Barack Obama's self-evaluation: Is he right?

On Monday, before the Democratic political universe remade itself once again, ABC's "Good Morning America" aired an interview with Barack Obama. Asked about the now-legendary "3 a.m." Hillary Clinton ad, Obama gave the answer he and his campaign quickly had settled on after the spot hit the airwaves late last week -- that voters should focus on a candidate's judgment, not experience.

Asked what prepared him to make the right calls, he had this to say: "I think it's a matter of temperament. ... In difficult or stressful moments I don't get rattled."

Over the next month-and-a-half, as he and Clinton vie for advantage in Pennsylvania, we'll find out how true that is.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Sally]

Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term (6yrs.), and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law, (20) twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years.

These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress (www.thomas.loc.gov), but to save you trouble, I'll post them here for you.

1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Hon
4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6. Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea.
7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.
10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.
13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.
15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty.
Only five of Clinton's bills are more substantive:

16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.
17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11
18. Assist landmine victims in other countries.
19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.

There you have it-the facts straight from the Senate Record.

Now, I would post those of Obama's, but the list is too substantive, so I'll mainly categorize.

During the first (8) eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced:

233 regarding healthcare reform,
125 on poverty and public assistance,
112 crime fighting bills,
97 economic bills,
60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,
21 ethics reform bills,
15 gun control,
6 veterans affairs and many others.

His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These inculded:

**the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law),
**The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law),
**The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
**The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law),
**The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee), and many more

[Mandelay]

Obama's reference to "temperament" is so sexist ... is he that blind? Are we that blind?

[deeza]

Barack should announce his running mate and put a halt to the Hillary steam machine...Richardson should be his running mate or perhaps Caroline Kennedy...
If she steals the nomination I will never vote in another American election again...I am sure I am not alone...period! and I have voted since I was 18 and now I am in my early 40's. I

[Blunt Jackson]

Um, that library of congress link is great (although it should actually be: http://thomas.loc.gov ) -- however it does not exactly back up your claim. I don't know where you get these particular 20 bills for Clinton. LOC shows 153 for her, and 113 for Obama; and both Senators seem to have authored or sponsored serious, substantive legislation.

I'm an Obama supporter myself, but I think these are two great candidates, and disinformation does nobody a service.

[ThinkFast]

Sally (above)

Sponsoring and authoring bills are two different things. Your list is embellished and once again, as Obama does so constantly in his channeling act of MLK, JFK and Jefferson - he takes credit for other people's work and voices.

I think if you go to the Senate Record you will see that Senator Obama voted on these measures and did not "author" them or "sponsor". Wow. He would have to have SOME KIND of first year in DC power in to get and hold the floor for all of that bologna legislation you're passing for truth. I think he would have been in the news if he was on the floor for THAT much time. And everyone else would have gotten nothing done!

Oh boy. Sad. Tell me, did he have time to sleep? Or did he go sleepless for the entire year, too?

Yet another ill informed Obama-bot. Don't drink the Kool Aid. Take off the Nike's. The star ship is not coming.

[Justin]

Thank you, Sally. Now I have something to use in political arguments for Obama better than "he's a great public speaker and look at how everyone loves him!"

[Chuck Terzella]

Wait, you're saying that Clinton sponsored and passed all of the 20 bills she sponsored, and Obama sponsored over 800 and managed to get 3 passed?

Is this just me?

[Mary Hart]

I'm only voting for her because she's a woman and I think the country needs to become less sexist.

[Jay]

How did you come up with these numbers? Also, why do you say Senator Clinton has "managed to author and pass into law" but then switch the criteria to "sponsored" and "co-sponsored" for Senator Obama?

I think you are purposely skewing the number by using using different counting methods in favor of your canidate.

On thomas.loc.gov a simple name search for the current Congress returns more hits for Hillary as sponsor. A search of Bill Co-Sponser returns more results for Hillary. Going through past congresses, Hillary has sponsored or co-sponsored hundreds of bills as has Barack.

Please enlighten me with your search criteria.

End the Drama, Vote Obama!!!

[Marks]

Obama is on the right path if he continually says Clinton's. Hillary doesn't have 35 years experience alone. She's not independent of Bill at all.

Many supporters of Hillary say it plainly. She needs Bill or its a two for one deal.

Bill will interfere in White House policy and the Vice President is negatively affected by him. That Vice President will have to continually answer what Bill is doing or where he went.

Obama has to say Clinton's when referencing them, because he is running against both.

