Why did Obama join Republicans in passing a law dubiously called the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA)?

[ludano17]

that would shut down state courts as a venue to hear many class action lawsuits. Long a desired objective of large corporations and President George Bush, Obama in effect voted to deny redress in many of the courts where these kinds of cases have the best chance of surviving corporate legal challenges. Instead, it forces them into the backlogged Republican-judge dominated federal courts.
By contrast, Senators Clinton, Edwards and Kerry joined 23 others to vote against CAFA, noting the “reform” was a thinly-veiled “special interest extravaganza” that favored banking, creditors and other corporate interests. David Sirota, the former spokesman for Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee, commented on CAFA in the June 26, 2006 issue of The Nation, “Opposed by most major civil rights and consumer watchdog groups, this Big Business-backed legislation was sold to the public as a way to stop "frivolous" lawsuits.

[berwin]

JustGood-There are more similarties between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and a huge difference with John McCain-if you look at the whole story.

The bankruptcy bill of 2005 S. 256 was a bill that made it harder for people to declare bankruptcy when their debts overwhelmed them, made it harder for struggling people to keep basic assets like a roof over their heads when working out bankruptcy arrangements, and increased the return for credit card companies that were already making huge profits. Those who voted to pass the bill helped protect the high-profit, high-interest-rate consumer credit industry against people struggling just to keep their heads above water.

On the bill’s final passage John McCain voted YES to pass the bill. McCain voted in favor of the interests of credit card companies and against the interests of people struggling to make ends meet. Barack Obama voted NO against the bill, voting to keep protections for people in American bankruptcy law. Hillary Clinton was not present to vote on the bill’s final passage.

Before the bill made it to a final vote in the Senate, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both voted to prevent the closure of debate on the bill (such a vote is called “cloture” in the Senate). John McCain voted to stop talking about the bill and pass it already to help out his friends in the credit card industry.

Before the cloture vote and vote on final passage, the Senate voted on a series of amendments to the bankruptcy bill:
One of the tricks the credit card companies use against people is to set the minimum payment at a level that’s so low as to actually increase the amount of debt people hold month by month. Amendment 15 by Senator Daniel Akaka would have simply required credit card companies to tell people that’s what they were doing. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama voted for Amendment 15. John McCain voted against it. If it hurts credit card company profits, John McCain’s against truth in lending.

Obama's vote on the CAFA is probably why he got approval to be a "viable" Candidate by the Ruling Class. Clinton and McCain have thier sins against the majority as well. The Candidates that had near perfect records-Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul-on Corporate vs Citizen issues and against the Military Industrial Complex/Wars/Occupations were deemed "unviable" and were banned or marginalized by the Corporate media. I just feel Hillary Clinton's long history of "Free" Trade and Imperialism is more objectionable than Obama bowing to Corporate interests on this vote.

[unss94]

"When multimillion-dollar settlements are handed down and all the victims get are coupons for a free product, justice is not being served," said Obama, stating the legislation provides “a safeguard for the most blatant abuses of the system."

[sonny]

I don't know his reasons for voting on every single bill that has come before him. I don't expect to be in agreement with anyone on every single vote.

PS, nice cut and past.

http://quartz.he.net/~beyondch/news/index.php?itemid=5413

[gedalyahu]

Well, think about it like this. If a lawsuit concerns thousands of people from all over the country, isn't it better to have it heard in a federal court rather than a court of one state? Why should a judge in one state, elected by people of one state or appointed by one governor, make a ruling that affects the whole country?

[piaras91]

Yes, EVEN Obama votes Correctly --- once in awhile.

It's you that will pay for those Frivolous Lawsuits--- when you get a job and pay taxes.

[ammi]

Yes, EVEN Obama votes Correctly --- once in awhile.

It's you that will pay for those Frivolous Lawsuits--- when you get a job and pay taxes.

The simple answer is because he is a fake!

[cumhea]

Because Obama has the support of the republicans that didn't think their party had a chance or who didn't want Clinton to do well, Obama I am sure likes that extra support want wants to continue to receive it.

[bachir93]

Maybe because he belives in it. And how do you know everyone in Washington knew about it. Your blogger from EU are you?

Are we to take you word for it. Any links to what your saying?

[ring]

Because he's not really a "civil rights lawyer." He just plays one on TV.