Factcheck.org: Clinton and Obama's GOP Crossfire

As an Illinois native, I can easily say Obama's "present" vote percentages don't include his more than 100 absent votes while serving for the Senate; I find it deplorable and questionable that in all of the debates there has not been more question about his voting habits. Why would you be absent for votes that are supposedly about the very committees he serves? Specifically the Armed Services committee. He has also failed to vote whatsoever about any legislation that could potentially assist the failing farming industry in America.

I wish the media would use its voice for good reason and do the very thing that Obama is encouraging -- QUESTION OUR GOVERNMENT.

Obama has had a price tag on his head since his "senator days" in Illinois. They buried a story about Obama's "experience" on TV last night. His experience is questionable. Big draw with Obama -- he has raised millions for his campaign. And I find it strange that McCain is being scrutinized by the FEC, but no one is checking out Obama's magical millions.

Anyone can review the individual contribution list for his campaign. What I find curious to note is there are several Pakistani surnames contributing via legal firms. Wire transfers from foreign countries? Thought that was illegal. Not to mention that almost 250,000 has been contributed from the Shah family with million dollar ties in Nairobi businesses. Of course, these contributions have also been funneled through the system with other family members' on the contributions.

I find it tragic that the race for the office of President has been reduced to picking candidates who play the "boys' game", are "charismatic" and have big money in their corner. What this presidency should be about is who can effectively run our country, and not lead us further into oblivion like Bush has.

I agree with forwardthinking the Clinton's had the county in the black fro the first time in years and as soon as bush got in he sent us right back where we where before Clinton's got in. and bush keeps digging us deeper in the hole we need the Clinton's. we would not be going in to a recession if bush had not gone to Iraq but here a idea, by increasing the minimum wage we in turn increase the amount of cash people have to spend. And increasing the amount of income tax refounded in the pore. We also need to set up a fund to help people in foreclosure. And bring the troops home from Iraq in 2009.

A vote for Obama is simply a step backwards in saving the US from its failing economy, healthcare, and the once strong foundation that the Clinton's brought to our country. Many Americans have forgotten the greater good the Clinton's did for America and instead have stepped on the bandwagon of having our first African-American President.

Hillary and Bill latent Ractionary, would like Edwards,but will vote for Obama long time Demo.

I don't personally feel that my age, race, or background are important here. However, since this year's presidential campaign seems to be focusing on these things and since a precedent has been set in these comments, I shall follow suit. I am: a 37-year-old white male; a husband to a stay-at-home mom; a father of two children under the age of 8; a resident of South Carolina; and employed in an industry (Information Technology) where outsourcing of American jobs to countries half way around the world has taken its toll in recent years. Things that are important to me: the economy, education, healthcare, national defense (and in that order).

Honestly, I had made up my mind to vote for Barack Obama the day he announced his candidacy in Springfield, Illinois. I am not surprised that Obama has suddenly emerged as a viable candidate and one that will unite our nation and bring all Americans together to debate, discuss, identify, and SOLVE our nation's problems. If there is a phropacy of "the one," (to cite the Matrix movies), then he is THE ONE. I have been taken aback by the tactics that have been employed by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and her campaign during the recent weeks in South Carolina. I've always held Senator Clinton and President Clinton in high regard, moreso as politicians than as individuals. I am ashamed of their behavior in recent weeks. It only serves to make my resolve in voting for Senator Obama even stronger. Senator Obama may be young; however, he inspires millions of Americans (not just African Americans) and he has to me been a gleaming beacon of hope in an America that has for the past several years been a dark place. I feel we are on the verge of emerging from our darkness and into an era of peace, prosperity, and HOPE...and I feel Senator Obama is the man to lead us into this new era.

For the record: I am in no way related to the Obama Campaign. I'm just a voter and I'm speaking my mind for the first time publicly with this comment. There are more like me in the woodwork, so prepare yourselves, America. A revolution is coming.

