Since you are so concerned about our troops why did you ignore the pleas of a young Sailor abused in boot camp? He is my brother and is your brother in Christ. You see he is COC just like you and if you won't help one of your own who will you help? If he had been black would that have made a difference. Thank God for Hillary Clinton someone who sees people not color.

Of course the Move-on vote was a distraction and the Republicans are making hay with it.
Where were the whiners when the Republicans ran the Swift Boat smear ads and the smear ads against Max Cleland? The draft dodgers can smear war heroes and not a word is said. They can dish it out but they cannot take it.
The Democrats should ignore the issue and move on to matters of importance like health care, the war, the soaring deficit etc.

So when it came time to vote, Obama was a no-show. He must have been too busy with Dominque Wilkins and Usher to remember he is still a member of Congress.

Democrats in large number will be a no-show when it comes time to vote for you. At LEAST with Hillary you know where she stands.
In response I write.
All senators including clinton will miss some votes while they are campainging. Common sense to miss a vote on something stupid if you need to.

While I didn't like the ad; there's freedom of speech in this country. Attacking the ad legally is unconstitutional.

Obama was right. All this political grandstanding theater is silly and a waste of time. And for the posters saying its a cop out, please. Obama cancelled a trip to SC to vote on withdrawing the troops from Iraqi. But he was sick and tired on sitting around wasting time on something that was so silly and non binding as the Move on ad. I am a member of Move on and sent an email protesting their ad. It was divise and game the Republicans a great distraction. Why call out the general- the messenger who is being used by Bush to press his fail war policies. Go after the person who fashion the policies not the general. That is why the Democrats will lose if they nominate HRC. Because the democrats are cowards and only think about the political game and not about the american people. Twenty democrats voted for the censure probably their districts are conservative and dont want to lose that support in the upcoming election. HRC voted against the measure to pacify the liberal base of the Democratic Party who are upset with her trying to pander to the middle in order to set up herself in the general election. None of them have any backbone execept Obama to call foul on this stupidty. I wonder how many of our soliders died during the time it took the Senate to debate and vote. Congress should be ashame and America needs to rise up and throw out these corrupt money changers out of office.

Obama fear to stand up voice for what he believe; he is playing double game. After all he is an empty container. His advisor's didn't get chance to fill it up.

Thanks DT, I posted that same type of rational and completely accurate portrait of the difference between the two as mine was deleted.

The SBVFT were veterans just like Kerry and some were more decorated and spent a lot more time in Vietnam than he, and nobody knows the WHOLE truth but this brave group of men.

I do believe there was a level of hate towards him because of his words when he came home and his throwing away the medals/not throwing them away etc, etc just added to the issue.

Moveon is faceless (with the exception of Soros) and for them to spend money on an ad to mock the General who is in charge of our men and women BEFORE even hearing what he had to say should be condemned.

I applaud the 20 Democrats for making the distinction of what is right and what is wrong.

Just a note about the comparisons to the MoveOn and Swift Boat ads:

Moveon's ad was a cheap hit piece from a large, faceless organization with massive financial backing and power to influence actual candidates' decisions. Pretty cowardly, especially considering the general had not yet testified when the ad came out.

The Swift Boat ads were backed by dozens of veterans that showed their faces and gave their names in stating things about a man they knew- one who played up his service at every turn.

Like it or not, based on the substance of the respective ads and the will to stand up for them, the Swift ads would easily garner less criticism than the MoveOn ads. Had a faceless group spouted unfounded accusations about Kerry, as MoveOn did to Patraeus, they, too, would be scorned by all fair-minded people.

So when it came time to vote, Obama was a no-show. He must have been too busy with Dominque Wilkins and Usher to remember he is still a member of Congress.

Democrats in large number will be a no-show when it comes time to vote for you. At LEAST with Hillary you know where she stands.

I'm a Republican who will vote with the rest of the country in 08 for Rudy, but I do agree with Obama…in reality…other than his pandering to the left wing with some wacked healthcare plan…he has alot of moderate ideas. We need to have a fisically conservative/socially liberal president…theres only one - and you can't argue that….its Rudy…

Obama has my vote!
He is about ACTION, not just words. He is the real deal, and he WILL bring about change to our political system.

