I’ve seen quite a lot of support for Hillary Clinton from among the deaf and hard of hearing populations.

This support very much surprises me. I can’t help but wonder if they have really examined the record that these two candidates have. These supporters seem to think that Clinton is the more ‘experienced’ and ‘capable’ choice between herself and Barack Obama.

In this post, I will present the evidence that Obama, NOT Clinton, is, by far, the most experienced and capable, based on their legislative histories. I intend to set the record straight. This election and the coming decade are too important to not do so.

We, as deaf persons, would be far better served by a president that actually accomplishes things. So, let’s examine the facts. Let’s view the public record.

The truth is that Barack Obama has MUCH MORE substantive legislative experience than Hillary Clinton has. This is not an attack on Clinton. These are FACTS. Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term, and spent another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years. That’s it, JUST 20 items in six years!

These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress www.thomas.loc.gov, but to save you trouble, I’ll post them here for you. 1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.

2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.

3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.

5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.

6. Name post office after Jonn A. O’Shea.

7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.

8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.

9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.

10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men’s Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.

11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men’s Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.

12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.

13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.

14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.

15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty.

ONLY FIVE of Clinton’s bills are more substantive:

16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.

17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11

18. Assist land mine victims in other countries.

19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.

20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.

There you have it, the facts straight from the Senate Record.

Now, I would post those of Obama’s, who has also served just one term in the Senate, and two terms in the IL legislature, but the list is far too long and substantive, so I’ll number them into broad catagories, divided between his IL years, and just to give you a small taste, his achievements in just his FIRST year in the US Senate. You can check for yourself at the link above.

During the first – 8 – eight years of his elected service in the Illinois legislature he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced:

233 regarding health care reform,

125 on poverty and public assistance,

112 crime fighting bills,

97 economic bills,

60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,

21 ethics reform bills,

15 gun control,

6 veterans affairs and many others.

In just his first YEAR in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These include:

** The Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 – became law

**The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act – became law**

The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,**

The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, – became law,**

The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, In committee

Additionally, Barack Obama is responsible for the creation of this web site that let’s you check government spending : http://www.USASpending.Gov

so let me ask you…. who is the more experienced, capable candidate between Obama and Clinton? the facts do not lie, distort, cover-up, smear, or call attention to a person’s race as Clinton has done so far. Experience counts! Obama has run a clean campaign, refusing to engage in the smear tactics and lies and distortions that Clinton has. He has kept himself above such behavior, because his record proves itself. He does not need to resort to ‘Clinton tactics’. In short, Obama has CHARACTER and in my opinion, character counts just as much as experience.

Furthermore, Hillary has a personal wealth of about 40 million dollars and WILL NOT release her tax returns AND she WILL NOT release her first lady records. Obama, on the other hand, long ago released his tax records for the public to scrutinize. What is Clinton so feverishly hiding? She is running a mean, vicious and personal smear campaign, because she cannot stand on FACTS to counter Obama’s already wide experience compared to her own.