What about RON PAUL!!! He is still in the running, is from Texas and is very conservative!! I expected that every candidate running would be discussed.

Rita Miller
Chem E
c/o 2003

Youth support for this campaign is HUGE this election year. I encourage every college student to vote, no matter who you support, to let America know that we have a voice and care about what happens to our country!

Peter Wallsten, a Los Angeles Times staff writer, wrote an article on Jan. 24, 2008 entitled, "Obama said oops on 6 state Senate votes. I was interested in reading it because Obama didn't go to Washington to cast a vote on the Iran resolution, which he had spoken out about it. When a reporter asked him why he missed that important vote, he apologized for it and dropped the subject.

Since many people may not have read the article, following is most of it.:

Barack Obama angered fellow Democrats in the Illinois Senate when he voted to strip millions of dollars from a child welfare office on Chicago's West Side. But Obama had a ready explanation. He goofed. "I was not aware that I had voted no, "he said that day in June 2002, asking that the record be changed to reflect that he "intended to vote yes."

The rules allow state lawmakers to clear up a mishap if they suffered from a momentary case of stumbly fingers or a lapse of attention. But some lawmakers say the practice also offers a relatively painless way to placate both sides of a difficult issue. Even if a lawmaker admits an error, the actual vote stands and the official record merely shows the senator's "intent."

Four of Obama's admitted flubs drew little controversy. On March 19, 1997, he announced he had fumbled an election-reform vote the day before, on a measure that passed 51 to 6. "I was trying to vote yes on this, and I was recorded as a no," he said. The next day, he acknowledged voting "present on a key telecommunications vote. He stood on March 11, 1999, to take back his vote against legislation to end good-behavior credits for certain felons in county jails. "I pressed the wrong button on that," he said.

Obama was the lone dissenter on Feb. 24, 2000, against 57 years for a ban on human cloning. "I pressed the wrong button by accident," he said. But two of Obama's bumbles came on more-sensitive topics. On Nov. 14, 1997, he backed legislation to permit riverboat casinos to operate even when the boats were dockside. The measure, pushed by the gambling industry and fought by church groups whose support Obama was seeking, passed with two "yeas" to spare – including Obama's. Moments after its passage he rose to say, "I'd like to be recorded as a no vote," explaining that he had mistakenly voted for it...The senator who led the opposition to the gambling measure, Republican Todd Sieben, said he took Obama at his word that the initial vote was an error. But Sieben also said the thin margin of victory was a sign that perhaps there was more to the vote than met the eye. "He was obviously paying attention to this vote. It was a major, major issue in the state, and it was a long debate," Sieben said. "The inadvertent Oops, I missed the switch – I'd be kind of skeptical of that."

On June 11, 2002, Obama's vote sparked a confrontation after he joined Republicans to block Democrats trying to override a veto by GOP Gov. George Ryan of a $2-million allotment for the West Chicago child welfare office. Shortly afterward, Obama chastised Republicans for their "sanctimony" in claiming that only they had the mettle to make tough choices in a tight budget year. And he called for "responsible budgeting". A fellow Democrat suddenly seethed with anger. "You got a lot of nerve to talk about being responsible," said Sen. Rickey Hendon, accusing Obama of voting to close the child welfare office. Obama replied right away. "I understand Sen. Hendon's anger...I was not aware that I had voted no on that last – last piece of legislation," he said.

The article ends with Hendon saying he is supporting the senator all the way. He said, "it happens" that senators press the wrong button. But he was quick to add: "I've never done it."


Since day one, Obama has been pounding on Hillary by saying, "I have always been against the war and Hillary voted for it." However, many voters think he voted against it and are supporting him for that reason. He didn't vote against it because he wasn't a U. S. Senator in 2002. Speaking out against and voting against are two different things. Now, that he is a U. S. Senator, he spoke out against the IRAN resolution because he thought it was the same as the the Iraq resolution and would give Bush approval to take military action against IRAN. When the IRAN resolution came up for a vote, he chose to stay on the campaign trail and miss that important vote. So, what we have is that he spoke out against the IRAN resolution and didn't vote against it when he was eligible to vote. That, coupled with his "oops" votes and "present" votes in the Illinois Senate, leads me to believe that he has been deliberately dodging controversial issues in Illinois and Washington in his preparedness to run for President. We all know that it is very difficult for a U. S. Senator to run for President because opponents are quick to criticize votes they have made in Congress. And that was one of the first things he did to Hillary. In both Senates, he has been basing some of his votes on his personal goal of becoming President instead voting for or against what is best for the people. Unfortunately, it looks like it might work.

Please drop Ron Paul. He is out of the race, and has been out of the race for a long time now. He never had a chance.

Thanks & Gig Em