I didn't see the republicans get upset with the Swift boat adds. They have enough to do without this political statement against free speech.

Shame on all those democrats that voted for this once again you have shown us your lack of a spine. While I don't personally agree with the Move-On statement and told them so I beleive that they have a right to say it. Democrats should start to think about who they work for because many of us are tired of their not understanding who that is.

Once again, Senator Obama shows what leadership is really about. He canceled a scheduled fundraiser in South Carolina and flew back to Washington to debate and vote on the Iraq war resolution. He rightly refused to go along with the absurd vote on the MoveOn ad. He correctly pointed out that this game playing and one-upmanship in the Senate is so tired and divisive. I'm glad he refused to participate.
Well done Sir…you continue to lead.

So, Jack Hudson in Fl.

Should the Senate debate and vote on every newspaper ad that some might find offensive?

Besides it isn't slander. It's libel. Slander is oral. Libel is written.

The Senate vote was stupid. The entire Senate should have gotten up and walked out when the measure was first introduced.

So, Jack Hudson in Fl.

Should the Senate debate and vote on every newspaper ad that some might find offensive?

Besides it isn't slander. It's libel. Slander is oral. Libel is written.

The Senate vote was stupid. The entire Senate should have gotten up and walked out when the measure was first introduced.

I wholeheartedly applaud Senator Obama on this one! Another great insight. It was a ridiculous and time-wasted voting. OBAMA'08!!!!

The vote was a completely symbolic vote supporting Gen. David Petraeus. It didn't mention the MoveOn.org hate ad. Do you support Gen. Petraeus, yes or no. Simple.

The vote was almost unanimous. But Sen. Hillary Clinton, candidate for commander in chief, she voted no. Sen. Barack Obama, who also wants to command the military, didn't show up and Senators Dick Durbin and Carl Levin — big anti-war guys — they voted no. Sen. Harry Reid, the leader of Democrats in the Senate, he also voted no.

Remember what they were voting on: Do you support Gen. Petraeus, yes or no. Their countrymen were saying sure we support him, why wouldn't you. But MoveOn.org made it clear: Don't you dare, and these Democrats clearly showed where they take their orders from.

It's shocking really. They had voted to confirm him in his job as commander in Iraq, and yet they couldn't simply say we hope he succeeds and he's a good man. These senators were afraid.

It was a sad moment. It was a simple thing, and Bush was right when he said these politicians are more afraid of annoying MoveOn than insulting our own military.

Shamefully, these are the leaders of today's Democratic party. I'm sure Thomas Jefferson is rolling in his grave.

What a surprise - a no vote, how convenient. Wow he really does have his morals in place. Now he can claim victory regardless of the outcome of this latest disgrace, or of moveon's progressive ownership of the democratic party. Way to ride that fence!

The Senate has gone to heck in a handbasket. Blocking all this anti-war legislation as if the Republicans were still in control, and then wasting time by taking up a measure against a newspaper ad.

Obama is one of the few voices of reason left in our Congress.

I don't agree with him on this one. As asinine as the Republicans were for pushing this resolution, I think that not voting was a cop out. This was a perfect opportunity to stand up to the hypocrites in the senate who wish to limit free speech when it comes from the liberals but remained mute when Kerry was trashed in the Swiftboat ads.

On the subject of what makes sense and what does not.

It makes no sense to continue to talk about opposing or not opposing the War in Iraq. The war in Iraq ended. The objective of removing Saddam was accomplished. The objective of establishing a Democratic government and holding elections was accomplished. Participation in those elections was huge.

If the war were an operation, a bloody operation, and Iraq the patient, the fact is that the operation is over. It was performed and we must move on (no pun intended) from there.

We are now in the recovery room. Serioius infections are threatening the patient. Doctors are dieing from the infection. What is the proper response?

What would you do? Leave the room, shut the door, and let the patient die?

Bravo Obama! That is the kind of politics that we need. Again Obama has shown he is above petty politics and the washington game playing. GO OBAMA O8!!