He should also stop mentioning the delegate lead and stay confident everyone knows he is leading.

It's a race in every state, voters appreciate the process because it means something.

He did just fine, Clinton's wins were yesterday already.

[fredricwilliams]

Hillary has no significant experience in managing a country -- or a state -- or a county -- or a city. Neither does Obama.

Legislators are lawyers, not managers or executives. Their experience in passing laws is relevant, but not critical. That is why Ronald Reagan (never lawyer or legislator) or Dwight Eisenhower could succeed as leaders.

If Hillary is right, and experience is critical -- then simple logic says we should vote for John McCain. He has more experience in Washington and is the only one of the three with ANY military experience. He, too, however, is only a legislator.

Hillary is trying to trade on living at the White House as the rough equivalent of running the country. It ain't. Barack is trying to persuade us that a pretty face, a confident pose, and dreams are enough to pull the nation out of a ditch. Maybe.

All three will follow policies not greatly different from those of the much-reviled George Bush. Looks like a good time to not vote.

[Levi T]

Sally--

That post is either pathetically ill-informed, or malicious.

If it is the first, I pity you.

However, your words are parsed carefully enough that I can assume you are not an idiot. Therefore shame on you.

Also, those of you who threaten never to vote again if Hillary wins, please: grow up, read a civics text book, and extract yourself from the dogmatic trance.

Is this the kind of change we can believe in?

[Paul]

Obama supporters sound incredibly hateful. Why does
he attract such hateful people? All the lies about Clinton ar getting a bit old, too. Her life has been an open book, more than any other American., so anybody who has followed Clinton the past 10-20 years knows better.
Its a shame Obama supporters are so ignorant.

Just curious, what's the hate you hear there?)

[Tom J]

Paul,
"Open book" would include:
1) tax returns
2) earmarks
3) donors to the Clinton Library and Foundation
4) First Lady papers

NONE of those have been released. All we've received are excuses, lies and spin.

If you claim to be seeing ignorant voters, perhaps it's because you're looking in a mirror.

[ken]

vote republican-they are going to win.. you all know it (give up already) hillary supporter

[Alexandra P]

Ok, concerned about the economy, let's look at how the WAR IN IRAQ is affecting the US economy...

$3,000,000,000 - that's $3 BILLION dollars PER WEEK ! that's the amount we're paying today to continue the war – money that can be used here, at home.

Add to this:
I
nterest (because we're financing the war with borrowed money through government treasuries)

Higher oil and energy prices. Instability in Iraq is adding roughly 30 dollars per barrel as a premium.

Higher oil prices mean demand shifts to other sources of energy like nat gas, coal, etc. and greater demand will raise the equilibrium price of other sources of energy -- Can you say high energy bills?

Higher oil prices (a raw material used in the production of many goods, fertilizers, gasoline, diesel, plastics, etc.) mean higher prices of goods and services -- Can you say INFLATION?

Higher oil prices mean a higher trade deficit because most of our oil comes from foreign sources. A higher trade deficit means more money is leaving the country than is coming into the country -- Can you say 'Goodbye money!'

Our dollar is weak, weak, weak. Since we have a trade deficit, the value of goods and services we import exceeds the value of goods we export. You know that foreign car you're thinking of buying or the computer you're using, or that trip abroad you've been thinking of taking....well, guess what? It's going to cost more, Ceteris Peribus, because the dollar is weak, weak, weak.

Lastly, how do you think the world views our country because of this war? The evidence was weak and circumstantial, yet we rushed into war with Iraq while our enemy was in other countries. -- Can you say goodbye to trust building with other countries?

[Avant Strangel]

Hillary is going to dangle I'd "let" Obama be V.P. to make it look like she's trying to play nice and create the illusion she's in control. it's like that person that acting like they doesn't want to sleep with you because they know you aren't interested. She's hoping that's going to create pressure for Obama to play nice. But I think Hillary going down for 2 reasons:

1.) the numbers for her to top bill and confidence in her is not what it was before.
2.) Now Obama's gonna start playing rough.

The Obama campaign manager basically said in so many words.... they wanted to take it there so now we'll go there.... [insert image of pimp slap hand coming down with meteor like force]
because if you want to start talking about experience let's take a closer look at Hillary. for the most part Obama refused to go in that direction now it's like.. foreign policy? WHAT foreign policy? You wanna talk about ETHICS.... she can't even open her tax returns.

I feel a can of whoop a$$ comin.

