April 16, 2008...12:51 am
Some of Barack Obama’s accomplishments (UPDATED)
The most interesting thing of this breakdown, for me, is the idea of anyone purchasing firearms to meet with a law enforcement officer. On one hand I would think many gun owners and certainly those who make gun owner’s rights a key voting issue are not opposed to law enforcement. Those who tote guns and hate authority aren’t always voting, I presume. I could be wrong.
At the same time the Founding Fathers’ intent with the 2nd Amendment truly was to protect us from the government. In fact, the entire Bill of Rights is comprised of protections from the government. Many Americans confuse this to mean it also protects them from private citizens. I can certainly put a metal detector in the front of my building to prevent people from carrying in firearms, I can limit your freedom of speech by cutting you off on my privately-owned radio station. There are many instances where citizens confuse the Bill of Rights to be a list of protections from everyone.
Most likely to be distorted by the media from all of this information would be his position on immigration. Because of the stigma of the divisive issue and a stagnant Congress, any mention of immigration draws immediate mental ties to illegal immigrants. This position is for education and outreach for immigrants. Federal programs can screen and only work for those in this country by state-sponsored programs. I’m a fan of his position, but I bet this will be distorted when the race is down to two candidates.
- He has also worked on death penalty reform in Illinois, for example the mandatory recording of all interrogations of suspects in capital crimes. Requiring recordings when the death penalty on the line is always going to be in the best interest of justice.
- After all Senator McCain’s years in the Senate fighting lobbyists and standing up against earmarks, it was Senator Obama who co-sponsored a bipartisan bill to reform ethics and lobbying in Washington. I respect Senator McCain’s efforts, but this is a true response to criticisms that Barack Obama hasn’t reached across the aisle or worked on any landmark legislation. In an election season where even the Republicans claim to be selling change, ethics reform and limiting lobbyists’ access to legislators are a major action for positive change.
- Another bipartisan effort of Obama’s would create an internet database of federal spending. This is a great step for transparency and true accountability in government. I don’t know how anyone could really be against such a thing, especially in an age when the amount of pork-barrel spending nationally is estimated to be $29 billion.
- Washington State for Obama 08 also has a great pdf flyer available for download here, it details his work during his years in the state and federal government. Rather than spin and punditry, here’s what he’s worked for and gotten accomplished.
During his time in the United States Senate, Obama has co-authored two landmark pieces of legislation. Hillary Clinton, having been in the Senate for twice as long has the same number of sponsored bills. One of Obama’s major credits is a bipartisan ethics reform bill. Oddly enough he’s running to change Washington’s lack of ethics and respect for the American people. His critics say he hasn’t worked across the aisle, and that his views of changing Washington are a “fairy tale” and yet his record speaks for itself.
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