Office of president would force Obama to make choices
Barack Obama joined Washington's Senate club from the Illinois state Senate with a voting record creating inventive flip-flopping credentials, fine-tuned to the art of speaking with "forked tongue."

Casting votes and still not really casting any vote added new dimensions to proverbial old Chicago boss routines for covering two sides of one's backside. Placating both sides of different political forces affecting proposed legislation, he merely voted "present."

Obama's approach to maintaining his protective status quo in not having to face or take a specific position on controversial legislation, chose to neither vote for or against a bill, by voting "present" and sidestepping the issue. He invoked a "present" vote 120 times as a state senator.

Dwelling at times on the alleged unconstitutionality of a bill, his formula for explaining his "present" votes were based on an obviously contrived reasoning process of favoring a bill but being uncomfortable with certain sections, or not favoring a bill but being comfortable with certain sections.

With three vitally important primaries this month in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, it might be wise to pose the following question to their voters. Barack Obama, if elected to the presidency, will be required to make definitive decisions demanding a hard and fast yes or no. Can we really place the nation in jeopardy by rolling the dice with Obama?

Herbert Resnick

Marlboro