September 26, 2008
Posted: September 26th, 2008 09:35 PM ET

Statement:
Sen. John McCain, speaking at the University of Mississippi debate on September 26, said Sen. Barack Obama "has the most liberal voting record in the United States Senate."

Get the facts!

Facts:
The National Journal magazine, in its annual vote rating, said Obama moved left last year to the "most liberal senator" rating "after ranking as the 16th and 10th most-liberal during his first two years in the Senate."

Americans for Democratic Action, the liberal activist group, and the American Conservative Union, the conservative activist group, also rate Congress members on their votes. Their findings describe Obama as one of, but not the most liberal U.S. senator.

The ADA gave Obama a 75 percent liberal score in 2007, 95 percent in 2006 and 100 percent in 2005. Other Democratic senators received 100 percent during those years. David Card, ADA communications director, said Obama's score was lower last year because he missed certain votes.

Obama has a lifetime ADA average of 90 percent. Other senators - such as Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy and others - have higher lifetime ADA ratings. Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate in 2004, was ranked as the most liberal senator by the National Journal in 2003.

"He is one of the most liberal senators," Card said, referring to Obama.

The ACU, which customarily places conservative Republicans on the top of its list and liberal Democrats at the bottom, has given Obama a lifetime ranking of just 7.67, according to the figures on the group's Web site.

It says Obama scored 8 percent in 2005, 8 percent in 2006 and 7 percent in 2007. Other Democratic senators in the ACU rankings have had lower yearly and lifetime scores, the site shows.

"He's one of the most liberal," said Larry Hart, the ACU director of government relations.

Verdict: True, according to National Journal, but liberal and conservative rating groups reached a slightly different conclusion.

Filed under: Barack Obama • Fact Check • John McCain


Kyle   September 26th, 2008 11:17 pm ET

My comment was to REELAMERICAN, saying that it's 900 million in earmarks, not 900 billion. Fact check.

Obama 08

shana   September 26th, 2008 11:17 pm ET

i can agree with jill i agree with mccain on things but i also agree with obama...........i cant say that just because i am going to vote for obama that i disagree with mccain i dont ,i agree with alot of his ideas i just want to see if we can see something different in office....and my issue with this is why if im black and i vote 4 obama because of that im just sooo bad racist any everything else.....but if im a white
woman or a feminist im supposed to support palin

Anish   September 26th, 2008 11:16 pm ET

We are at the crossroads of major changes to come in USA. But we must understand that our government needs to realize that the rest of the world is changing faster than we understand. We can not influence rest of the world positevely with a military might alone, we must have economic growth. No coutry has done well in the long run without economic growth. I want my president to focus first domestically and do good for Americans at home, not spending billions of dollars in some country like Iraq where they don't like us. I am tired and sick of 8 years of GW and I want a change. These 8 years have ruined our reputation in the world, we are not longer respected and I want my America back the way it used to be before.

John   September 26th, 2008 11:16 pm ET

Check your history. Liberal has always been synonimous with big government, which cannot exsist without huge spending. Elect Obama and you can kiss your tax break goodbye.

bob z.   September 26th, 2008 11:16 pm ET

john mc cain should go to an old age home not run for president

john   September 26th, 2008 11:16 pm ET

just like bush and liberal most democrats love REWARD criminal , BAILOUT AND AMNESTY

Rob   September 26th, 2008 11:16 pm ET

A lot of Senators opposed Bush. But it so happens that Obama's record was to the left of all, or almost all, of them. His answer was dumb and self serving, as are most of his answers.

Then Obama said Kissinger agreed with him about meeting Iran's leaders. That's just a complete bunch of baloney, as even Kissinger will tell you.

And when Obama tells us of the life experience he's had in "running an economy" wake me up. I didn't know you could go from being a community organizer to being the "manager" of the world's largest economy.

scooby   September 26th, 2008 11:16 pm ET

I wish Obama would have listed some of his earmarks, I'm sure none of the were for a bridge to nowhere...

Kyle   September 26th, 2008 11:16 pm ET

900 million in earmarks, not billion

Kris from Florida   September 26th, 2008 11:15 pm ET

Adrienne -

You should be ashamed of your naive comments. Why don't you pick up a book and read about Senator McCain's past.