Bill Clinton campaigning at a University? That is rich! He probably had his aides trying to set up "dates" for him after his speech! Would you leave your teenaged daughter in a room for 30 mins with the former President and a state trooper? What a slimey, creepy guy.

I am a woman, a mother of sons, a former US Navy Mefdical Corpsperson, a feminist and share a family that is composed of Causasians, African-Americans, Hispanic nieces and hephews and have a Jamaican Black step grandfather. My family has been yellow dog Democrats for many generations. I once played turncoat and was a campaign worker for George Bush during his second run for Presidency. I once voted for Bill Clinton. I have been sick for our country for the past several Republican administrations. I am sick now after hearing that our good neighbor, Canada, has listed us as torturers their diplomats should keep their citizens from our torture chambers. I will never vote Republican again.
I want to voter Democrat but I cannot vote for the Clinton tag team again. I am more than appalled at the dirty tricks they have pulled on Sen. Obama. . . everything from having surrogates ship around emails saying he is a Muslim who is out to destroy our country to changing every word into different ones that were never meant and that anyone with a hair of intelligence would understand to mean differently.
I am also a recently retired journalist: I've paid my dues in Washington, and covered government in cities, regions, and nationally. I get it. It's win at all costs, and we get two for one. I will not vote for folks with no integrity, who are cheating the American people from a reasoned, careful education on the issues. I will never vote for a woman who claims the right to female votes when she took money to work for Wal Mart, who has been presented with a class action suit by women who have been forced to accept lower wages fro the same tasks and jobs as men. I will never vote for anyone who plays dirty. War Correspondent Ernie Pyle said, "Once is an accident; twice is a coincidense; three times is enemy action." Thes two are helping to destroy our chances for a Democratic win. If I hear one more word from them that is disrespectful to Sen. Obama -- and his right to run for office in this democratic republic -- I will barf.
Winning anything at any cost is not a good sign for the future. Same ole, same ole. Newt Gingrich (whom I consider a huge hypocrite) said "Shame should be brought back to America." Shame, Shame, shame, Hillary. JMB

I'm African African. I'm an active duty Air Force Veteran of 14 years. I have served in Irag and Afghanistan. I am a Democrat. I am a male. Married and father of two childern. What offends me is that President Bill Clinton knows better. He knows the impact of race in America. And when he started calling Sen Obama a boy, the kid, and saying stuff like this is a fairytale; those words would cut. Then to not tell the truth about the Reagan comments and to now have a picture with Bill and Hillary with the so-called slumlord together and their response is that "I don't know him"; hurts. Then for Bill Clinton to make false voting intimidation claims in Nevada to divide the Latino vote! I voted for Bill Clinton twice. My great great grandparents voted once in there entire life because they didn't have the right to vote because they were Black. In my family we take voting seriously. What the Clintons did and said hurt.

I backed the Clintons with the intern scandal and impeachment. I gave them the benefit of the doubt. If Hilliary gets the nomination it's going to cause heart burn for me and millions of African American people. That is what we want you to understand. That it hurts.

Yes we are greatful for the 9000 plus black elected officials that are democratics. Yes we are greatful for being able to sit at the table. I want you understand that Sen Obama is an inspiration to 36 million black people in America. Respect that, respect him and respect us.

I'm a life long Democrat and I just want you know that it hurts.

Let me get this straight: there is a battle going on in South Carolina between Bill Clinton (now that Hillary has left the state) and Barak Obama. Who is telling the truth...who is to be believed?

One of these men, in writing about his past, admits that he used cocaine as a teenager--a troubled time in his life; the other man insists that even though others around him smoked marijuana, he did not inhale.

Am I missing something?

Anyone who thinks that Washington will ever change is naive. Look into political history hundreds of years of historic politics, learn ..... only the skilled politicians will succeed in D.C.

