I don't like the expression "flip-flop" for two reasons. First, it doesn't appropriately describe a principled change of position. For example, McCain's been accused of "flip-flopping" on making permanent the Bush tax cuts. If he can demonstrate a principled reason or reasons for doing so, fine. Same with ANWR. If he goes there with Gov. Palin, reviews the situation, considers the changed facts, and changes his position, so what?
Obama is free to do the same as well. One problem is that he's such a blank slate, it's hard to tell where he stands on many things. That's why it's funny to watch how he test drives positions, gets reamed, and then backs and fills.
We need many more of these straightword timeline graphics for too many things. Start with Jeremiah Wright. Then Ayers. Then Rezko. Do one for his wife. Move on to dealing with Rogue nations. Then his AIPAC stumble. Map out his position on Supreme Court appointments and tie it to his support for the law enforcement mode of dealing with terrorists. Americans needs to see simple graphics on these to make it clear how week Obama really is. |
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I am delighted and greatly relieved by Obama's "flip flop" on this issue.
This proves to me that he will be a tough, serious contender who will play hard ball just as well as the GOP.
I was afraid that he was too polite, too nice, too honest to go up against the GOP Hate Machine once it gets going in full gear.
This move convinces me that President-Elect Obama is in it to win it, and I couldn't be more pleased. |
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Well you got that right, Obama definitely isn't too honest. |
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You may be delighted but there are people out there who voted for Obama because they thought he was different. Now he looks like all the rest. Those same voters may do their own flip-flop in November! |
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It's...CHANGE we can believe in!
What a phoney. |
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This morning, I was in a hurry and didn't proofread my comment. I hate when people tell me that there are "[X] things to consider" and tell me only "[X-1]."
My mistake.
The second reason I dislike the expression "flip-flop" is that it trivializes what the candidate has done when he or she hasn't made a principled decision to change policy.
In Obama's case, it also mischaracterizes several categories of mistakes that he's been making throughout the campaign.
First, he offered several weasel explanations for what he knew to be going on in his former church. We still don't know what he knew, and there's no need to believe his excuses. He's basically a dishonest man.
Second, he's a lousy judge of character: Wright, Pfleger, Ayers, Rezko, Axelrod, and the like. He defends them till the hilt until he swears he knew nothing about them.
Third, in the Ohio primary, he dishonestly criticized NAFTA all the while assuring Canadians to ignore everything he said. I think he's done this kind of thing elsewhere too.
Fourth, in the area of Iraq, diplomacy with rogue nations, AIPAC and Israel, the law enforcement model of fighting terror, he's taken some completely idiotic and he and his advisers spend a week backtracking, denying, and recasting untenable positions. And if that doesn't work, he blames McCain for misstating his position.
All these should be considered far more serious than easily disregared "flip-flops." He fundamentally is a man of very low character. |
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Obama is rightly accused of "Flip Flop" on campaign finance.
But, you GOPers give McCain a TOTAL pass on his off shore drilling "Flip Flop."
You people have no shame.
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internet henchmen directed people to Obama's website to see what Obama's platform was.
Up until yesterday any and all people going to that website were told by Obama himself:
"Obama supports public financing of campaigns combined with free television and radio time as a way to reduce the influence of moneyed special interests. Obama introduced public financing legislation in the Illinois State Senate and is the only 2008 candidate to have sponsored Senator Russ Feingold's (D-WI) tough bill to reform the presidential public financing system."
NOW, it's gone.
For a screenshot of the website see: http://noquarterusa.net/blog/
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I am not sure about flip-flop either. Come out and say, "I had this position on this and now I have researched the topic and have become more aware of how important it would be....to drill or something like that.
Or say, at the time I thought it was the right thing, but now I don't think so.
Now if they said this for every issue, then there would be a big problem.
And Sam as you wrote Obama is a blank slate. I never heard of the guy before he decided to run. The one thing that I will say, the first time I heard him do a speech on television, I was not facing the television, I was dusting. And I remember thinking, this guy speaks nice, but he did not really say anything. In fact, I was not sure what his speech was about. |
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Yes, I give McCain a pass on ANWR, because ANWR is the right thing to do for the country. McCain is open minded enough to look at new information on it, as he should, for the benefit of the country. With today's cleaner technology, I think even McCain's hero Teddy Roosevelt would give ANWR a second look, if the nation's well being and security were at stake.
Meanwhile, instead of advancing the cause of campaign finance reform in a bi-partisan way, Obama has thrown the interests of the country under the bus, simply because he wants more money.
Screw the reform I said I stand for, gimmie the cash, says Obama.
So, I have no shame in my partisanship -- but Obama has no shame in being a politician first, and not much class. |
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