Obama Shifts on Welfare Reform

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Obama Shifts on Welfare Reform

July 01, 2008 12:19 AM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Gregory Wallace Report: Barack Obama aligned himself with welfare reform on Monday, launching a television ad which touts the way the overhaul "slashed the rolls by 80 percent." Obama leaves out, however, that he was against the 1996 federal legislation which precipitated the caseload reduction.

"I am not a defender of the status quo with respect to welfare," Obama said on the floor of the Illinois state Senate on May 31, 1997. "Having said that, I probably would not have supported the federal legislation, because I think it had some problems."

Obama's transformation from critic to champion of welfare reform is the latest in a series of moves to the center. Since capturing the Democratic nomination, the Obama campaign has altered its stances on Social Security taxes, meeting with rogue leaders without preconditions, and the constitutionality of Washington, D.C.'s, sweeping gun ban.

The shift in Obama's rhetoric on welfare reform has proceeded in stages. When former President Bill Clinton was poised to sign welfare reform while running for re-election in 1996, Obama called it "disturbing." A decade later, as an underdog running for president against Clinton's wife, he spent 2007 avoiding the subject. By the time Obama emerged as the Democratic frontrunner in the spring of 2008, he began leaving the impression that he was for it all along.

During a 1996 interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Obama could not conceal his disappointment in his fellow Democrat. "Bill Clinton? Well, his campaign’s fascinating to a student of politics. It's disturbing to someone who cares about certain issues. But politically, it seems to be working," said Obama.

Calling himself a believer in "making lemonade out of lemons," Obama co-sponsored a 1997 bill approved by the Illinois legislature and signed by the governor which made changes to state programs to help move people from welfare to work.

He made clear at the time, however, that he probably would have opposed the federal welfare overhaul. Speaking on the floor of the Illinois state senate, Obama described his on-going concerns as including a lack of job training, insufficient oversight, and provisions blocking legal immigrants from receiving benefits.

While the states played an important role in helping people make the transition from welfare to work, the truly controversial decision which sparked the dramatic reduction in the welfare rolls was the one made by Clinton at the federal level.

The bill passed by a Republican Congress and signed by Clinton included work requirements and time limits. It included fewer supports for people moving from welfare-to-work than Clinton had originally envisioned. Though later restored at the federal level, it also included an end to benefits for legal immigrants which both Clinton and Obama found objectionable.

Clinton said it was far from perfect legislation. But unlike Obama who looked at its flaws and said he probably would not have supported it, Clinton signed it.

"Today, we are taking an historic chance to make welfare what it was meant to be, a second chance, not a way of life," said Clinton at the 1996 bill signing.

While campaigning for president in 2007, Obama refused on two occasions to say if he would have signed the same welfare-reform bill approved by the husband of his top rival.

After addressing the International Association of Firefighters on March 14, 2007, Obama told ABC News, "I tend not to look back to what would have been done 10 years ago. We’re talking about what I’m going to be doing for the next 10 years."

When ABC News posed the same question four months later, Obama again refused to answer.

"I’m not going to re-litigate what happened back in the 90s," said Obama at a July 17, 2007, press conference in Washington, D.C. "I'm talking about what's going to be happening going forward."

"Bill Clinton isn't on the ballot," he added.

Once he had become the Democratic frontrunner in the spring of 2008, Obama signaled that he had always backed the 1996 welfare reform.

Asked if he would have vetoed the reform measure, Obama told The New York Times in a story published on April 11, "I won’t second guess President Clinton for signing."

Now, with the Democratic nomination firmly in hand, Obama is going one step further. In an ad airing in 18 states, including 14 carried by President Bush in 2004, Obama is celebrating a reduction in the welfare caseload made possible by legislation he originally opposed.

Watch the ad.

July 1, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (187)

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Am opinion of 1996. c'mon ABC know you are pro-mccain but you can surely do better. That ad was beautiful and undelines the differences between Mccain and Obama. Mccain ad's are archaic and goes with his age. obama is for the future

Posted by: vuzous | Jul 1, 2008 12:30:22 AM

Posted by: vuzous | Jul 1, 2008 12:30:24 AM

Keith Olberman perfectly defines Mccain. Highlighted all his flip-flops. I will add one more. In 2004, Mccain condemned the attack on John Kerry but in 2008, he has now endorsed the attack but putting up a member of the Swift boat veteran as a member of the Truth squad.

Posted by: vuzous | Jul 1, 2008 12:49:06 AM

Obama: "I was against it before I was for it. Now I am for it". It won't be long before he is saying the same thing about the war, about NAFTA, and about whatever lie he needs to tell to try to get elected. It is clear that Obama has now backbone and is definitely not about politics as usual -- they don't ever usually get as gumby-like as this guy. Let's call him O'gumby instead.
========================================
O'gumby -- the architect of bittergate!!
========================================

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Jul 1, 2008 12:50:34 AM

They call him Flipper.

Posted by: FL voter | Jul 1, 2008 12:53:14 AM

So what? It's TWELVE YEARS AGO.

Most Americans would've been okay with a "Texan" from a rich Connecticut family becoming president twelve years ago.

But today - after Bush Junior - not a SINGLE American will ever hold that opinion again...ever.

Things change. Live and learn.

How about a few more articles about THAT?

