ABC News is out with a new story that further reinforces the fact that Barack Obama is an "uh-oh, better get Maaco politician"; an old style politician with a fresh coat of new style paint.
In 2003, while serving in the Illinois State Senate, Barack Obama completed a survey by the Illinois chapter of the National Organization of Women (NOW) which asked him several questions including:
A.) Would you vote to repeal the Patriot Act?
B.) Would you support legislation to repeal the Protection of Marriage Act?
C.) Would you support legislation that eliminates all discrimination in the military based on sexual orientation?
In 2003, Obama provided the following answers to those three questions...
Would you vote to repeal the Patriot Act?
Yes, I would vote to repeal the U.S. Patriot Act, although I would consider replacing that shoddy and dangerous law with a new, carefully crafted proposal that addressed in a much more limited fashion the legitimate needs of law enforcement in combating terrorism (for example, permitting a warrant for the interception of cell phone calls, and not just land-based phones to accommodate changes in technology).
However, on March 2, 2006, U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D - Illinois) voted to re-authorize the Patriot Act [Source: 3/2/2006 Senate Roll Call Vote #029]. In fact, on February 16, 2006, Sen. Obama had this to say on the floor of the United States Senate:
"This compromise does modestly improve the PATRIOT Act by strengthening civil liberties protections without sacrificing the tools that law enforcement needs to keep us safe [...] So, I will be supporting the Patriot Act compromise. [Source: 2/16/2006 Floor Statement of Senator Barack Obama on USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization].
Would you support legislation to repeal the Protection of Marriage Act?
I support laws recognizing domestic partnerships and providing benefits to domestic partners. However, I do not support legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.
On a campaign flyer targeted towards members of the LGBT community, presidential candidate Obama stakes out this position:
"Obama also believes we need to fully repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions." [Source: Barack Obama campaign flyer "Barack Obama On LGBT Rights" (PDF file)].
Would you support legislation that eliminates all discrimination in the military based on sexual orientation?
I would have to examine specific legislation, but I would oppose policies that fail to advance equal rights in the military.
This was really a yes or no question. Let me re-state it for everyone's benefit...
...Would you support legislation that eliminates all discrimination in the military based on sexual orientation?
Yes or No.
Obama's answer: "I would have to have examine specific legislation..." Now, Obama "has taken a strong stand against 'don't ask, don't tell,' at times comparing it to the integration of blacks in the armed forces as both a moral issue and an achievable goal." [Source: 11/30/2007 New York Times article "A New Push to Roll Back `Don't Ask, Don't Tell'"].
Boy, Obama sure does seem like an old style politician; giving the answers that suit the political moment. In 2003, he said he was against the Patriot Act, but voted for it in 2006. In 2003, he said he was against the repeal of DOMA, but now he's for it in 2007. In 2003, he said he'd have to "examine specific legislation" dealing with LGBT discrimination in the military, now he's completely for ending "don't ask/don't tell".
This doesn't look like a new style of politics to me. Once again, it shows that Barack Obama is an "uh-oh, better get Maaco" politician; old style politics with a new style coat of paint.