Comments

1. DJ Chris Said,

   You’re, right, that surrogate was a moron to go on live tv unprepared.

   This is what his website says:

   In the Illinois State Senate, this meant working with both Democrats and Republicans to help working families get ahead by creating programs like the state Earned Income Tax Credit, which in three years provided over $100 million in tax cuts to families across the state. He also pushed through an expansion of early childhood education, and 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.

   In the U.S. Senate, he has focused on tackling the challenges of a globalized, 21st century world with fresh thinking and a politics that no longer settles for the lowest common denominator. 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. He has also been the lead voice in championing ethics reform that would root out Jack Abramoff-style corruption in Congress.

   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. Recognizing the terrorist threat posed by weapons of mass destruction, he traveled to Russia with Republican Dick Lugar to begin a new generation of non-proliferation efforts designed to find and secure deadly weapons around the world. And knowing the threat we face to our economy and our security from America’s addiction to oil, he’s working to bring auto companies, unions, farmers, businesses and politicians of both parties together to promote the greater use of alternative fuels and higher fuel standards in our cars.
   References :
   http://www.barackobama.com/learn/meet_barack.php

2. Ye Olde Tyme Moustache Said,

   That was funny. But you should have seen Chris fry Mitt’s guy a couple months back. THAT made this look tame.

   People have to be prepared w/ him. Still, for me it’s Barack or Paul. That’s it.
   References :

3. Pie's_Guy Said,

   It doesn’t matter….a vast amount of people are hoplessly mislead and are voting obama…..The American Public are ignorant fools!
   References :

4. Peggy Pirate Said,

   How does one get legislative accomplishments? It is mostly groups of people trying to write and pass a laws. It is hard to pass anything if you don’t have the support and help from others. He couldn’t have accomplished anything by himself. If you want to know what he did with others go look it up.
   References :

5. Paparatzee Obama Said,

   He has done many things but under deep deep deep cover!!
   References :

6. Ben C Said,

   Most of Obama’s accomplishments relate to his work in Springfield. He has two named bills — the Lugar-Obama bill on soviet disarmament and the Coburn-Obama Transparency bill that involves increasing public information about federal spending. However, Obama’s paramount accomplishment in the Senate is in ethics — which is an area in which he compares extremely favorably to the Clintons (and to W) and in which he comes a a true breath of fresh air. He was instrumental in passing a senate ethics bill that mattered. He is also Sen. Reid’s key man on ethics. If any Obama supporter is ever asked this Matthew’s zinger from left field — the question can and should be answered with a single word, "ethics." Obama has it; the Clinton’s don’t; and our nation needs it desperately.
   References :
   http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/1000AmericansforObama/CHjY

7. Lee B Said,

   Obamas biggest success was the Legislative Transparency and Accountibility Act. A comprehensive ethics and lobbying reform bill. He also helped author the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act requiring lawmakers to wait at least two years after retirement to become lobbyists. He has authored, and advocated a number of other bills across a wide range of areas such as raising vehicle fuel economy standards, combating HIV/AIDS, testing the quality of hospitals, improving schools, better compensating teachers, and many other issues. I will add that it is not Obama’s fault if one of his supporters is a pathetic excuse for a congressman who does not research the history of the candidate he supports for POTUS. I applaud Mathews’ calling his guest out on that, but I question why he did not put the same questioning to Clinton’s advocate. That woman would only say that Clintion is a "leader in healthcare," and a "leader in education," and has "legislative accomplishments all over the world," whatever that means. Yet she was not pressed.
   References :

8. wes_clark_in_04 Said,

   I received this detail from an Obama supporter:

   By Ben Vos Yesterday at 10:11 pm EST
   Let’s take a closer look at who’s really qualified and or who’s
   really working for the good of all of us in the Senate. Obama or Clinton.

   Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term – 6yrs. – and
   another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law -
   20 – twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years.

   These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress
   http://www.thomas.loc.gov, but to save you trouble, I’ll post them here for
   you.

   1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.

   2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.

   3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

   4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.

   5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.

   6. Name post office after Jonn A. O’Shea.

   7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.

   8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition
   Day.

   9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the
   bicentennial of his death.

   10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men’s Lacrosse Team on
   winning the championship.

   11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men’s Lacrosse Team on
   winning the championship.

   12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution
   Commemorative Program.

   13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.

   14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express
   condolences on her death.

   15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters
   who lost their lives on duty. Only five of Clinton’s bills are, more
   substantive. 16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims
   of 9/11.

   17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11 18. Assist landmine
   victims in other countries.

   19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.

   20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as
   protected in the wilderness preservation system.

   There you have it, the fact’s straight from the Senate Record.
   Re: WOW! | Report to Admin Reply
   By Ben Vos Yesterday at 10:11 pm EST
   Now, I would post those of Obama’s, but the list is too substantive,
   so I’ll mainly categorize.

   During the first – 8 – eight years of his elected service he
   sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced

   233 regarding healthcare reform,

   125 on poverty and public assistance,

   112 crime fighting bills,

   97 economic bills,

   60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,

   21 ethics reform bills,

   15 gun control,

   6 veterans affairs and many others.

   His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-
   sponsored another 427. These inculded **the Coburn-Obama Government
   Transparency Act of 2006 – became law, **The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-
   proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, – became
   law, **The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
   **The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, – became law, **The Protection
   Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, In committee, and many
   more.

   I think that given his tenure, he has many many legislative accomplishments.
   References :
   http://www.thomas.loc.gov

9. Bob G Said,

   Others have listed Obama’s legislative accomplishments, most of which were in the Illinois state government.

   I think Matthews’s point was that Obama’s campaign has lacked substance. Obama keeps repeating that he’s going to bring change, yet spends almost no time providing any reason that voters should expect him to be capable of bringing change.

   I think that’s a fair argument by Matthews. In the last 30 years or so, we’ve had two previous Presidents that had accomplished almost nothing – mainly because they had very little time in office even if they were effective.

   Carter was a one-term governor that campaigned solely on not being from Washington right after Watergate when Americans were pretty disgusted with politicians in addition to being disgusted with Nixon. Carter turned out to be a pretty ineffective President regardless of how you rate his character.

   Bush was a 4-year governor just starting his second term when he seemed to almost be inserted into a Presidential campaign just because Republicans felt his name gave him an advantage. His administration has been filled with some pretty low achievers regardless of how you rate his decisions.

   To be honest, a competent President would be a change and I’d certainly prefer a candidate that had a record of achievement to back them up.
   References :

10. Zach Said,

    Here are some resources:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama#Senat...
    His wikipedia page that lists the legislation he’s worked on and contributed to in the U.S. Senate and Illinois State Senate.

    http://www.time.com/time/politics/articl...
    A Time article / more general account of his record.

    http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/obsidian_...
    An extremely in-depth, informative blog post with its sources linked.

    I’m glad that you’re actually looking for substantive information to base your vote on and not, like a lot of the people posting here, repeating an empty, baseless political talking-point (Obama has done nothing, lacks practical experience) that can be easily dismissed with just a few minutes of research on the internet.
    References :