Obama Rated As Most Liberal US Senator Of All

[John317]

http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/lib_cons.htm?o1=lib_composite&o2=desc

National

Journal Group

Senate Composite Scores

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Searchable Vote Ratings

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How The Vote Ratings Are Calculated

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Key Votes: Senate · House

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PREVIOUS 2007 COVERAGE:

Obama: Most Liberal Senator In 2007

In the following list, senators^ are ranked according to their overall composite liberal or conservative scores based on National Journal's 2007 vote ratings. To see all the liberal scores used to determine the liberal composite score, click here. To see all the conservative scores used to determine the composite conservative score, click here.

You can sort the ratings from most or least liberal to conservative, and vice versa.

How To Read These Ratings

A score of 78 on the liberal scale, for example, means that the senator was more liberal than 78 percent of his or her Senate colleagues on key votes during 2007. "*" means the member missed more than half of the rated votes. "†" denotes members who are no longer in the Senate. In the event of a tie, scores are ordered alphabetically first by state delegation, then by individual members' names.

About these ratings

You are viewing this table sorted by composite liberal scores.

Senator... has a composite liberal score of ___. has a composite conservative score of ___.

Name

Sort (alpha by surname) Liberal Score

Sort Conservative Score

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Obama, Barack, D-Ill. 95.5 4.5

Whitehouse, Sheldon, D-R.I. 94.3 5.7

Biden, Joseph, D-Del. 94.2 5.8

Sanders, Bernie, I-Vt. 93.7 6.3

Menendez, Robert, D-N.J. 92.8 7.2

Lautenberg, Frank, D-N.J. 91.7 8.3

Leahy, Patrick, D-Vt. 90.2 9.8

Boxer, Barbara, D-Calif. 89.8 10.2

Reid, Harry, D-Nev. 89.2 10.8

Feingold, Russell, D-Wis. 85.5 14.5

Harkin, Tom, D-Iowa 85.2 14.8

Murray, Patty, D-Wash. 84.5 15.5

Durbin, Richard, D-Ill. 83.8 16.2

Reed, Jack, D-R.I. 83.5 16.5

Schumer, Charles, D-N.Y. 83 17

Stabenow, Debbie, D-Mich. 82.8 17.2

Clinton, Hillary Rodham, D-N.Y. 82.8 17.2

Cantwell, Maria, D-Wash. 80.5 19.5

Cardin, Ben, D-Md. 80.2 19.8

Kerry, John, D-Mass. 79.5 20.5

Klobuchar, Amy, D-Minn. 77.3 22.7

Kohl, Herb, D-Wis. 77.3 22.7

Dodd, Christopher, D-Conn.....

[Bravus]

...and this relates to Origins how?

[John317]

Hey thanks very much. I'll be moving very directly.

[Bravus]

No worries, it's a service we provide.

Kinda makes me laugh that 'liberal' is an insult in America.

[Neil D]

Quote:

How To Read These Ratings

A score of 78 on the liberal scale, for example, means that the senator was more liberal than 78 percent of his or her Senate colleagues on key votes during 2007. "*" means the member missed more than half of the rated votes. "†" denotes members who are no longer in the Senate. In the event of a tie, scores are ordered alphabetically first by state delegation, then by individual members' names.

[scratches head] More liberal than what? Liberal in what way? What's the standard? I guess I just don't understand how they determine that a senator is liberal when an issue comes up for voting, you can either say "yea' or 'nay' or abstain....

[Woody]

Thank you John for posting this.

We need to carefully consider this before voting this liberal candidate into the highest office of the land.

We now have an opportunity to get a moderate who will work with both sides. Why go for a liberal. We've had plenty of partisan politics with one side or the other. Let's bring the country together. We don't need either extreme ... but particularly not a 'liberal'. And an extreme one at that.

[Bravus]

...and McCain is not an extreme hawk? Gimme a break!

[Woody]

I think that McCain's votes show that he is the most liberal of the Republicans.

[Bravus]

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/06/carroll-mccain-is-no-liberal/

[Woody]

Pure Propaganda.

[Bravus]

...or, you know, exactly the same kind of voting record analysis that yielded the rating for Obama that started this thread...

[olger]

Ben Stein for president and..

Jesse Ventura as V.P.

[Bravus]

The brain and 'The Body'!

[olger]

Good one!

olger

[Neil D]

Pure Propaganda.

A Rocky Mountain News editorial, published the day the joint operating agreement was approved, spoke to readers much as William Byers did almost 142 years earlier:

"Too many myths have been floating around since the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post announced last May their desire to form a joint operating agreement," the News wrote. "Now that Attorney General Janet Reno has approved the JOA, we're here to smother one of those myths in its nest.