The Chicago Tribune: "Beyond the heated sound bites is a story of a more complex relationship that long boosted Obama's political fortunes but now could prove a campaign liability. For years after Rezko befriended Obama in the early 1990s, he helped bankroll the politician's campaigns. Then, after Obama's election to the U.S. Senate, Rezko engaged him in private financial deals to improve their adjoining South Side properties. Those arrangements became a source of lingering controversy after the Tribune first reported them in November 2006.
Now Rezko's federal corruption trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 25. As Obama stumps for votes, coverage of the high-profile proceedings could bring fresh, unwelcome reminders for Obama of Rezko's influence in the same Illinois political world that propelled the senator to a serious run at the presidency."

I know Obama and Clinton are exactly the same both in their voting records and now in how they campaign. If Obama loses the nomination my second choice ought to be Hillary because of her close similarity in voting record with Obama but I simply cannot fathom handing control of this country to the Clinton's again. Since 1988 the Oval Office has been occupied by members of one of two political families. There is something almost unconstitutional about that but, it doesn't matter anyjmore. With all this bickering and slandering back in forth I am once again disengaged from the political process. Someone tell me, what's Britney been up to lately?

As an independent at this moment I wouldn't vote for either of these two. I'm so sick of the "business as usual" politics of making the other guy look bad. Start telling us what AND how you plan on fixing the mess this country is in and stop worrying about the other guy. Show us you can lead not slander and you'll get the votes.
Republicans and democrats have no clue what the people of this country want to see from them.

Micromanagers die quickly in our line of work, and if you have the lack of respect to allow those under you to shine forth with their expertise while not having enough of your own, you'd better hold all the spades in the Character department to ensure your team's success until you can get up to speed on knowledge.

Character is built upon the bedrock values of Honor and Integrity. Honor is showing others the respect they are due, even when they are disrespectful to you. Integrity is doing the right thing, in the right place, at the right time, regardless who's watching.

Partisan politics aside, military members don't really have cameras in their faces to get their views out, since MSM has been ordered to refocus/ divert the masses' collective attention. (See, the war over here has taken the back seat to the more pressing issues of Britney, Lindsay, OJ, et. al.) We have our duties, and then we have our families to consider. We try to ensure both are covered, but we sure could use the help of our fellow Americans to really investigate the candidates and ensure we get the right mix of person who is going to be smart on both the foreign policy and domestic policy portions of the Office.

Even though we are serving a world away and at times it seems our interests have taken the backseat until it is politically convenient to drag out the troops as a backdrop for a speech or a point of pity for a sound-bite, we trust you all to lay aside the polls, group-think, tradition, and whatever else may be binding your individual and collective minds to carry our voice forward. Measure Experience by the points I've made, and judge the candidates, all the candidates, evenly and not with clouded hearts. Your Soldiers are counting on you the way you depend on us to keep you free and without concern for your safety so you can have genuine debates and free thoughts. Don't waste the time or the chance to make us the great country your Servicemembers are fighting for.

To compare the Clintons deceptions vis a vis Obamas statements on the Reagan Legacy to Obamas pointing out that she was for NAFTA before she was against it truly is a stretch. Bill signed NAFTA into Law and if she was so much in the loop in 1994 then she should have heard the issues; Thats what experience is for.

I have always taught my children that if you make a statement intentionally leaving someone with a false impression that is a LIE, and further that if I cannot believe you then what difference does it make what you say. The Clintons have a legacy of parsing statments and obfuscating to get around factul inconveniences, as does Bush, which is why I have pretty much tuned them out..

The country, if not the world, has lost confidence in the veracity of the US Government, principally the Executive and this election must restore that confidence.

To an extent I will make my decision on the integrity of the candidate rather than their policy statements. Obama and Edwards I could get behind, but if it comes down to it I could not support the Clinton against McCain. While I dont agree with his policies at least I could believe the man. As for the rest of the Republican field, they leave me feeling like an encounter with a used car lot. (apologies to auto resellers everywhere). I guessif it comes down to a choice between Hillary and one of the other GOPs I may move to Canada.

Just my Musings.

Greatly appreciate your parsing the details for us who don't follow this minute-to-minute. Thanks for not grandstanding with your opinions, just giving us the data we need to decide upon whom we choose.
J Dollenmayer