Btw an Ticket with Obama and Clinton can't work because of Bill as well as the fact Hillary represent everything that's WRONG with Washington. She's in the pocket of lobbyists. And how would it look if he starts.. for lack of a better word "sleeping with the enemy?" His message would be completely lost and invalidated. He'd neutralize and neuter himself if he sold his soul to that devil.

Any vote that is going to put the Clintons back in office you can count me OUT. I don't reward bad behavior

She has less elective experience. her tactics are divisive, she flaunts the rules, she's mismanaged her campaign on a tactical, strategic, management AND fiscal level. she was financially irresponsible and that's just with her campaign.

Her stance of fighting is just that. she'll be fighting and i don't think she'll get anything done. Obama will build consensus and heal the rift between the 2 parties. why isn't the focus America instead of republican, democrat (and in the future independent?)

Hillary has got a serial sexual harrasser as a sidekick and they've got a trail and scandal following them, they'll do anything for a buck, they are in the lobbyists pockets and if you pay they'll play.

[AfroBaby]

Senator Clinton's experience miscalculation:
19 years of First lady experience + 7 years as senator =26 years, Not 35 years! Only 7 years in elected office.

-1974 Failed District of Columbia bar exam and settled for
marrying Bill Clinton
-1975 Faculty of University of Arkansas Law school
-1977-1992 Rose law firm (patent infringement and
intellectual property)
-1978-Cattlegate (Hillary Clinton invested $1,000 on the
advice of a friend who worked as an attorney for
Tyson Foods, which netted $100,000 in 10
months)
-Whitewater Scandal
-1979-81, 83-92 First Lady of Arkansas (11 years)
-1992-2000 U.S. First Lady(8 years)
-1993 Universal health care (Hillarycare)
-Travelgate
-Filegate
-2001 to present, New York senator(7 years)
-2002 Voted yes to start war in Iraq
-2008 Refuses to release her income tax return

[beetle]

"Hillary has no significant experience in managing a country -- or a state -- or a county -- or a city. Neither does Obama. "

People seem to forget that Hillary spent 8 years in the Whitehouse functioning in part as a political advisor to the president. To claim that she lacks experience is crazy. She's been politically involved at the highest levels since 1992!

Barack Obama was hailed as an exciting young newcomer in the democratic party..... 2 years ago!!!!!

[Judy]

I fail to see how a reference to one's temperament is sexist. I doubt those women serving this country in Iraq get rattled easily, either. If Sen. Clinton gets riled up quickly, that obviously reflects on her, not women in general.

People who vote based on race or gender because they just want a woman are really being immature and need to step aside so the grown-ups can decide this election.

[Ernie]

Clinton as the nominee gives the Republicans the best chance of winning because there are so many people who wil NEVER vote for another Clinton.

[MinisterDjehuty]

Obama supporters are hateful??? (Obama supporters sound incredibly hateful Posted by: Paul | March 05, 2008 at 08:08 PM) The hate and negative comments of the supporters seem to be coming from both sides. What is truly shameful is that Hillary has now decided to run a negative campaign that smacks of hate. Some people will do anything and say anything to get what they want. Shame on you Hillary.

[mary]

Yes, he self-evaluation is true. You do not see him filled with red-faced anger like his rivals the Clintons no matter how much they lie about him or bash him. He remains calm, cool and unaffected.

Angry people make mistakes, sometimes deadly ones. He is not afraid to talk to leaders of other nations~he won't apt to be screaming at them in rage for waking him at 3AM as would Clinton who is always angry about something.

Hillary constantly complains about how hard eveything is her campaign, her work, so her phone call think is but one more charade. She would be livid if the phone woke her at 3AM. Besides according to Governor of PA she could not file on time due to snow, so god help us up the 3AM call came during a blizzard, she would not be ready to take action.

She is scary in her hatred of everyone; Obama loves people and won't be apt to blow the world up in a moment of "I am so tired, I work so hard and the (insert cuss words) woke me at 3AM. SHAME ON THEM" Clinton moment.

[alice]

"Obama's reference to "temperament" is so sexist ... is he that blind? Are we that blind" Posted by: Mandelay | March 05, 2008 at 06:52 PM

Yikes Madelay, that comment is so sexist and hateful. People of both genders have temperaments, so how can it be sexists. He tells the truth, his personality shows in his actions in the past year. You never hear him whining about how hard he works, nor complaining about the constant rabid attack dogs~the Clintons.

He chalks it up to normal dirty politics and still shows her courtesy and respect. A lesser man would be ranting about her WI and NH mailers as well as her latest ads colorizing his skin to make him look blacker.

