Understand the bias, discover the truth in your news. Get Started
Politician Ratings
Help
As the original politician, when you claim your page and subscribe to our services and Politician platform, you will have access to add and edit your Contact information, Political Stances, Blog, etc.

David Obey

Democrat, Wisconsin
Former US House of Representatives

Born in Oklahoma and raised in Wisconsin, Obey attended the University of Wisconsin, receiving his BA in Political Science. Before he served in Congress, he worked in real estate for a period of time. In the 1960s, he became a part of the Wisconsin State Assembly. From the years 1969-2011, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 7th District. During his time in the House of Representatives, he was a member and chair of the House Appropriations Committee from 1995-2011. David Obey is 87 years old. Based on voting history, policy positions, and public statements, David Obey demonstrates a Center political bias. Compare David Obey with other politicians in our Politician Bias Chart.

Analyst Rating
Help
Biasly’s analyst team evaluates politician twitter accounts, voting records, and statements made in the press to determine leanings. Our diverse analyst team includes equal representation from conservative, center, and liberal viewpoints on every article we rate.

Left

A.I. Policy Leanings
Help
Our policy leanings for David Obey show what policies David supports and opposes including David's conservative and liberal leanings based on the news.

0% Center

Extremely
Liberal

Very
Liberal

Moderately
Liberal

Somewhat Liberal

Center

Somewhat Conservative

Moderately
Conservative

Very
Conservative

Extremely
Conservative

-100%
Liberal

100%
Conservative

*Our bias meter rating uses data science including sentiment analysis, machine learning and our proprietary algorithm for determining biases in news articles. Bias scores are on a scale of -100% to 100% with higher negative scores being more liberal and higher positive scores being more conservative and 0% being neutral. The rating is an independent analysis and is not affiliated nor sponsored by the news source or any other organization.

A.I. Media Portrayal
Help
The A.I. media portrayal of David Obey shows how positively or negatively the media portrays David. Negative and positive sentiment scores are on a scale of -100% to 100% with higher negative scores showing that more media companies see David in a negative light and higher positive scores showing that more media companies see David in a positive light.

67% positive

David Obey’s Policy Stances

Left
Center
Right
  • Criminal Justice
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Foreign Relations
  • Gov. Dependency
  • Healthcare
  • Immigration
  • National Security
  • Reduce Budget Deficit
  • War on Drugs
  • Criminal Justice
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Foreign Relations
  • Government Dependency
  • Healthcare
  • Immigration
  • National Security
  • Reduce Budget Deficit
  • War on Drugs
Scroll ----->
  • Stances

  • Media Portrayal

  • Policy Leanings

  • News Mentions

  • Creations

  • My Articles

  • Contact

  • Criminal Justice

    Medium Left

    David Obey appears to have a moderate to liberal stance on criminal justice issues. He supported funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, which aimed to put more police officers on the streets, indicating a somewhat conservative approach. However, he also challenged the CIA's characterization of briefings on enhanced interrogation techniques, suggesting a more liberal stance on civil liberties and government transparency. Overall, Obey's criminal justice positions seem to fall in the Somewhat Liberal to Medium Liberal range.
    Source: Dave Obey - Ballotpedia, n.d.

  • Economy

    Very Left

    Wisconsin politician David Obey had a liberal leaning on economic policy. He was known for his leadership on the House Appropriations Committee, particularly its domestic spending subcommittees, and his efforts to use government to improve people's lives. Obey believed the stimulus bill passed during the Obama administration was not big enough and advocated for more aggressive public investments to address the jobs deficit and income inequality. His policy positions and voting record indicate he was a progressive Democrat who favored an active role for the federal government in addressing economic challenges.
    Source: “Bone-Tired” Obey Ready for Final Fight - POLITICO, n.d.

  • Education

    Somewhat Left

    Wisconsin politician David Obey had a generally liberal stance on education policy. As a long-serving Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Obey was known for his support of increased funding for education programs and initiatives to improve access to higher education. He advocated for policies that would make college more affordable and accessible, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds. While the sources do not provide detailed information on Obey's specific positions, his overall record suggests a Somewhat Liberal leaning on education policy.
    Source: Congressman David Obey A Unique Leader and Inspiration for Next Generation | NAFSA, n.d.

  • Energy

    Somewhat Left

    Wisconsin politician David Obey has a Somewhat Liberal stance on energy policy. He has consistently voted in favor of measures to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, and environmental protection, such as supporting the Cash for Clunkers program, environmental education grants, and Amtrak improvements. However, he has also shown some willingness to consider increased domestic oil and gas production, as evidenced by his opposition to blocking a website promoting the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. Overall, Obey appears to take a balanced approach, supporting both environmental and energy production priorities.
    Source: Doing It Right in the House | The Heritage Foundation, n.d.

