Here is the article I remember reading. It does sound like Obama sometimes voted present for political reasons to avoid voting yes or no. Agreed, not in his favor. OTOH the article also mentions that Illinois has different rules. Not sure but you may not even be able to vote present in other states.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20obama.html


>Or it could just be that he didn't want to commit himself to a politically hot position...
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>Unless you have facts that prove otherwise? I'm open to both possibilities as he hasn't put into writing (that I'm aware of) his reasons for voting present when he did. I've only seen outsiders commenting on the many possibilities.
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>Oh and those determined to see the goodness in him no matter what will never look at the whole picture of 'facts' stacking against him. :o)
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>The same issues that troubled me before still trouble me now (although his tax plans certainly added a major concern to my list). There are issues I agree with him on as well and I'm still not convinced McCain is a better option. I'm leaning one way, but I'm still researching.
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>>>>Well, there is the fact that he likes to vote PRESENT. What the heck is that? He might as well vote RADIO, PLASTIC, RED er I mean BLUE..
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>>>>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20obama.html
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>>>Did you at least skim the article? He voted "present" 130 times out of around 4000 votes. That's about 3%.
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>>>It also raises a good question. What should a legislator do when presented with a bill he mostly approves of, but which contains some objectionable provisions? Hold his nose and vote "yes"? Vote "no" even though he mostly approves of it?
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>>>This is clearly an issue many legislators face. And, in the current political climate, whatever choice they make, they'll get blasted for it. Remember "I voted for it before I voted against it" (or the other way 'round)--it was the same kind of problem. A bill that was mostly okay, but contained something objectionable.
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>>>FWIW, one of things I like about Obama is that he assumes that Americans can actually understand nuance and want to hear more than sound bites.
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>>Voting "present" also has a unique role in the Illinois legislature that it doesn't have in other states. But those who want to bash Obama aren't going to be troubled by little facts like that.