Sen. Obama demonstrated what kind of president he'd make by showing what kind of candidate he is: a cowardly one. MoveOn has promoted and supported him and Sen. John Edwards (who condemned their ad along with the Republicans) FAR more than Sen. Clinton, whom they barely tolerate. Sure, the Senate should have had better things to do than debate their ad, and NO Democrat should have supported putting a condemnation on the agenda much less voting for it. But Sen. Obama, having benefited from MoveOn's advocacy should have stood up for them. At the very least, he should have stabbed them in the front. But no, to continue sucking up their support AND avoid looking like a traitor in REPUBLICAN eyes, he RAN AWAY. Those of you who are supporting the man because you're for "change" — whatever that means — should not be surprised when he runs away from you too.

Thank GODDESS a politician spoke WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW. Glad to see at least ONE Democrat has COMMON SENSE.

I'm tired of politicians and their stinking self-righteous posturing. Obama is right, we are tired of this game-playing. General Petraeus is a big boy. I hardly think that he is crying himself to sleep at night over what an elitist group of leftists think. This is America, people. MoveOn has a right to their opinion and the newspaper has a right to publish their ad. In this country, our leaders should never be above criticism, even if it is juvenile and undeserved. What a pontificating bunch of sorry hypocrites these Senators are!

I really like this guy. I'm one of the deep rural whites that Providence speaks of. Not too sure I'm racist, the only people I don't like are rude, phony, obnoxious, arrogant idiots. It doesn't matter what race or gender or political party they are part of.

Happy Friday!

People dying from lack of medical care. Money being thrown away to contractors in the guise of homeland security, Our brave soldiers dying in Iraq,Bridges collapsing from lack of care,Roads crumbling from years of patching, and the Republicans set up another of thier famous, meaningless,votes on an AD?
BULLSEYE Obama. You hit the nail right on the head. Give em hell!!!

Is really a shameful thing that while soldiers are dying in Iraq with no better options, senators should be struggling to make stupid laws that isn't helping in anyway t this Debate. I now understand how we got stock with this current Dilemma as (president). I think Obama did the right thing not to vote for this kind of Foolishness. This is a democracy and Moveon. org has the Full RIGHT to criticise whoever they think is acting on Behalf of the president than the nation, is left for u to make your own Judgment wether the assessment is true or not. People have a right to disagree without questioning your personal integrity. GEN Pertraus is an honorable man but what should we belief, staying the course because he thinks so or Taking into considerations other reports which speaks contrary to his assessment.
THIS IS MY SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM GOING BACK TO THE UN AND LOBBY FOR AND INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE MAKE UP OF A CROSS SECTION OF WORLD NATIONS NOT JUST USA FORCES WHICH ARE NOW MORE OF A TARGET THANK U. WHILE THE US SHOULD PULL OUT GRADUALLY>

Once again, Barack Obama is right.

It happens so often, it's probably not even news anymore.

Wow! Did I miss the the mass kool-aid distribution back at the cult compound?? King Obama zombies unite! I hope this love fest lasts through his first year! Let's see your reaction the first time he votes for something you don't favor…OFF WITH HIS HEAD you'll be screaming, no doubt! You people deserve him and loud-mouthed,racist wife!

Go Obama! That vote was a bunch of nonsense and those who pushed it and voted on it are wasting American tax payers money and ignoring the real issues. I'll be proud to call you my president! Thanks for standing up for the American people! Obama 08!

Time and time again, Barack Obama is right again…

When are the REST of the politicians going to understand that we want them to take care of AMERICA'S BUSINESS while Congress is in session.

This petty, unproductive, waste of tax-payers dollars is childish. This was a foolish exercise, just so that members of both parties can try to SCORE some political points…

Folks, this crap has got to stop. We DID NOT elect you to waste time with this 'Game Playing"….We have so much to do….

Be like Barack and remember WHY we sent you there….Obama'08

Had the General been an African American you bet Obama would have been all over Moveon like white on rice.

Lance in Monrovia CA

"I am sick and tired of seeing a handful of rich old pigs feeding at the trough that is the Washington beltway establishment. It's time that we had someone in office for a change that is motivated by action and people rather than money."

Did it ever cross your mind that some here might be getting sick and tired of seeing your same 14 paragraph long opinion posted on every topic?

