Obama’s Liberal Roots

Documents obtained by The Politico suggest that Barack Obama has moderated his positions on several issues since his early political life, a charge the candidate denies. He has also tried to distance himself from the label of most liberal senator. Perhaps the former community organizer doth protest too much?

One need only read Obama’s “Dreams From My Father” to get a sense of his progressive values. Still, a lot of his magic comes from his ability to wink at the left while cozying up to independents and Republicans. John Kerry tried that, though much less successfully.

The Politico:

During his first run for elected office, Barack Obama played a greater role than his aides now acknowledge in crafting liberal stands on gun control, the death penalty and abortion — positions that appear at odds with the more moderate image he has projected during his presidential campaign.

The evidence comes from an amended version of an Illinois voter group’s detailed questionnaire, filed under his name during his 1996 bid for a state Senate seat.

Late last year, in response to a Politico story about Obama’s answers to the original questionnaire, his aides said he “never saw or approved” the questionnaire.

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