The Foreign Policy of Obama and McCain, Part I: Voting Records

Foreign Policy. It’s a big world out there, and we need someone who knows what they are doing when it comes to dealing with the rest of the world. In light of the events in South Ossetia, and the War between Russia and Georgia, and with Us in Afghanistan, and That lovely little place called Iraq, I think it’s high time to look at how these gentlemen voted on the senate floor On foreign policy issues. Many thanks to Project Vote Smart for the Information I gleaned from their website.

Like I mentioned a few articles back, These men have missed a fair amount of their more recent votes.

Barack Obama has Missed 15 of the last 22 senate foreign policy votes, dating back to June 2007, with his last vote coming June 26th of this year, A yes Vote on Iraq and Afghanistan war Funding, Unemployment benefits extension, and The G.I. Bill, a bill which passed with Bipartisan Support,92-6.

John McCain has missed 19 of the Last 22 senate foreign policy votes, dating back to June 2007, with his last votes coming December 18th 2007, a No vote on The Iraq Withdrawal Amendment, an amendment to hr 2764, the “Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations” bill, on which he voted yes. The Iraq Withdrawal Amendment was defeated 71-24, and the Iraq M.O.F. appropriations bill passed 70-25.

Not Surprisingly, these gentlemen have not voted the same way on a single foreign policy issue when they have both voted on the same bill, which admittedly has not happened often. Mister McCain has only voted on eight of twenty seven foreign policy bills since Barack Obama started his tenure in the Senate. Senator Obama mind you, is not Much better, with twelve of twenty seven.

Obama Voted Yes, and McCain No, on the first two bills they voted On in common, The Iraq Progress Reports Amendment to S 1042, The Reporting Matters in Iraq Amendment.

This bill would have had the president report to the congress on U.S. Policy and Military matters in Iraq every three months until the Last Brigade is home. S. 1042 was not adopted, being voted down 48-50, with all but one Republican present and voting no.

If you look at Both senators records the One thing that stands out is their stances on Iraq, which exactly jibe with their rhetoric.

But there is more to Foreign Policy than Iraq. There’s an entire world out there to look at, and I will look past just their voting record and delve into their statements about foreign policy, and try my best to probe deeper into the potential next Presidents mind to see just what is going on there.

Uncle Mikey