Friday, November 27, 2009

Opinion

Public Opinion: When Are John McCain and Barack Obama's Flip-flops Not Flip-flops?

Under what circumstances is it OK for presidential candidates to change their positions on an issue?

Posted August 5, 2008

Whether on offshore drilling, Iraq, taxes, or a variety of other issues, changes in the policy positions Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain have held have been criticized in the blogosphere and media as either (depending on your political preference) craven flip-flops or leaderlike evolutions responding to changing circumstances. When is it OK for a politician to change his or her previously held policy position? Post your thoughts below.

Previously: Barack Obama and offshore drilling—a flip-flop or real leadership?

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Reader Comments

flipping isn't always flopping

People grow, they evolve but when a poliician "clarifys" or outright changes his position on a major issue one must ask why. A case in point was John McCain's revamping his immigration plan. In his own words, he "got the nessage", referring to the public outcry against amnesty in any form in favor of border security. Compare that to the Obama switch from "drilling for oil is a gimmick" to "I am open to drilling" within 24 hours. It is still clear that McCain's position on immigration is still based on his belief that the systemic issues need to be addressed but he realized that that goal must follow border security. Obama's about face appears to be more related to polls than to a real empathy with the American voter.

For more on this and other issues, check out nobullnobias.blogspot.com

Dump McCain!!

John McCain is going to get steamrolled on November 4th by an empty suit (Obama), and there is really nothing that McCain can do to iron out the wrinkles in his own already “empty suit”.

I, being someone who will not "pick flies out of sh*t" in my choice for a presidential candidate, neither McCain nor Obama is qualified for our nations' most important job. McCain will have to choose a real dope for his running mate in order to prevent being overshadowed and having his lack of substance revealed.

The best thing that we can do is NOT nominate him at all and choose Ron Paul instead at the GOP convention in September!! Ron Paul is more than qualified, has a plan that will work and will lead our nation honorably. Ron Paul can raise the money, get people excited and has the best chance of beating Obama of all the other Republican candidates. The GOP would be foolish not to nominate Ron Paul! This will also explain why Ron Paul’s “ Rally for the Republic “ will most definitely overshadow John McCain’s presumptive nomination at the dull Republican National Convention down the street.

It's not too late to admit that McCain is a bad choice and to remedy the situation. If no one is excited about McCain now, they surely won't be two months from now. Get the geezer out now so we won't have a 1996 repeat of Bob Dole! McCain can't win if he doesn't have the support of the conservative base and nothing is going to change that, plain and simple! There will not be a last minute reprieve by disgruntled Republicans this time around to save him when most people are finally rejecting the worn-out lesser of two evils argument. If McCain remains as the nominee until November, he will destroy the Republican Party and run its members out to most likely join the Libertarian or Constitution Party, or simply drop out of the voting process all together. This wouldn't necessarily be a bad scenario as long as these people are not continuing to do the same thing that yields the same bad results. John McCain had his opportunity in 2000 and failed, and this is not even the same John McCain as then; but a worn out neocon with nothing to offer. It’s time to “Dump McCain”!!

It depends on why they changed their position

If it's purely for political expediency, then it's a flip-flop. If it's because of changing circumstances, the evolution of the person's thinking or experience, or the need to compromise with opponents to get something done then it is understandable, even if I don't necessarily agree with it.

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