Posted by: wilder5121 | Jul 1, 2008 1:03:55 AM

Obama changing his stance again for political posturing? Oh, no, can't be! This is the candidate of 'hope" and "change"! Oh, I get it, he "hopes" you won't notice how many times he "changes" his position to suit the audience, the polls, the prevailing winds, whatever. This guy is the biggest fraud to come down the pike in the history of this country. Wake up.

Posted by: Grammy Barb | Jul 1, 2008 1:10:09 AM

Obama is full of S...t
He is an opportunist with no honor, turth, experience or integrety. His close friend and advisor (not the fundraiser that just got convicted, or the other guy, the 60's radical bomber who wished he'd done more) but Jerimiah Wright, was right when he said Obama would denounce him for political reasons.

No one really knows what he stands for, since his "change" message flip flops as the situation calls for it.

McCain is the only candidate of integrety, honesty, and experience left in the race.

Posted by: j | Jul 1, 2008 1:14:07 AM

vuzous: Could you please post a link to where McCain now says he supports the "swiftboat" attacks on Kerry? I remember McCain vigorously defending Kerry in 2004, need to see for myself that he now supports those attacks. Thanks.

Posted by: Grammy Barb | Jul 1, 2008 1:15:16 AM

Double-talker, backpedaler, change artist. You have your choice--either way--what he said last week or what he says today. Change you can believe in!

Posted by: georgia | Jul 1, 2008 1:17:24 AM

Oh the irony!

"During a 1996 interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Obama could not conceal his disappointment in his fellow Democrat. "Bill Clinton? Well, his campaign’s fascinating to a student of politics. It's disturbing to someone who cares about certain issues. But politically, it seems to be working," said Obama."

Hah!!!

Posted by: Joan | Jul 1, 2008 1:21:53 AM

This man changes his mind as often as a baby needs its diaper changes and the democrats think they can win with this poor excuse for a man

Posted by: Rose Szymanski | Jul 1, 2008 1:21:57 AM

George W McCain has morphed from a "straight-talkin' maverick" eight years ago...to a Bush Republican Clone today.

A complete ONE-HUNDRED EIGHTY DEGREE FLIP-FLOP.

And this minor thing gets in the news?

Must be a SLOOOOOOWWWW news day.

Posted by: wilder5121 | Jul 1, 2008 1:22:00 AM

Obama shifting? Beware cause it is not the last shift either.

Obama will shift again if he becomes President ...

Obama is saying whatever he needs to win.

He abandoned his preacher, the Rev. Wright.
Why is the Rev. Wright so quiet ... cause the Rev. Wright knows that Obama will never abandon him. He will return to the Rev., once he gets the Oval Office. The Rev. Wright will become his mentor again once he is in the Oval Office.

I am dying for a laugh at the Obamamaniacs when the final shift occurs.

Posted by: Dummies4Obama | Jul 1, 2008 1:27:51 AM

How about unveiling a member of the swift boat veteran as a member of the TRUTH panel. you are all GOP suckers. face the REAL TRUTH.

Posted by: vuzous | Jul 1, 2008 1:31:51 AM

ladies and gentlemen,

Lets give Obama his due. His one great gift, is inspirational rhetoric. If he were in sales, (as I am), he'd be a top salesmen making up to 1 million dollars a year. He is able to say whatever the buyer needs to hear to feel good about buying.

But, folks, we've all been sold before and in the end, we regret that we were sold. And do we want this sort of salesmen giving us the state of the union, or someone who will be real with us?

Think about what he says and doesn't say, his lack of specifics. See how he is not straight forward, can you trust that? Notice how he does not speak nautually from his heart, but cold and calculated, as thought scripted, how does he feel? Does he really care about people, does he really care about you?

Inspiring speech is uplifting, but we need leadership that's been around, that specific and clear, straightforward, honest, and caring for all americans.

Folks think about it, our only real choice is
John McCain......

JOHN MCCAIN 08

Posted by: j | Jul 1, 2008 1:40:19 AM

Obama does not care about anything or anyone, He just running in races and winning.

Someone get the man a sack race.

Posted by: seah | Jul 1, 2008 1:40:20 AM

NOT A GOP SUCKER HERE BEFORE I VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN MY POCKETBOOK HAS TO GET A HELL OF A LOT FATTER THAN IT IS NO MCBUSH HERE

Posted by: Rose Szymanski | Jul 1, 2008 1:40:41 AM

Vuzous,
I have nothing to do with the GOP. I'm an embarrassed Democrat. If you had an ounce of sense you would be embarrassed as well. The guy is an opportunistic, double-talking, flip-flopping, limousine-ridin', latte drinking, arrogant, elitist liberal willing to do or say anything or the opposite of anything to anybody to try to sucker a vote out of them. Anybody that votes for the guy is exactly that, a sucker. Are you voting for him?
=======================================
Obama, the architect of BitterGate!!!!
=======================================

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Jul 1, 2008 1:40:59 AM

The only real Obama flip-flop and yes I call it Flip-flop is the public finance issue. But as far as he is still being funded by the same public, I cannot fault him on that. As for gun that has always been his opinion and he defended that during the PA primaries. For Social security that is a flop created by ABC. On death penalty, it is well documented and supported in his book, Audacity of Hope. So what more? Another flip-flop that may be on the way is that of FISA and yes we are calling him on that but compared to Mccain, he far outclasses Mccain. Listen to Keith Olberman definition of Mccain.Giving dates and specifics.

Posted by: vuzous | Jul 1, 2008 1:43:33 AM

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