Get a grip man. Don't you see what extensive public coverage is doing to Rudy?

I generally like Obama but I'm sorry this was a major cop-out. The people elect you and pay your salary to cast votes, you don't get to chose which legislation is important enough to vote on. Surely even Obama supporters can see through this, he didn't want to vote "no" and anger most of the American people and he didn't want to vote "yes" and risk angering the far left move-on crowd that will finance his campaign and air commericals in his favor. I want to see better leadership from Obama before I'm ready to cast a vote for him.

Im a consevative republican who often blogs the 'ticker'. I am from Kansas and I wanted to actually commend Barack briefly for this one. As a few of you have already stated, its yesterdays news and we should Move On from enlightening or glorifing the group with any more attention than what they have already recieved for the ad.
If I were a democrat, I would vote for this man, however I would be concerned that he is going to find little room for change if elected.
As far as Cluade and Providence, RIs blog, its really sad that the leftist media has convinced you people that those of us from rural areas are all "red-necked racists". Whenever you hear about the media trying to 'overdramatize' a story about a racial inccident, it wasnt hear in the heartland. Maybe, Providence, RI, these feelings of contempt you have for countryboys, is something you should bring up and discuss with your therapist.

You were elected to an office where voting is part of the job. Do it.

This is why I support the man. Just look at the rest of the news on the Ticker. The other candidates are name-calling and wasting time. I genuinely believe Obama is on a different level and is the best candidate for President.

I'm kind of torn on this. I do hate it when legislators waste time, so I can see Obama's point.

On the other hand, this sort of political chess game has been played by both sides for years. By avoiding the vote (i.e., not voting to condemn the ad), Obama is in the clear from the attack machine that is Moveon.org. Hillary & Dodd knew there'd be h*ll to pay if they criticized the ad-just ask Joe Lieberman if there are consequences for not following the group's orders (remember Ned Lamont?).

Truth is, the increasing control this group is getting over the Democrats is resembling the Dem's claim of control of big oil & big pharma on the Republicans. Kneel & kiss their feet or pay the price.

Slick move by Obama.

I could not agree more with Sen. Obama. Time could be better spent. The add was not very tasteful but it was far from unconstitutional. In fact, it pales in comparison to some of the comments heard daily from conservative talk show hosts.

Exactly what an absurb waste of time and my tax dollars to vote on comdemning an advertisement.

This is still a free country, and if you don't agree with a political advertisement…don't waste taxpayer money on a meaningless vote to condemn it.

What is this, elementary school? Did the principal call for recess?

"This is the kind of game playing that the American people are tired of."

Yet another reason, why Obama has got my vote. He takes the high road in a stupid petty argument. Stop trying to drive wedges between people and start solving the problems that this country has.

Providence RI says "he cannot win deep rural white votes, where racism still bites"

I am from Texas. I am not against anyone, I am for Obama and for America. Obama can be elected and plenty of us white folks are incredibly enthusiastic to support this vastly superior candidate.

1. A minority of whites are racists.
2. Racists make of an even smaller fraction of people who vote and would determine the nomination.
3. In Texas, nearly 50% of the population is minority.
4. After electing George Bush president, is a former Professor really a bad idea? I'm not saying all professors would be good presidents, Newt Gingrich is a former college Professor, for example

Good for Obama!

Obama did the right thing to basically tell everyone he's above this petty squandering.

With a messed up war, an 8 trillion dollar debt, and other problems, Congress and the Senate has much more important things to do than condem a newspaper ad.

EXACTLY, Obama, EXACTLY: "This is the kind of game playing that the American people are tired of."

Obama is "naive" and "inexperienced"- He is not ready to be President, and he cannot win deep rural white votes, where racism still bites… He is fit to be Harvard Professor. I respect him a lot…Harlold Ford, Jr., who is a very intelligent congressman, lost to Corcker in 2006 by 5% in Tennesse,because he was black…

It was absolutely ABSURD that the Senate wasted time on "condemning" that rediculous ad. I'm glad Obama stood up and made a point that the Senate shouldn't be filandering voting on resolutions condemning advertisements when they should be WORKING.

