Barack Obama/Controversies

2005 investments
On March 7, 2007, the New York Times reported that Obama had invested more than $50,000 worth of stock in two "speculative" companies whose major investors included some of his largest political donors. One of the companies was a biotech concern that was starting to develop a drug to treat avian flu. In March 2005, two weeks after buying about $5,000 of its shares, Mr. Obama took the lead in a legislative push for more federal spending to battle the disease. The most recent financial disclosure form for Obama also shows that his blind trust bought more than $50,000 in stock in a satellite communications business whose principal backers include four friends and donors who had raised more than $150,000 for his political committees.

On March 6, 2007, Bill Burton, a spokesman for Obama, stated that the senator "did not know that he had invested in either company until fall 2005, when he learned of it and decided to sell the stocks... He sold them at a net loss of $13,000." Burton further explained that "Obama’s broker bought the stocks without consulting the senator, under the terms of a blind trust that was being set up for the senator at that time but was not finalized until several months after the investments were made."

ACORN
In the weeks leading up to the 2008 Presidential election, MSNBC reported the FBI was looking into ACORN voter fraud in several states. Obama's staff worked to delay investigations into Obama's former employer. In this way, hundreds of thousands, if not many more, votes may have been overcounted. Documents released by Judicial Watch on March 11, 2010 reference serious allegations of corruption and voter registration fraud by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform, as well as the Obama administration’s decision to shut down a criminal investigation into these matters. For a more detailed treatment, see ACORN scandals.

Marxist New Party
In 1995, Obama accepted the nomination and ran as a candidate of the openly Marxist New Party. For a more detailed treatment, see Obama's terrorist and communist associations.

Education Propaganda
Ethical issues over candidate Obama's infiltration of the education system to spread propaganda arose following an incident at a Wisconsin public school. The public school was caught pushing Barack Obama's memoir Dreams from my Father, under the claim the instructions were to teach the students about "literature." Since then, allegations of "Obamaganda," used to describe education propaganda praising Obama, have been reported across the United States.

Civilian National Security Force
On July 2nd, in Colorado Springs, Obama gave a speech where he called for the Service Employees International Union, his former employer, to become a "civilian national security force" with as much power and funding as the U.S. military. The SEIU is a union that Barack Obama has made a pledge to help give them more power and strength, and to eventually help him "paint the nation purple."

57 States controversy
During Obama's campaign through Oregon, Senator Obama was quoted as saying he had visited 57 states, not including Hawaii and Alaska.

"It is wonderful to be back in Oregon," Obama said. "Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states? I think one left to go. Alaska and Hawaii, I was not allowed to go to even though I really wanted to visit, but my staff would not justify it."

Special Olympics
Candidate Obama cultivated an image of sportsmanship and competition; as President, Obama ridiculed disabled people who compete in the Special Olympics. The comments "set us back decades," according to the program's director. (Video)

External resources

 * Project Vote Smart's database of Obama's interest group ratings, Obama's important votes, McCain's important votes and McCain's interest group ratings.