TOPIC

SUMMARY

TURD RATING

Reverses long-held position on key FISA Bill

FISA stands for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

In August 2007, Obama voted against the the Protect America Act, described on the Senate site as " A bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to provide additional procedures for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence information and for other purposes."

In July, 2008, a bill is currently before the Senate that supports Bush’s warrantless wiretapping of American Citizens, and grants retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that may have participated in the Administration's warrantless wiretapping of American citizens. 

While many Democratic Senators stand strong on their commitment to vote against government spying, Obama announced plans to support the bill currently before him in the Senate.

Lies about historic support for Gun Control

In 1996, Obama’s handwriting appears on the survey that he completed upon entry into the Illinois State senate.  On the survey, he identifies his position on gun control as being supportive of bans on the sale, possession, and manufacture of guns.

In 2007, Obama supported the Washington, DC gun ban as an example of the government’s rights to impose “reasonable regulations” for controlling guns.

In 2008, when the Supreme Court struck down the same Washington DC ban on handguns, Obama issued a carefully worded written statement that applauded the court for providing "much-needed guidance to local jurisdictions" on gun rights.

Blatantly lies about intention to support Public Campaign Financing

In Feb, 2007, Obama is quoted as saying "If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election."

He claimed that support for Public Financing helped to reduce the influence of moneyed special interests.  This was a key tenet of the “new politics” that helped gain current status as the “presumptive Democratic nominee”.  Removal of special interests form government influence is a cornerstone of the "new politics" and change that he has promised.

In June, 2008, Obama has completely backed out on this commitment, feeling too limited by the $85 million limit that comes along with it.

Reverses long-held position on Separation of Church and State

Obama has historically been a supporter of the traditional liberal view calling for a strong separation of church and state. In a speech he gave in 2007, he reiterated its importance: “For my friends on the right, I think it would be helpful to remember the critical role that the separation of church and state has played in preserving not only our democracy but also our religious practice.” 

In June, 2008, Obama now calls for expanding Faith based initiatives, and expanding, rather than disbanding, George Bush’s Office of Faith Based Iniatives, saying that it would be central to his administration. 

Who want's Obama's Reverend Wright-inspired religious beliefs in the white house - anybody?

Lies and Deceives about Support for NAFTA

In a televised debate in February 26, 2008, Obama criticizes NAFTA , and indicates that he would threaten to pull the U.S. out of NAFTA unless Canada and Mexico agree to new terms:

Shortly after, Goolsbee, a top staff member for Obama's campaign telephoned Michael Wilson, Canada's ambassador to the United States, and warned him that Obama would speak out against NAFTA, but reassured Wilson that the criticisms would only be campaign rhetoric, and should not be taken at face value.

Claiming in an interview that this such a discussion never happened, Obama defiantly declares   “It did not happen”.

Shortly after, Associated Press publishes an internal memo from the Canadian confirming the communication of the Obama campaign with their Canadian government where they are asked to disregard Obama’s critical message about NAFTA.

The Anti-War candidate suddenly and persistently hedges on Troop Withdrawal from Iraq

Lies about the role one town played in his life

Obama lies to a Selma, Alabama audience, saying that his parents met during the famous Selma civil rights demonstration, and that meeting ultimately led to his conception.

"There was something stirring across the country because of what happened in Selma, Alabama," he said, "because some folks are willing to march across a bridge.  So they got together and Barack Obama Jr. was born.  So don't tell me I don't have a claim on Selma, Alabama.  Don't tell me I'm not coming home to Selma, Alabama"

The Selma march occurred in 1965, and Obama was born in 1961, exposing his blatant and embarrassing lie.

Lies about ever having supported Single Payer Health Insurance

In 2003,  Obama claimed to the AFL/CIO to be a supporter of single payer system. Obama is quoted as saying the following, to gain the union's support:  “I happen to be a proponent of single-payer universal healthcare coverage.  That’s what I’d like to see.”

Barack Obama said the following during a televised debate on January 21, 2008, "I never said that we should try to go ahead and get single-payer."

Lies and misrepresentations about his Muslim origins

On the topic of Obama's Muslim background, his campaign put out this statement: "To be clear, Senator Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised a Muslim, and is a committed Christian who attends the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago."

Shortly after, the Obama campaign offered a clarifying statement to the NY Times:

"Obama has never been a practicing Muslim."  The statement added that as a child, Obama had spent time in the neighborhood's Islamic center.

In truth, Obama was born to a Muslim father, and attended a Muslim school in Indonesia, where he studied the Quran.  Whether he ever practiced or not, and it appears that he did at one point, being a Muslim is his birthright by the tenets of the religion. The large Muslim world outside of the US is well aware of this.

Falsely and frequently refers to himself as a Law Professor

Obama often referred to himself as a law professor, before he was called finally called on the misrepresentation

In truth, Obama is not a law professor, but rather a "Senior Lecturer (on leave of absence)" at the University of Chicago Law School.  There is a huge difference between an actual tenured professor and an instructor, lecturer or assistant professor.

Reverses record on Late-term Abortion

Obama’s stance on abortion has been historically unwavering until recently. In the Illinois state senate in 2002, Obama voted against the Induced Infant Liability Act, which would have protected babies that survived late-term abortions.  In a speech earlier this year, he coined the phrase “punished by a baby” to describe his feelings about the need to protect abortion in this society.
Consistent with his record, last year, after the Supreme Court upheld a federal ban on late-term abortions, Obama said he "strongly disagreed" with the Supreme Court’s ruling.

In May, 2008, NARAL endorsed Obama over Clinton, despite Clinton's long and prolific work to protect abortion rights.

However, in April, in a stark reversal of his lifelong position on abortion, he actually sought to NARROW the exceptions left open by the Supreme Court regarding late-term abortions. When pressed on the issue of this  health care “loophole” left open by the Supreme Court, he is quoted as saying "Now, I don't think that 'mental distress' qualifies as the health of the mother. I think it has to be a serious physical issue that arises in pregnancy, where there are real, significant problems to the mother carrying that child to term."

Abortion advocates, and women's rights advocates in general, are very firm that mental health issues must be taken in the same manner that physical health issues are considered in the ruling.  
 

Veterans Health Benefits

Lies about how his father arrived in the US. Obama claims that the Kennedy's were made it happen.

More Lies about his family - this one to try to smooth over his own lack of military service

In May, 2008, in a town hall meeting in New Mexico in 2008, Obama  claims that while he has never served in the military,  his family has a distinguished history of serving. He offered as an example his uncle as being part of the first American Troops sent to liberate Auschwitz, and upon returning from war, his uncle spent six months in an attic.

The story is historically impossible, as American Troops did not liberate Auschwitz, but the Russian Troops did.