A BARACK-AND-FORTH VOTER

[bijou]

Before he was against riverside gambling, Barack Obama was for it.

When a controversial bill allowing riverboat casinos to operate at dockside came before him in 1997, it passed the Illinois Senate - despite vocal opposition from many church groups - by a two-vote margin.

Among those who voted "yes" was Obama, then starting his first term as a state senator.

Moments after voting to authorize the bill, the Democrat told the floor he had goofed.

"I'd like to be recorded as a 'no' vote," he said, according to transcripts, adding that he had mistakenly voted in favor of the legislation.

By claiming to have made an error, Obama's "intent" to vote against the measure was noted in the record. But his initial "yes" stood.

Obama made six similar "mistakes" during his state Senate years, twice on hotly contested measures.

Whether those errors were by design, as his critics charge, or by accident, as his presidential campaign insists, Obama's desire to placate both sides on contentious issues is a hallmark of his lawmaking career.

...

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02172008/news/nationalnews/a_barack_and_forth_voter_98054.htm

Looks like Obama can't even master voting let alone governing.

[Baruch Menachem]

OK, so is he inept or venial.  Should we make this a poll where you can do multiple responses?

[Splashdown]

At least the vote wasn't "present"!