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Stephanopoulos: Obama Says He Has Bucked His Party

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September 07, 2008 10:45 AM

ABC News' George Stephanopoulos reports: John McCain isn't the only presidential candidate willing to break with his party, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said this morning in an exclusive interview on "This Week."

During his speech Thursday accepting the Republican nomination for president in St. Paul, Minn., McCain repeatedly emphasized his record of bipartisanship, and questioned Obama’s commitment to that principle.

"I've worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed," said McCain. "I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not."

But in his "This Week" interview, Obama called into question McCain's commitment to changing the tone in Washington.

"For John McCain to say that he wanted to reduce the rancor in Washington, as I said in there, it sounds to me like he didn’t listen to the first two days of his convention," Obama told ABC News' "This Week."

When asked for examples of issues where he would consider breaking with his party, Obama offered three.

"I think that, on education, we do have to improve accountability. And I’ve not only supported charter schools, which the teachers’ unions have opposed, but I’ve also said that we should look at pay-for-performance," he said. "That’s not something that’s popular in my party."

Obama said he would also support increasing the size of the military and reducing healthcare litigation costs, moves he said would anger portions of his party.

September 7, 2008 in Obama, Barack, Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (76)

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No you won't

Posted by: Samantha | Sep 7, 2008 10:51:00 AM

If Obama wanted to really change the politice's in washington then why did he choose old politice's Biden as his running mate why didn't he pick someone like Palin. he just doesan't make any sense at all.

Posted by: Jeanette | Sep 7, 2008 10:54:30 AM

So the guy who has done nothing but attack McCain for voting with George Bush 90% of the time, but who himself votes with HIS party 97% of the time, now expects voters to believe he with "buck his own party" if President??

Yeah, right...................

Posted by: Lee | Sep 7, 2008 10:55:46 AM

Yeah, he'll "buck his party" by becoming just another George Bush.

Posted by: Thomas Mc | Sep 7, 2008 10:59:15 AM

Proof is in the pudding! He has done nothing for the country, NOTHING. No one believes him any more.

Palin has already done so much.

Palin is all that Obama wishes he was!

Dem for Palin/McCain

Posted by: JAKE | Sep 7, 2008 11:01:16 AM

One of my reservations about Obama and the Democratic Party in general, is the increased influence of the ardent left wing/DailyKos apostles. They don't represent moderate middle class Democrats and it's very difficult to consider voting for a candidate who would give these groups any real power.

Posted by: bct424 | Sep 7, 2008 11:02:15 AM

Obama has never reached across on anything - he kept a very low, safe profile when he bothered to actually vote on anything. And to hear him say he wil increase the military is laughable. There is not a Democrat (with the exception of Lieberman) who would do anything but gut the military.remember, these are the folks who repeatedly voted to cut off funding for our service people who were in a hard fight, just to server their masters, the Democrt party. If we add up everything Obama has promised across the primaries, we will all be broke. Obama saying he will stregthen the military is as big a lie as his claim he will reduce taxes. Where will he get the money to pay for his mile long list of proposed govt programs? Robbing 7-11's?

Posted by: johnr | Sep 7, 2008 11:03:05 AM

The more he try to SPIN it, the more his polls numbers are falling ...

Even before the full effect of RNC Convention Bounce is kicking in, the average of all polls (CNN, CBS, Gallup, Ramussen, Hotline) is showing Obama leading by a wafer thin margin of 1.8%. McCain is now 44.6% snapping away at Obama 46.4%

I know a lot of Obama supporters are going to say they do not believe in polls....they are afterall .... JUST POLLS !!!

Posted by: McCain/Palin 2008 | Sep 7, 2008 11:12:44 AM

Did anyone else notice how George corrected Obama's Freudan slip regarding him being a Muslim???

Posted by: LJ | Sep 7, 2008 11:13:39 AM

Then watch out for another woman that Obama campaign have scorned :

The "Play Victim Card" that Obama pulled on Geraldine Ferraro will return to bite Obama/Biden this Fall.

Ferraro remains angry at the “sexist treatment” of Mrs Clinton by the media. “In New Hampshire, someone put up a sign saying ‘Iron My Shirt’. Nobody spoke out. Imagine if Hillary’s supporters had said [to Obama] "SHINE MY SHOES". Everybody would quite rightly have been jumping on it. Women in politics should not be treated better than men, just FAIRLY.”

A host of "Ferraro Bridgade" will be pulling the lever this Fall. I do not want to speculate how they will be voting...but IT IS GOING TO BE a BLOC to be RECKONED with, now that PALIN on McCain ticket !!!

Posted by: McCain/Palin 2008 | Sep 7, 2008 11:13:50 AM

i am not impressed by a "HOCKEY MOM"

Posted by: ccorrigan | Sep 7, 2008 11:15:31 AM

Actually both parties will raise taxes because they will have to -- the Bush debt will require a tax increase.

The difference is that Obama will raise taxes on those who can pay them and McCain will continue to short-change the middle class.

Interesting that the Republicans never mentioned the middle class, healtcare, or jobs at their recent convention. Of course, how could they since they have done nothing on thess issues.

Posted by: Keith | Sep 7, 2008 11:16:07 AM

No actually, Obama does have some bipartisan legislation to his name (the Lugar-Obama bill, the Coburn-Obama bill are two examples).

These statements " X votes with his party Y% of the time " are somewhat subjective because a lot of votes are not party-lines and it isnt' clear which way the person is supposed to be voting.

Similarly saying things like "Obama is the most liberal" or "McCain is the most conservative" is mostly just a matter of someone's opinion and can't be backed up in any sort of fact.

However, McCain actually bragged that he voted "with Bush more than any other senator". That gives you an idea of what kind of policies he will have in the future
...

