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Volume XII
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
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CONTACT: George Cecala
Phone: (312) 756-0025
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Obamanation (O-ba'-ma-NA'-shin): n. the act of saying something to a target audience with the sole purpose of currying favor, while in fact having acted in direct opposition to the expressed idea.
Obamanation:
"…which is why I've been responsible, in this state, for one of the most successful welfare reform programs in the country (we've cut the welfare rolls in half); that's why I've emphasized things like child support, providing mechanisms to hold fathers responsible for their children." (Barack Obama speaking in the third U.S. Senate debate, Tuesday, October 26, 2004)
Reality:
Welfare reform in the state of Illinois was a result of several federal and state initiatives which began implementation back in 1993 with US Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala:
"HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today approved a welfare reform demonstration in Illinois which seeks to encourage adults receiving welfare to become employed or increase their existing earnings while receiving benefits under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program." [1]
Another important initiative responsible for welfare reform in Illinois was Governor Jim Edgar's Task Force on Human Services Reform which was chaired by Gary McDougal. The reform package was signed into law by Governor Jim Edgar on July 3, 1996. According to Illinoisleader.com:
"On that day Gov. Jim Edgar signed a welfare reform bill that MacDougal helped write. In the more than seven years since that signing, Illinois has emerged as a leader in welfare reform, shrinking state welfare rolls more than 67 percent statewide and more than 60 percent in Cook County." [2]
Years after these reforms, Barack Obama did co-sponsor legislation to track the successes of "welfare to work." He also sponsored SB-883, the Transportation to Work Act, which died in the Illinois Senate. [3]
Also, in 1997, Barack Obama was the only state senator to fail to support SB-0853, a bill that amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act to help keep the Department of Children and Family Services accountable. [4] The bill allows the DCFS to disclose information regarding an investigation of an abused or neglected child and the services being offered to the child and family, so long as the release was not contrary to the best interest of the child.
Translation:
Barack Obama says he was responsible for welfare reform in the state of Illinois. But the truth is that Barack Obama wasn't even in office when these welfare reform initiatives were undertaken. Barack Obama is talking out of both sides of his mouth. He had nothing to do with the overhaul and change in philosophy that took place within the Illinois state human services apparatus. Furthermore, Obama talks about every child being covered by health insurance. But he disappears when the welfare of children conflicts with entrenched bureaucratic and public employee union interests. Obama failed to support important legislation to protect abused kids and hold government bureaucrats accountable.
It's typical Barack Obama: take credit for the achievements of others, and fail to show up when real leadership is needed.
Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate from Illinois. He has been known to say he supports one thing after having acted to undermine that very thing. Obama has a record of increasing taxes, maintaining the status quo and pandering to special interests. (See also: leftist ideologue, liberal extremist, Democrat Double-Talk.)
- News Release: U.S. Department of HHS, Tuesday, November 23, 1993, http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/1993/welfdeil.html
- Illinois Leads the Nation in Welfare Reform; by Steve Stanek, Illinois Leader, Wednesday, September 10, 2003; http://illinoisleader.com/news/newsview.asp?c=8321
- SB883: Transportation to Work Act; 91st General Assembly, Obama: Sponsor, 01-01-09 S SESSION SINE DIE
- SB853: Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act; 90th Gen. Assembly, Obama Vote: Present, 5/12/97.
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