Voting Records

[masomenos]

I was doing some research on the voting records of McCain and Obama. I started with Obama and was shocked to see how many votes he missed during the session of the 110th Congress. There were 638 issues to be voted on and he missed 290, 45.5% of the possible votes. In comparison Senator Ted Stevens who suffered a brain hemmorhage and missed several months recovering missed 311 votes or 48.7% of the total votes. So I went to check McCain's record and he's missed more than anyone (Barack was 3rd) with 407 votes missed or 63.8% of the total votes.

Why are our two nominees the senators who have voted the least? I don't get it.

[MilesAustinforMVP]

I was doing some research on the voting records of McCain and Obama. I started with Obama and was shocked to see how many votes he missed during the session of the 110th Congress. There were 638 issues to be voted on and he missed 290, 45.5% of the possible votes. In comparison Senator Ted Stevens who suffered a brain hemmorhage and missed several months recovering missed 311 votes or 48.7% of the total votes. So I went to check McCain's record and he's missed more than anyone (Barack was 3rd) with 407 votes missed or 63.8% of the total votes.

Why are our two nominees the senators who have voted the least? I don't get it.
They are campaigning. Duh.

[masomenos]

They are campaigning. Duh.

Wouldn't their percentage of missed votes be closer if that were the only reason, considering they've been campaigning for the same amount of time.

[Aikbach]

Wouldn't their percentage of missed votes be closer if that were the only reason, considering they've been campaigning for the same amount of time.I can only speculate that between the campaigning, simply being out of town or purposely skipping some votes out of not desiring to cast a vote on a particular piece of legislation it added up to such.

Not excusing it, simply pointing out possible explanations for lots of absences.

[masomenos]

It just seems ridiculous that they can campaign for a new job while ignoring the obligations of their old position.

[trickblue]

It just seems ridiculous that they can campaign for a new job while ignoring the obligations of their old position.

I've always felt that members of Congress should step down if they want to campaign for another position...

Running for Congress and President at the same time is ridiculous...

[Aikbach]

I've always felt that members of Congress should step down if they want to campaign for another position...

Running for Congress and President at the same time is ridiculous...

Bob Dole set an honorable example by doing as much, although he didn't succeed in his run for the White House he proved he was serious and not luke warm in the pursuit; all or nothing which was daring.