Air balls
Published: Thu, Sep. 25, 2008 12:30AM
Modified Thu, Sep. 25, 2008 06:18AM
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closeI found myself shaking my head in bewilderment as I read the Sept. 17 letter "Lists of legislation," which described Barack Obama as having sponsored nearly 1,400 bills during his various stints as a lawmaker. When did the poor guy find time to do all that, and still vote "present" more than 100 times?
He's not shy about his accomplishments, so if the numbers above were proof of significant legislative experience, one would think we'd have heard all about it, or at least he'd show us the red "S" on his chest.
After a bit more research, as the writer suggested, I concluded that adding one's name as a "co-sponsor" to a bill in Washington must be about as meaningful as ordering a sandwich from the deli.
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No matter what Republicans say about Obama's accomplishments, the quote that had the greatest effect on me was this: "Barack Obama hasn't passed any [bills]." The speaker? Joe Biden, at a campaign event in Ames, Iowa, in December.
A senator's job also includes getting bills you sponsor actually "passed." To use a basketball metaphor, anybody can take a lot of shots, but the game is won by those who actually sink them.
Warren Sovereign, Raleigh
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