"There will be no loss of independence on the editorial side. Not one speck.

"This newspaper was an independent and unfettered voice when founded 141 years ago. It remains such a voice today. And thanks to the JOA, it is not going to be muted for many, many years to come . . ."

Neither newspaper nor owner enjoys a financial advantage as a result of the JOA. Scripps and MediaNews each receive 50 percent of the JOA's profits.

Seems to me that there is at least one independent paper in the State of Colorado ...Propaganda? nah....just independent.

[John317]

Yes, I wonder why so many want to deny that Obama is a very, perhaps even the most, liberal Senator. Could it be that people realize that if Americans know this and understand it to be the case, he won't win?

When it comes to Obama's liberalism, would anyone deny that his voting record and his positions are more liberal than most other Democrats in the Senate?

If Obama is not the most liberal Senator, who is more liberal than he is?

It's a well known fact that he represents a very liberal precinct in Illinois.

[Bravus]

Again, the idea that 'liberal' is an insult makes me laugh. Check out the dictionary definition:

lib·er·al

–adjective

1. favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.

2. (often initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to a political party advocating measures of progressive political reform.

3. of, pertaining to, based on, or advocating liberalism.

4. favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, esp. as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties.

5. favoring or permitting freedom of action, esp. with respect to matters of personal belief or expression: a liberal policy toward dissident artists and writers.

6. of or pertaining to representational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies.

7. free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant: a liberal attitude toward foreigners.

8. open-minded or tolerant, esp. free of or not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc.

9. characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts: a liberal donor.

10. given freely or abundantly; generous: a liberal donation.

11. not strict or rigorous; free; not literal: a liberal interpretation of a rule.

12. of, pertaining to, or based on the liberal arts.

13. of, pertaining to, or befitting a freeman.

–noun

14. a person of liberal principles or views, esp. in politics or religion.

15. (often initial capital letter) a member of a liberal party in politics, esp. of the Liberal party in Great Britain.

[Woody]

Bravus ... you of all people know that dictionaries are not accepted here on CA.

[John317]

Again, the idea that 'liberal' is an insult makes me laugh. Check out the dictionary definition:

lib·er·al

–adjective

1. favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.

2. (often initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to a political party advocating measures of progressive political reform.

3. of, pertaining to, based on, or advocating liberalism.

4. favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, esp. as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties.

5. favoring or permitting freedom of action, esp. with respect to matters of personal belief or expression: a liberal policy toward dissident artists and writers.

6. of or pertaining to representational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies.

7. free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant: a liberal attitude toward foreigners.

8. open-minded or tolerant, esp. free of or not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc.

9. characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts: a liberal donor.

10. given freely or abundantly; generous: a liberal donation.

11. not strict or rigorous; free; not literal: a liberal interpretation of a rule.

12. of, pertaining to, or based on the liberal arts.

13. of, pertaining to, or befitting a freeman.

–noun

14. a person of liberal principles or views, esp. in politics or religion.

15. (often initial capital letter) a member of a liberal party in politics, esp. of the Liberal party in Great Britain.

The meaning of liberalism and conservatism changes from nation to nation. It doesn't mean the same thing here as it does in Europe or in Australia. Some of the things in your list describe people's views on both sides of the conservative/liberal isle. And of course, there are various degrees of conservatism and liberalism. There is the far right and the very far left. The left here in the US want government regulation, even ownership, welfare and socialism. They favor progressive taxes and redistribution of wealth. They are basically hostile towards the capitalistic system and favor the worker over the business or the owners. Those on the right, on the other hand, want no income taxes and they want to see the government out of their lives completely and out of the business of regulating things, such as prices and wages. They want to see the borders secured and strict constructionist understanding of the U. S. Constitution in the courts. Ron Paul represents some of these. By the way, both the far right and the far left agree that we should get out of Iraq.

The best way to get an understanding of American conservatives is to read books by, or listen to, people such as William F. Buckley, William Bennett, Newt Gingrich, Russell Kirk, David Horowitz, Pat Buchanan, Rush Limbaugh, Berry Goldwater, Ann Coulter, Peggy Noonan, and Ronald Reagan.

Check out the following. It will give you a better idea of what an American conservative believes and how they are different from liberals. You can't really grasp this by studying a dictionary.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_conservatism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_liberalism_in_the_United_States

[Bravus]

"...but do you recall

The most liberal senator of all..."

[olger]

It logically follows that a nation which legislates minimum wage would come to legislate maximum wage (heavy taxes on upper & middle class).

olger

[Woody]

Kerry used to be ... but Obama has replaced him.