintain their corporate headquarters in America; pay decent wages; prepare workers for retirement; provide health insurance; and support employees who serve in the military.
-Obama worked to pass a number of laws in Illinois and Washington to improve the health of women. His accomplishments include creating a task force on cervical cancer, providing greater access to breast and cervical cancer screenings, and helping improve prenatal and premature birth services.
-Obama has introduced and helped pass bipartisan legislation to limit the abuse of no-bid federal contracts.
-Obama and Senator Feingold (D-WI) took on both parties and proposed ethics legislation that was described as the “gold standard” for reform. It was because of their leadership that ending subsidized corporate jet travel, mandating disclosure of lobbyists’ bundling of contributions, and enacting strong new restrictions of lobbyist-sponsored trips became part of the final ethics bill that was signed into law.













Comments (8)
Rev. Wright slandered Hillary during sermons. Obama gave Wright's Church big money. Connect the Dots. The IRS should immediatly revoke the status of this so called non profit Church.
March 17, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Today Rezko and CoolRevJayWright, tomorrow Mugabe and Ahmedinejad? Is it wrong to be judgemental on judgement?
March 17, 2008 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
You see, it's an integrity issue. Your guy comes up a little short. 9/11 is America's chickens coming home to roost? Obama opposes the invasion of Iraq. Wants to talk to Iran without pre-conditions. Just a coincidence? Maybe. But the truth is, all of Obama's highly moral positions on grave matters of national security happen to coincide with the statements of the man he let calibrate his moral compass. The 527s would kill you if Obama got nominated.
March 17, 2008 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
The whole controversy is about Obama's non-explanation. He has planed a speech about race and the Rev. Wright for this week. I know that if Hillary Clinton was associated with anybody like this Rev. Wright she would be front page news for weeks.
20 Years he knew the man! 20 Years! And Obama's shocked by the
Rev. Wrights views. Obama needs to decide if the Rev. Wright needs to be denounced or explained more. The only way out is for him to explain why he was attracted to the Rev. Wright's message and why he thought he would be someone he HE chose for his campaign. He needs to do this now - not in the Fall.
March 17, 2008 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gary, people aren't concerned about the truth. People are just looking for an excuse to persecute Obama. All of these explanations and attempts to enlighten people are remarkably futile. It makes perfect sense to judge a person based on their own words and actions...but when you're talking about a Black man in America, the rules are different.
Black people have to prove their patriotism, prove that they don't hate White people, prove that they don't fall under one of the many stereotypes. Nothing is automatic when you're a Black person in this country, and you for damn sure don't get the benefit of the doubt. That is why the completely absurd idea of judging a 46 year old man based on a 30 second sound bite of his preacher doesn't surprise anyone in the Black community. It's sickening, but certainly not surprising.
What is really the most disgusting thing though is that Black folks truly have NOTHING left in this country that is sacred. The Black church has brought us through slavery (we weren't allowed to worship with White people hence the creation of the AME church), segregation, and every other injustice/unfortunate situation (it was the Black church that spear-headed the Civil Rights Movement)...and now that very basic and essential part of Black life is being persecuted. THAT is what bothers me more than anything. I mean damn can we have ANYTHING in this country?
Whatever the case may be...this is not something we will soon forget or forgive. I just hope that when these days are written in the history books, you all are proud of how you have crucified Obama and the Black church.
March 17, 2008 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have no quarrel with those who bring reason to the debate and decide to choose another candidate.
I have no problem with people who see things differently than I do.
It's the people who won't tolerate those who see things differently than they do.
The louder they get, the smaller their minds become.
March 17, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent post UCLady.
It is really bad. I just learned how they will steal the nomination on the basis of the popular vote.
No one is posting stories on the fact that the Puerto Rico caucus was switched to a primary, that will enable HRC to gain a popular vote lead.
No stories anywhere on when and how this occured which is what I think is very strange.
The fact that the Clintons dumped African Americans for Hispanics will result in tremendous racial polarization for years in this nation.
Between Wright and the Hispanic votes...nothing but the politics of racial division..the Clintons will once again have proven...strong and wrong beats weak and right.
America cannot heal. It amazes me how the sight one black man louder speaking against injustice frightens so many whites. Utterly amazing.
Nothing but guilt.
March 17, 2008 11:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
There is more to Rev. Wright than the, what?, 30 seconds of video tape, you know. What he says - well, actually the *way* is awful: no dispute from me. But from what someone who listened to all 12 sermons that are available online, that 30 or so seconds were all the bad stuff they were able to find. (I wonder... do you suppose that a minister might avoid going into the really hot stuff when his most prominent parishioner was in the audience?)
But for those who want to really get a flavor or Wright's ministry, here's the text of a sermon that Obama was definitely present for:
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/03/for-the-record.html#more
Of course, if your just looking for an excuse to rant and rave, don't bother. Wouldn't want to let a good 'crusade' be tripped up by silly stuff like reality.
all the bad stuff they could "mine" from roughly 12 hours of tapes readily available to anyone on the church web site. Here, for example, is another one of his sermons - complete this time -0
March 17, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
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