Of course, perhaps he chuckles in private over her desperation to win at all costs, even pandering to white racists fears. How low will she go?

[HM]

Mandelay: Are you really being serious that his reference to temperament is sexist? As a woman I'm beginning to get sick of people crying sexism all the time. There is still so much sexism left in the world, let's try and keep the outcries to what's really sexist. I have a temperament, Hillary has a temperament. Obama is drawing a comparison between his temperament and Hillary's temperament, that's all, nothing gendered in it.

[Tracy]

Is it true that Obama does NOT support the American Flag?

(No. That was an internet myth attached to a photo of him at Sen. Harkin's picnic last summer. He had his hand over his heart for the Pledge but chose not to for the Anthem, like many. Previously, he'd stopped wearing a flag pin on his lapel, which is his right.)

[mary]

"Barack should announce his running mate and put a halt to the Hillary steam machine...Richardson should be his running mate or perhaps Caroline Kennedy.." Posted by: deeza | March 05, 2008 at 06:58 PM

Richardson is in the Clinton loyalty club, so no thanks. I am looking for new government where political favors are owed to we, the citizens, not DC and lobbyists buddies.

The former Ms. Kennedy is sweet, but I doubt she would be interested in the job. A VP has to be ready to take over if the President dies or is impeached, ya see. That is why Bush was untouchable, who would want Cheney as President?

Obama has shown excellent judgment by thinking of long term ramifications of actions, not blindly following leaders in DC. I am sure he will do likewise if and when the time arrives to name his VP.

Governor Sebelieus has shown herself to be a capable leader in DC and I would love to see her as his VP. Like Obama her ideals match my own. And like Obama she has a good temperament; she does not base actions on fear and anger.

Hillary is quite lucky to be a privileged white women and does not have to campaign under constant death threats; you know all that ugly KKK mail and comments. She would fall apart in a quick minute if she were under the pressure being calmly faced by Michelle and Barack.

[alice]

"I'm an Obama supporter myself, but I think these are two great candidates, and disinformation does nobody a service". Posted by: Blunt Jackson | March 05, 2008 at 07:00 PM

I agree that the first comment can not be easily verified and has nothing to do with answering a call at 3AM.

I know Hillary voted yes to the Iran Resolution and Senator Obama wrote the counter resolution to slow down a rush into Iran. Iraq was a big mistake and Iran will be even worse. I also know Clinton approves of cluster bombs in civilian areas.

This attitude is what puts we, the people in grave danger. Thus far we have been lucky. The little guys fight back against our military might in the only way they can by becoming what we call terrorists. China and Russia have cautioned us about invading Iran and bombing another country with Clinton or McCain could break the world camels back. Heaven help us if all nations rise up to squash the bully and imperialistic USA.

I prefer Obama's co-sponsoring OPEN Government Act of 2007 with 17 bipartisan workers in Congress. He works well with a team and in conjunction with Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, they made the USA Spending website a reality.

Clinton on the other hand believes the government has to lie to the people, as she stated in an early debate. Her non-disclosure trouble with the law and her inability to gtr Bill to unseal her White House memos shows she is into secrets, not transparency among those we hire to work for us.

She even admitted in a debate that the reason she could not get her health INSURANCE plan passed in 8 years of trying, was she was secretive and refused to compromise. We can be assured at 3AM she would shake Bill awake and ask him what she should do. She follows men's lead in her voting records.

[XERXES]

3 BILLION PER WEEK. THAT'S NOT ALL WERE PAYING! WHAT ABOUT THE RESIDUAL COST TO TAKE CARE OF THE INJURED AND MAIMED AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY IMPARED THAT WILL RETURN FROM WAR. WHAT ABOUT THE COST OF THE FUNERALS AND THE COST OF TAKING CARE OF THE WIDOWS/ERS AND THEIR CHILDREN? WILL THE MULTI BILLION $$$ PROFITING OIL CO.'S HELP? WHAT ABOUT HALIBURTON AND BLACK WATER? WILL THEY TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY? AND WHAT ABOUT BUSH? HOW MUCH WILL HE CONTRIBUTE TO PUTTING THINGS BACK TOGETHER AFTER HE'S DONE SCREWING THINGS UP? WE WILL BE PAYING FOR THIS TRAGEDY FOR YEARS TO COME, EVEN IF IT WERE OVER YESTERDAY! THANKS A BUNCH!