Pippen   September 26th, 2008 11:15 pm ET

The word 'liberal' used to relate to small government and broad individual freedom. Somehow it devolved into a synonym for 'socialist'... if that doesn't describe Obama I don't know what does.

Rob   September 26th, 2008 11:15 pm ET

A lot of Senators opposed Bush. But it so happens that Obama's record was to the left of all, or almost all, of them. His answer was dumb and self serving, as are most of his answers.

Then Obama said Kissinger agreed with him about meeting Iran's leaders. That's just a complete bunch of baloney, as even Kissinger will tell you.

John Q. Public   September 26th, 2008 11:14 pm ET

Yes, his record of the votes he actually cast rather than voted present for does in fact rate him as extreme to one side.

*2 things bothers me about Obama.

1st are his misstatements. He actually voted against regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while McCain supported the regulations in 2005. The vote is on the record and then Obama claims he warned about the current problems in the last 2 years???

2nd is that he has never once admitted to being incorrect about anything including the things we all know he was wrong about. The surge is obvious. His statement are on the record and McCain had him there in pointing it out.

There is one other misnomer. That Obama is for working families and McCain is not and that Obama will cut the average families taxes. Not true. What Obama is proposing will drive more people to the unemployment line. I guess you don't pay taxes if you are unemployed.

box101   September 26th, 2008 11:14 pm ET

McCain was grasping at straws – he is WRONG and RUDE, CONDESCENDING and THE SAME. He cares only about war. Whether Obama is the most liberal or not, he is NOT BUSH / McSAME. THAT is what matters to me.

NIck   September 26th, 2008 11:14 pm ET

Many tax accountants from the top accounting firms have said Obama's fiscal and monetary plans don't add up and will require 50 billion in new taxes on all incomes not just the rich, and that increase will only cover his programs until 2013. Anyone who doesn't believe that Obama won't raise their taxes should move to New Jersey where everyone's taxes are raised rich or poor for a bankrupt state, our wonderful governor said taxes would only increase for those who earned half a million or more, what he didn't say was our property taxes would increase almost 25%.

Vote for McCain your taxes will go up or down a little depending on your income.

Vote for Obama and your taxes will go up and if youra small business owner your taxes will go up keeping you from drawing more income from your small business.

$250K = Rich (LOL).

mamie   September 26th, 2008 11:14 pm ET

I want a president who has experience. I am not so much impressed by charisma and pure talk. Is Mcain the needed president at this crucial time .

Caleb   September 26th, 2008 11:13 pm ET

Obama will raise taxes on businesses. This will kill jobs. It will also make businesses raise prices on their products forcing citizens to spend more of their money on products they use to buy for a lot less. Sorry Obama fans this is raising taxes.

Keep taxes low.
Vote McCain:Palin

unruly8i   September 26th, 2008 11:13 pm ET

Is it me, or is it every election the Democratic nominee is declared "the most liberal"?

DB   September 26th, 2008 11:13 pm ET

Why doesn't anybody look at an overall analysis? Best way to do this is with things like presidential support scores, and Obama is almost exactly at the halfway point of the Democratic caucus on this. I'd prefer he were closer to the Kerry territory on the left, but there you are.

The striking thing about McCain is he is way to the right EXCEPT for the 106th and 107th Congresses (1998-2002) when he turned in a centrist performance. Those four years completely skew his lifetime average. He's actually toward the right of the Republican Party.

Hal Summers   September 26th, 2008 11:12 pm ET

I don't care who's the most liberal, the most conservative or the most anything. I care about who can work to get this country out of the mess that eight years of the Bush Administration has left us in.

I don't see how John McCain can do that and I REALLY don't see how Sarah Palin can help in the event anything happens to McCain.

Obama sounds very much like Bill Clinton did in 1992 with a vision of where this country needs to go to restore it's standing in the world and bring a government that is designed to first and foremost serve its people.

I work with five guys who have been Republicans for their whole lives and not one thinks McCain has what it takes to lead this country out of the crisis we are facing. I don't know if they will vote for Obama but I know they won't vote for McCain.