Posted by: scaretactics | Sep 7, 2008 11:17:44 AM

No, Obama never said increase troop.

He will never break his party.

He will never cross party, he is never friend of McCain or any Rep. high profile.

As I said he is just a calculator. Once he wins, he will do lots of things anger Dem.

Dem. made huge mistake nominating him.

I will vote for McCain this time. So, Hillary will have chance in 2012. I'm die hard Hillary supporter.

Posted by: golfgirlusa | Sep 7, 2008 11:19:18 AM

someone like palin lol

are you kidding me... what has palin done besides lie constantly as shes hit the stage

mccain said his vp pick would be a extremely important due to his age... HE SAID THAT

he also said this is a dangerous world and a presidential ticket cant have someone that needs on the job training...

what has palin done?

mccains political gamble has payed off with the base, but the rest of us arent morons who fall for them.

why wasnt she vetted?

mccains judgment cant be trusted and why is she not giving interviews

can you say crash course in policy and foreign policy


her world view is absolutely the worst thing i have ever seen. she is a very scary person

Posted by: bhrandon | Sep 7, 2008 11:20:03 AM

McCain vetted palin the same way he vetted the iraq war... not enough.

Posted by: scaretactics | Sep 7, 2008 11:21:31 AM

obama was running for the senate when he opposed the iraq war...

how is that safe?

just because you say something doesnt make it true

you republicans act like you can just say a fw elines and the last 8 years and last 19 months of campaigning can just be washed away


karl rove says tim kaine is too inexperienced as a governor with 4 years experience and only in charge of hte 105th largest city in the us


but palin is fine because she was in charge of 9k people and has 2 years

cmon

Posted by: bhrandon | Sep 7, 2008 11:22:08 AM

Does anyone know where I can find a clip of the Debra Bartshevich ad? The woman who the DNC stripped as a delegate because she was for Hillary but now is voting for McCain... Her ads have been pulled.

Posted by: Samantha | Sep 7, 2008 11:25:43 AM

George Stephanopoulos,
After seeing your interview with Barack, I'm confident now more than ever that #1)you're an a**hole, #2)you're a racist! It's because of obvious racist journalists like you that make our country so screwed up, just like the McCain politicians you support. Make sure the next time you interview an African-American, you wear your white hood! You should be reporting for your true news network, FOX News, where you would feel at home. You're no unbias interviewer, just pathetic!
And all that support his reporting, and the ones who left the negative comments about Obama below, goes to show that there are still idiots in this country. Who in the hell would vote and show support for a man who has no true change for our country. Not to mention, a man that has said and voted that Bush was right over 90% of the time, and someone who is now stealing Obama's "Change" phrase. Oh, I know who, Racist white people who do not want to see an African American run our country, no matter that he's the best candidate running for office. African Americans always have to work or fight harder for the benefits of white america! I'm tired of this, and change is coming, whether you racist idiots want to see it or not! And in a decade or so, you all will be the new minority in this country, so you'll know what it feels like. If Obama had an ounce of the problems that Palin and McCain had, George and those like him would be all over it, but the media is down-playing a lot of this. I'm glad Barack is where he is because he's exposing all of the true racist white people in this country, and I'm keeping a mental note of all of this! You all, along with Steponopoulos, are pathetic. Make sure this November you all go into the voter's both with y'all white hoods on!

Posted by: Obama supporter | Sep 7, 2008 11:26:42 AM

Obama hasn't done anything? Obama hasn't reached across party lines? You people really need to do your research. Obama worked with a Republican on a measure to help keep WMDs off the black market. He has championed ethics reform. He bucked against his party on the FISA bill because it was a compromise measure that gave him some of the things he wanted, but not others (that was unpopular with his party).

Obama has already shown that he will work with Republicans. He has already shown a willingness to compromise and work out bills that will pas rather than get stuck with each side demanding an all or nothing mentality.

The Dems did want to cut off troop funding, in order to bring an end to an illegal and immoral war. That does not mean that Obama will not grow our military. We need more boots in our Army, and fewer cold war projects that have hampered us so much. Obama helped get the GI bill passed, while McCain, once again, opposed helping our veterans.

Palin has done more than Obama? Yep, she sure has. She requested more earmarks for her state (per capita) than any governor in the country. She attempted to ban books from the town library. She had to hire an administrator to run her town when she showed her incompetence in doing it. Her town receives 20 times the pork per person than the average citizen. Despite record surpluses, she increased consumption taxes on things like food, borrowed money to pay for unneeded projects while she left the infrastructure untouched, and left her small town 22 million in debt. She swept her veto pen as Governor. Unfortunately she used it on everything she didn't understand, and the state congress was forced to restore most of those projects, as they were vital to Alaska. She sued when the polar bear went on the endangered list, because that would protect land that big oil wants to drill on. She has shown a NIxonian attitude as a politician, and viciously attacks anyone who does not agree with her. She NEVER works across party lines, and is an all or nothing radical right wing ideologue.

McCain? He has flip flopped on more issues than I can count. WHenever he thinks he can get a vote, he changes his mind. He is no Maverick. What policies he HAS talked about, he is squarely in the Bush camp. His idea of change is to do things the Bush/Cheney way, just bigger and more of it. His campaign is run by lobbyists. His foreign policy is written by foreign lobbyists. SOme of his campaign lobbyists are lobbyists to dictators with ties to terrorists. Some change there.

If you want change, how can you possibly vote for the party that created the mess we are currently in? McCain has admitted that his party has failed and has become corrupt. Why should we trust it?

It is time to return the Dems to power. Last time they were in power we had a great economy, and were respected in the world. It is time for us to return to those values.

Posted by: Ormsfang | Sep 7, 2008 11:28:46 AM

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