Wow, those Republicans sure scored one against the Democrats. They got a motion to pass condemning a newspaper ad! Ooh, the Dems are never going to come back from this one!

No, wait. Obama was right, this is a waste of time, and I'd like to think that Americans are sick of it.

Obama's not just getting people to sit down and sing Kum bah ya. He's actually creating a seriously lethal movement.

He's organizing Chicago style and he's bringing people off their butts for a change, no small feat when it comes to us jaded Americans.

The dude has more legislative experience than Hillary Clinton and John Edwards combined, coming from Chicago, the toughest political waters in the nation.

I went to Nevada with about 60 L.A. volunteers last weekend. None of them had ever done canvassing for a campaign before. I personally talked to 200 undecided voters and NOT ONE said they didn't like him. My wife and I got three signed pledge cards for people to caucus for him, and we heard ONLY ONE hardcore Clinton supporter. I heard the same stories from the other 60 L.A. volunteers and I'm sure the other 150 or so Nevada volunteers doing the same thing that day would say the same, and I know they got waaay more pledge cards than we did.

Over and over again I heard that people are fed up with politics as usual and feel that Obama may be the only candidate that can actually pull off real change.

How can you argue with a dude that could have had any six figure job he wanted out of Harvard but went and organized on the Southside for 14 Grand instead.

How can you argue with the first Senator both in Chicago and on Capitol Hill to pass meaningful ethics reform in a generation?

How can you argue with the fact that only Obama has found a really loyal following that continues to grow and grow based on, not fear and loathing, but hope and real ideas for our future?
How can you argue with a candidate that goes to Detriot to talk about the environment and to Wall Street to talk about tax cuts for the middle class and finally making the richest .1 percent of this country pay their fair share?
Myself and four other Obama supporters showed up at Bill Clinton's book signing in Pasadena day before yesterday. Not one Hillary supporter was there with a sign and several people in line confessed they were Obama supporters.

This guy WILL NOT lie down. He is a fighter in the truest sense of the word. He rises above the tag of politician and is A LEADER.

Not only can he get elected, but he can foster the movement he's started into a political machine unmatched since the days of FDR. He's slowly but surely creating political will, despite constant and baseless attacks by the corporately owned media that for sure knows that once he's in office, their days of vertical integration and monopoly of our airwaves and newspapers are limited.

I am sick and tired of seeing a handful of rich old pigs feeding at the trough that is the Washington beltway establishment. It's time that we had someone in office for a change that is motivated by action and people rather than money.

Y'know, that's just the thing with pigs… Today's pig is tomorrow's bacon.
Can you smell what Barack is cookin'?

Obama 08!!!!

MoveOn.org is not sponsored by the Democratic party. I don't see what the big deal is about Democratic leaders distancing themselves from them unless they are members. I agree with Sen. Obama about Congress dealing with more important matters. We have freedom of speech in America. MoveOn.org has the right to publish their ads as long as it doesn't violate any laws.

The rebublicans were trying to pull a Chupacabra. Vote no against condemning the swift boat campaign because it's a thing of the past? what a joke. They should have tied the swift boat ad and the MoveOn ad together.

The republicans were trying to pull a Chupacabra.

Again Mr. Obama is exactly right! This is the kind of intelligent thought we need right now in a leader for our country.

Barack, did not withold a vote because he felt it was a distraction. He didnt cast a vote because he didnt want a paper trail. But failure to cast a vote, was a vote. He chose to not stand up for right principle when a just person is undeservingly slandered.

The Republicans wouldnt have to call for such a vote, if the democrats only did what was right. The double standard with the Liberal press is incredible. With the gentleman who so admirably spilled his illegal money into democratic coffers, including Hillary coming to light. How is it there is no coverage of that. Wasnt it the democrats who were going to clean up the congress. Ha, was that before or after they got the money out of the freezer or where ever else they hide their illegal funds. Just like the New York Times with the Moveon add. Can you say hypocrite or double standard.

nice you go obama,

That's why he will make a great President. He is able to keep his eye on what is important to the people. The Democrats that supported it should have their names published as TRAITORS.

Once again, he's 110% correct. I am sick and tired of these games and if we keep it up, life as we know it in the the U.S. will end because the enemy is already within.