Zach   September 26th, 2008 11:12 pm ET

Liberal is good when we're talking about things that DON'T lead us down the path towards Socialism, as Senator Obama's beliefs do. Show me a successfull Socialist nation and I'll sell you some oceanfront property in Arizona.

sue   September 26th, 2008 11:11 pm ET

I have been debating with myself over the best new leader for my country. I definitely have decided on John McCain. Mr. Obama is a gifted 'blabber' – he goes on and on and on BUT he says NOTHING. He is always attacking others but has NOTHING of his own to give to us as a Leader. Tho he has practiced rambling – forever by the way, he is NOT mature and he cannot help this devastated country. While I DETEST George Bush – John McCain is NOT Mr. Bush. He is intelligent, experienced and trustworthy of doing the RIGHT thing for us, even though we may not like the continuation of our world vengeance on other nations, he can lead us out of our mishaps. After all – we are in a war and we MUST end it, BUT correctly. And furthermore, this should NOT be a campaign to run on a race issue, it should be about the Right Man for the Right Job.

Leonard   September 26th, 2008 11:11 pm ET

But it does make a statement. I want someone flexible enough to do what is right, not to just someone who does what is political. You cannot tell me that straight conservative or straight liberal is the way to go. To me it is in the middle ground some times more sometimes less.

Jennifer   September 26th, 2008 11:10 pm ET

Who cares if he is liberal. He aced that debate and was very presidential. And he is on the right side of the issues.

DJ Johnson   September 26th, 2008 11:10 pm ET

Well is it any surprise that they're saying this about Obama? First they turn "liberal" into a dirty word, then they slap John Kerry with that label when it became obvious he would be Bush's opponent (and didn't we hear about it over and over again) and now they're doing the same with Obama. Sadly, it works. My father says, in a loud voice, that Obama is the most liberal and that is a bad thing. I ask him why and he can't answer. He just knows "it's bad". GOP talking points. Say 'em enough and people will believe it.

PS – John McCain is a transvestite and an escaped Nazi war criminal. Those are big, fat, hairy lies, but repeat them anyway, won't you? You're too kind.

Ann   September 26th, 2008 11:10 pm ET

Liberal + power = socialism

Joel   September 26th, 2008 11:10 pm ET

I don't care if Obama is liberal is not. What scares me is that he only votes with his party, and does not have the courage to stand up against them. I like the fact that McCain will go against his party at times for things he believes are right.

Michael   September 26th, 2008 11:09 pm ET

If obama was so conncerned about the people who really needed help because of the economy why not make the tax cuts only for those making less then $100,000.

Cal   September 26th, 2008 11:09 pm ET

Liberal means socialist and/or communist. I'll let you decide if that's bad or good.

jon samuel   September 26th, 2008 11:08 pm ET

ACU ratings are based on voting records & interesting – Obama at 7% and McCain at 80%. For McCain to be as extreme to the right as Obama he would have to rate about a 92-93. There's no question that McCain has a record of angering both sides as a maverick. Obama is more left than McCain is right.

Anonymous   September 26th, 2008 11:08 pm ET

For some reason, the Republicans love to say that someone is the "most liberal person in the Senate", and oddly enough, it's never the same person twice.

Adrienne   September 26th, 2008 11:08 pm ET

McCain look crazy. What was wrong with his face? He kept making really creepy faces and licking like Mad Mooney from Harry Potter and the joker in the jail cell from Batman. Creepy!

susy   September 26th, 2008 11:07 pm ET

Mccain is the best candidate to the presidential. He did an awesome job in the dabate and my vote is for him.

John   September 26th, 2008 11:06 pm ET

The National Journal ranked Kerry the "most liberal" in 2004, but never in any other year. Now they do the same with Obama.

Verdict: Not true.

Phoenix   September 26th, 2008 11:06 pm ET

Go Join him John, so are you. You're just a liberal in conservative clothes.

Republicans who know better

JCM   September 26th, 2008 11:06 pm ET

Senator Obama will raise taxes. His plans cost to much and he admitted tonight that he can not pay for all his programs.