  • Foreign Relations

    Very Left

    David Obey was considered one of the most liberal members of the House of Representatives during his time in Congress. He was a progressive Democrat who advocated for policies that aligned with liberal values, such as opposing the export of the F-22 Raptor to American allies and intervening when a fellow Democrat approached a Republican on the House floor over the Iraq War. Obey's stance on foreign relations was firmly on the liberal end of the spectrum, as he worked to forge a more constructive U.S. relationship with Central America and end the wars in El Salvador and Nicaragua.
    Source: Congressman David Obey A Unique Leader and Inspiration for Next Generation | NAFSA, n.d.

  • Government Dependency

    Very Left

    David Obey was a liberal Democrat who generally favored an expansive role for the federal government in addressing social and economic issues. He was a strong proponent of increased government spending on programs such as welfare, healthcare, and education, and he opposed efforts to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. Obey's voting record and policy positions indicate that he leaned towards the Very Liberal end of the political spectrum on issues related to government dependence and the role of the federal government.
    Source: Dave Obey - Wikipedia, n.d.

  • Healthcare

    Very Left

    Wisconsin politician David Obey had a liberal stance on healthcare policy. He consistently voted in favor of expanding healthcare coverage, including supporting the Affordable Care Act, increasing Medicare benefits, and allowing the reimportation of prescription drugs. Obey also opposed measures that would limit medical malpractice lawsuits or deny non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay. Overall, Obey's voting record indicates a Very Liberal leaning on healthcare policy.
    Source: Obey Says Health Care Bill Was a Long Time Coming, n.d.

  • Immigration

    Somewhat Right

    Wisconsin politician David Obey appears to have a somewhat conservative stance on immigration. He believes that Christians are required to obey U.S. immigration laws, and that those residing in the country illegally should take steps to rectify their situation, either by seeking legal residence or leaving the country. However, Obey also acknowledges the complexities involved and encourages pastors to provide compassionate counsel to those struggling with these issues. Overall, Obey seems to take a balanced approach, upholding the rule of law while also showing concern for the individuals affected.
    Source: David R. Obey | Congress.Gov | Library of Congress, n.d.

  • National Security

    Somewhat Left

    David Obey was considered a progressive and liberal Democrat during his time in Congress. He was a strong supporter of increasing funding for social programs and public services, while being more skeptical of military interventions and increased defense spending. Obey advocated for a "war surtax" on high-income earners to pay for the costs of the Afghanistan war, rather than relying on deficit spending. Overall, Obey's stance on national security issues can be characterized as Somewhat Liberal. Source: Dave Obey - Wikipedia, n.d.

  • Reduce Budget Deficit

    Somewhat Left

    Wisconsin politician David Obey appears to have a somewhat liberal stance on reducing the budget deficit. While he acknowledges the importance of addressing the deficit, he believes that a one-dimensional focus on deficit reduction is misguided, arguing that the government should also invest in areas like education, healthcare, and infrastructure to strengthen the economy in the long run. Obey criticizes politicians who are solely concerned with "green-eyeshade actions" and the "year-to-year deficit number," advocating for a more comprehensive approach that tackles various deficits the country faces.
    Source: Congress’s Biggest Obstacle - The American Prospect, n.d.

  • War on Drugs

    Somewhat Left

    David Obey had a liberal stance on drug policy. He voted against military border patrols to battle drugs and terrorism, and opposed prohibiting needle exchange and medical marijuana programs in Washington D.C. Additionally, Obey received a +30 rating from NORML, indicating a pro-drug reform stance. Overall, Obey advocated for a more treatment-focused approach to drug abuse, emphasizing the importance of domestic drug treatment and prevention services over supply-side interdiction efforts.
    Source: Departure Of Obey, Long A Liberal Titan, A Major Loss For Democrats : It’s All Politics : NPR, n.d.

Why Claim Your Politician Profile?

Claim your profile on Biasly and gain control over how
you’re represented. As a verified politician, you can:

Edit Your Profile

Including your biography and other public-facing information.

Clarify Stances

Customize your stances on this page for certain political issues.

Communicate Directly

Allow voters and users to follow your profile which you can send messages to from the Biasly platform.

Publish Blog Posts

Publish articles, opinion pieces, and important updates directly to your profile.

Upload Materials

Upload campaign materials, images, or supporting documents.

Be Transparent

Share accurate contact details for transparency to your desired audience.

See Advanced Analytics

Track how news outlets cover you with interactive bias charts.

Compare Politicians

Compare your politician profile and stances against other politicians with visual bias charts.

Scan Politician Speeches

Scan your politician speeches, articles with our bias checker. See what leanings you have and how to improve the speech.

If you want to go further, you can also sign up for Biasly’s Politician Bias Analytics Platform to track sentiment,
perception, and bias ratings over time. Email sales@biasly.com to get started, or if you have any questions.

How It Works
  • Claim Profile and Verify Your Identity – Our secure process ensures only authorized individuals can claim their profile.
  • Start Sharing – Once verified, you'll gain full access to customize your politician profile and manage your content.
See a full list of features and pricing for the Politician Analytics Platform pricing page.

Our politician ratings are based on recent news using data science and A.I. technology. We analyze hundreds of articles published by news sources daily to determine politicians and policy leanings.