5 Flip-Flops of the Presidential Candidates and Their Running Mates
1. Sarah Palin and the "Bridge to Nowhere"—Palin has said that she told Congress, "Thanks, but no thanks," about the $400 million Alaska bridge project. But when running for governor in 2006, Palin supported the bridge. Once she became governor, she began to shift her position.
2. Joe Biden on the vice presidency—In April 2007, he said he would not be VP "under any circumstances"; in June 2008, he said, "I am not interested in the vice presidency." Now he's Barack Obama's running mate.
3. Barack Obama on using the Strategic Petroleum Reserve--Obama's energy plan, released August 4, proposes tapping into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to relieve high gas prices in the short term. In July, Obama said that we should not use strategic oil reserves at this point.
4. John McCain on the Bush tax cuts—McCain opposed tax cuts proposed by President Bush in 2001 and 2003, but when they came up for renewal in 2006, he voted in favor of them.
5. Barack Obama on campaign financing—In the fall of 2007, Obama said he would "aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election." In June of 2008, Obama announced he would not participate in the public financing system.
Source: PolitiFact.com
Reader Comments
flip flops
What have the presidential said thatis contradictory about homosexuality and abortion.I think this candidates should come out clear to reveal their stand.
I went to the sites Peter suggested and found them to be bogus. I found no 'dirt' in any of them.
One not mentioned is the Obama flip on "The Surge." He steadfastly held to the opinion the surge did NOT work. Until he got on the OReilly Factor and admitted the surge DID work, but (another famous Obama but) it didn't work as expected. It sure didn't, it was far greater than anticipated. Then he addeed another but; the Iraqis have not made the polical progress desired. What's he gonna say when the last two (of twenty) benchmarks have been met.
It's amazing how average people can alter their opinions and subsequent stance on an issue as they get more information on the subject. If the first stance is all you can have is the standard then it is impossible to get a fair trial in this country. In some cases the media tries the case before it gets to court. And their opinion of guilt shows in their reports. If a juror has any hint of an opinion (a nearly impossible feat, given the amount of information the media inundates us with) then they should not be allowed to be on a jury for that case because they can't change their opinion when the facts are revealed that show otherwise.
Here is a latest flip of OBama; tax increases are the best way for us to save the economy. ("OBama: My Tas Hikes Would Hurt the Economy" US N&WR today) If we really look we will find many others.
Sen. NcCain's viewpoint on the surge was altered by his visit to the leaders and troops in Iraq.
The same is true for his view on his own bill - after several visits to the border zone of Arizona.
A revelation for all; it's OK to change your mind if there si sufficient reason for the change.
But to blame others for being just as wrong as you were is an indication that you are not a leader; rather, you followed some other leader. If that leader is another politician, maybe that's the one that should be running. Only after the Speaker said she'd support offshore drilling did Sen. OBama alter his stance.
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