Anne-Marie Reynolds   September 26th, 2008 11:05 pm ET

The point is this election is a clear choice between Left and Right. I will support the person who best reflects my values, and that is Obama.

REELAMERICAN   September 26th, 2008 11:05 pm ET

900 PLUS BILLION EARMARKS FOR OBAMA..............WOWWWWWWWWWWWWW

mabe   September 26th, 2008 11:04 pm ET

in my opinion is the best choice for our country he is the one for president very clear in all the points of the first debate .

harlan   September 26th, 2008 11:04 pm ET

Obama was to me a reg republican better informed on the issues... I found McCain was to me ducking the questions... I am switching to Obama... McCain i think has ADD... he seams frantic...

Brian   September 26th, 2008 11:04 pm ET

Obama is for working families and will cut my taxes. Thats who I want as my next President.

Ray M.   September 26th, 2008 11:03 pm ET

So he's bad simply because he's liberal?

Which means...what? Progress? New ideas? The future?

If that is his only attack, coming from somebody that overwhelmingly supports Bush's policy, then I'm all for Obama.

Steve Wimer   September 26th, 2008 11:01 pm ET

McCain showed his rear end, again and again. He's a rude, condescending, and devious old man. I will support Obama, and urge others to do so.

Mc-won that Debate   September 26th, 2008 11:01 pm ET

The news tried to make McCain seem like an idiot. He kicked Obama's inexperienced booty.

Greg from Big Island   September 26th, 2008 11:01 pm ET

Actally Ed Kennedy is the most liberal I believe. Saying someone is the most liberal doesn't scare people anymore. Saying that can shy away independents and unafiliated voters.

brenda   September 26th, 2008 11:01 pm ET

I think McCain showed he could he is the leader.

Kat   September 26th, 2008 10:57 pm ET

This is completely irrelevant. Like Obama said in response: he was considered the most liberal in response to the current administration's most conservative policies.

awin   September 26th, 2008 10:26 pm ET

I'll take Obama...liberal or not. I'd rather not vote than vote for McCain

Pascal   September 26th, 2008 10:23 pm ET

When McCain says things such as “Obama does not understand that he does not understand...”, I am beginning to ask in what context is he talking? Seriously, do we Understand where he is coming from?

Jill   September 26th, 2008 10:20 pm ET

I don't particularly care about who has the most "liberal" or "conservative" ratings. I care about the specific issues. I think most of those are far separated from mere labels. Most of these issues are far more complex. This name calling is unproductive for Americans.

J.C.   September 26th, 2008 10:17 pm ET

I doubt it.

ToBeAmerican   September 26th, 2008 10:17 pm ET

You know I was in Pakistan for 8months and no one wants to deal with John McCain. They do not believe him, they thing he just wants to fight a war and will not talk. People in Pakistan are scared of the Taliban and and in on honestly do not know what to do. They do know that going to war will not solve the problem. Out of the 160million people living there 99 percent of them pay bills, have kids and suffer more than us with putting food on the table because of the Taliban and corrupt government because of those idealistic individuals. If he fights with Pakistan i believe we will all be in trouble, going to war and even losing one of the friend i have lost cause of this war has been truly sad. I want our troops to live and protect our country but if we have individuals like bush and McCain to through us into the fires that is just wrong. Iraq had nothing to do with Bin Laden, when is everyone going to realize that.......

Pascal   September 26th, 2008 10:15 pm ET

Both liberal views and conservative ones can be good depending on conditions and circumstances. I have seen myself being both without loosing my head. Those qualifications are completely irrelevant to human development; and area of focus necessary to curtail all ills in society. The more informed and free people are, the more they would elect to proceed peacefully in enhancing their way of life.

McCain is a gunner, and I am not. McCain is a tax cutter; I like him for that.

JJ   September 26th, 2008 10:11 pm ET

McCain is coming across as arrogant and barely able to control his anger. Very unattractive. Obama is not on his game tonight and still seems more in tough with the issues than McCain

Bob   September 26th, 2008 10:10 pm ET

Without preconditions and Obama gets busted.

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