RNC Challenges Obama Ad
The Republican National Committee responded to Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill) new television ad by pointing out he takes credit for winning passage of a bill that he didn't even vote on.
"The fact that in the first ad of the general election Barack Obama cites a bill he didn't vote for is indicative of how little he has accomplished as a legislator," said Katie Wright, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committeee.
In the ad, which starts airing in Virginia and 17 other states today, Obama talks about his efforts to expand health care for wounded U.S. troops.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Obama helped author the legislation, but missed the final vote in the Senate in January because he was campaigning in South Carolina.
"Virginians deserve better than a typical politician who says what is most politically expedient," Wright said of Obama. "They deserve a strong leader that has the true experience to solve the problems facing Virginia."
Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, also missed the vote, according to the Tribune.
By
Tim Craig
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June 20, 2008; 11:50 AM ET
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Tim Craig
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Posted by: oh please | June 20, 2008 3:50 PM | Report abuse
From Weekly Standard Blog:
"So Obama's new ad, the first of the general election, "cites Public Law 110-181 when he talks about his efforts to extend 'health care for wounded troops who'd been neglected.'" The problem? Obama never showed up to the vote. He was actually too busy campaigning to make it back to Washington to vote for the bill, but wants the American people to think he deserves the credit. Sounds a lot like the 2005 Energy Bill, which Obama has the gall to attack John McCain on even though the junior senator from Illinois voted for it and McCain voted against it."
Check out the vote roll here: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 110th Congress - 2nd Session
UPDATE I: OBAMA NEEDS TO EXPLAIN HOW HE HELPED WOUNDED TROOPS
UPDATE II:A poster at Daily Kos attempted to defend Obama, but towards the end of the post, notes that Obama offered two amendments that dealt with medical and mental health assessments and a temporary moratorium on discharges for personality disorders... but neither amendment was considered for a vote. Link.
www.obamasgaffes.blogspot.com
Posted by: john galt | June 21, 2008 8:25 PM | Report abuse
Hey, you'd pad your resume too if it was as thin as Obama's. Luckily, even Washington Post interns have more accomplishments.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 23, 2008 7:12 PM | Report abuse
The bill passed by a wide margin.
Not unusual for Senate candidates to miss votes while campaigning.
Posted by: Mr. Unite Us | June 24, 2008 1:28 AM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
If the man helped author the legislation then surely he deserves some credit on it, whether he was able to vote on its final passage or not...especially since the reason he didn't vote was because out campaigning!
The RNC is sickening.