[alice]

"Obama supporters sound incredibly hateful. ... Her life has been an open book, more than any other American., so anybody who has followed Clinton the past 10-20 years knows better. Its a shame Obama supporters are so ignorant." Posted by: Paul | March 05, 2008 at 08:08 PM

2nd part of that is true. That is what makes people so terrified of her and Bill. Just her big lie, repeated often about '35 years experience' parroted by many, who are truly ignorant. Do the math. She was 25 when that 35 years of experience began and it has nothing to do with public service. It includes being a public defender who choose her career over the life of a 12 year old girl.

Paints her as a vixen who came on to the older man that raped her? She has many scandals involved in her corporate law years; yes, some of us remember all the drama during the Clinton years; others bash people calling them "hateful" and "ignorant".

I have been reading comments for months now. Like with Clinton's "shame on you" Barack attack, her followers have 3 fingers pointing back at them. It is they who are angry, hateful and most seem incapable of logic and reason. A Bush/Clinton dynasty in DC? Even 19 years do not want that.

The first comment shows that even Obama supporters will send forwarded emails without checking the claims. Much of what is said in that one is true, unlike those nasty things circulated about Obama.

The message in the email was not approved by Senator Obama; it is not his style to do anything but compliment Hillary on her work in DC. They were among 8 who co-sponsored the Election Fraud Prevention Act. He does not disrespect her as she does him. His supporters should follow his lead, not succumb to her tactics.

[Douglas Merriweather]

All this criticism of Obama is making me sick. There now seems to be a mandate in the press to make Obama and his supporters look brain dead, like mindless sheep mealy following an empty ideal with no substance - this couldn't be further from the truth. We need change in this country, now more than ever. We never wanted to fight, we wanted to bring a unity to the people, a fundamental shift from the old ways of politics to the new. Reading these comments, I can see we are clearly getting off message, walking away from what made us strong, and being sucked into the negativity of politics past.

[Kyle]

I am a 54 year old Democrat. I am degreed in Pol Sci and Economics. I have not voted since the late 90's because I became embarrassed and offended by the politics of manipulation that are again surfacing, not to mention Blowjobs in the White House. Yuck, not this again!

[You must be kidding]

"I'm only voting for her because she's a woman and I think the country needs to become less sexist."

Mary Hart - this STATEMENT is sexist. To vote for someone based solely on their gender is very sexist. Gender bias, racial bias, it all comes down to the same thing - bigotry. You're no better than someone saying they would vote for McCain or Obama because they're men.

This attitude is what is, ironically, splitting the white female vote. Old school white feminists who put forth their historical 'victimhood' as an argument for political entitlement. White men and blacks (both men AND women) get excoriated by them for trying to play these identity politics. Why should Clinton get a free pass just because she happens to be a woman? I want the best candidate, not bragging rights to the White House. Those days are over, we have to pay our bills and win back world confidence.

[adamerio]

As a young American, currently living abroad, I will admit that I have an interesting view of the race right now. The way I see it, and based on my talks with many other people, Obama doesn't have experience on the national level. Clinton has experience on the national level. But lest we forget that so did Cheney and Rumsfeld? And, when stacked up against McCain on experience, the Democrats shrivel in comparison.

Personally, my vote is for Obama for a myriad of reasons. You may believe that I, like Obama, am young, naive, and inexperienced. But it's my friends, my classmates fighting for the mistakes of previous generations, as did my father's generation. Obama represents more than just himself. He's begun to represent an idea. Ideas are much harder to stop than a person. And perhaps, a few new ideas are exactly what the nation needs right now...

[Jenna]

Sally, step away from the kool-aid, it's starting to stain your lips. Your list is inaccurate at best and a down right lie at worst.

**The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate
You can't give Obama credit for voting for immigration reform without giving Hillary the same credit. She voted for it too.

**The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law)
The ethics bill that passed was not authored by Obama. Both Obama and Hillary voted for the successful bill, which was authored by Harry Reid.

**The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee)
This bill was authored by Barney Frank in the house. How can you give him credit for a bill that hasn't even been voted on, in the Senate? Pretty pathetic if this is what you are touting as reasons to vote for Obama.

[ma mariano]

Jack Smith said: "Dear Madam, and Sir,

A Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama ticket is what we want."

No thank you. That is not what I want. If Obama was to ask her to be his running mate, I would question his sanity. He was asked almost a year ago about VP and his answer was: I am running for President. The day before the mood swing Clinton said, hint, hint 'dream ticket', she said even McCain is better than Obama. Is anyone paying attention?