Thread: Obama would not be called a flip-flopper if...

Obama would not be called a flip-flopper if he simply aknowledged that he is changing his position on an issue rather than trying to be sneaky and act as if he held that position the whole time.

Can anyone name a single instance where Obama has admitted that he is changing his position on any issue during this campaign?

Gotta go, be back in a couple hours.

Why is it so important that Obama verbalize that he's changed to a better position? It's not. What is important is that he recognizes a better position on a particular issue and adopts that position. That is precisely what he has done.

Originally Posted by Zarathustra

Obama would not be called a flip-flopper if he simply aknowledged that he is changing his position on an issue rather than trying to be sneaky and act as if he held that position the whole time.

Can anyone name a single instance where Obama has admitted that he is changing his position on any issue during this campaign?

Reasonably intelligent people understand a change of position. Most politicians running for office would never make an "admission" that you see as necessary, because although you say you would see it as acknowledging a change, no matter how honest or realistic it is, the sound bite would immediately end up in a commercial from the opposition.

This goes for Obama, McCain, Bush... anyone. The only one dumb enough to do that that I can remember in recent history is John Kerry. All you have to do is think back to all the sound bites of "I was against the war before I was for the war" or whatever nonsense that was and you can see why politicians understandably shouldn't do what you are asking them to do.

Originally Posted by Bourne

Why is it so important that Obama verbalize that he's changed to a better position? It's not. What is important is that he recognizes a better position on a particular issue and adopts that position. That is precisely what he has done.

It's dishonest. Obama is supposed to be all about honesty and yet if he cannot simply say "My bad, I was wrong" then there is something seriously wrong with him. It shows that he is sneaky and afraid to admit being wrong.

Originally Posted by boontito

Reasonably intelligent people understand a change of position. Most politicians running for office would never make an "admission" that you see as necessary, because although you say you would see it as acknowledging a change, no matter how honest or realistic it is, the sound bite would immediately end up in a commercial from the opposition.

This goes for Obama, McCain, Bush... anyone. The only one dumb enough to do that that I can remember in recent history is John Kerry. All you have to do is think back to all the sound bites of "I was against the war before I was for the war" or whatever nonsense that was and you can see why politicians understandably shouldn't do what you are asking them to do.

In that respect John Kerry actually isn't really a flip-flopper since he was honest about it. He lost the election, however, because of the Swift Boaters, not because of changing his mind on the war.

Originally Posted by Zarathustra

It's dishonest. Obama is supposed to be all about honesty and yet if he cannot simply say "My bad, I was wrong" then there is something seriously wrong with him. It shows that he is sneaky and afraid to admit being wrong.

There's nothing dishonest about changing one's position to a position having a better effect.

Because a politician changes their position doesn't mean that their original position was in the leasst bit wrong. It just means that they've adapted their position to national and international changes.

Originally Posted by Zarathustra

It's dishonest. Obama is supposed to be all about honesty and yet if he cannot simply say "My bad, I was wrong" then there is something seriously wrong with him. It shows that he is sneaky and afraid to admit being wrong.

No it shows that he is a politician and just like ALL politicians....well all that stand a snowballs chance in hell of winning.....he realizes that to give an opponent a soundbyte they can use is just plain stupid.

You should know that Obama doesn't flip flop...he has conversions. Anyway, this is similar to what he did when running for the Senate. He gave that oh so talked about speech in which he condemned the Iraq war. So, he opposed the war. However, when public opinion was in favor of the war, he states that there isn't much difference between him and Bush concerning the war at that stage. Then there is his voting record, which completely contradicts his original position.

It appears he is doing the same thing now. When he needed to appeal to only those of his own party, he criticized the war. Now, that he is the presumptive nominee, his positions are changing. He is trying to appeal voters who support the war. And the thing is, I think he is being dishonest in his rhetoric about opposing the war. Since 2005, he has voted to approve the war appropriations put forth. He also voted in favor of the reauthorization of the Patriot Act. I thought he cared about civil rights. Then there is his "conversion" concerning telecom immunities. Didn't he also vote to confirm Condi?

Regardless of who is elected, we will remain engaged in war. His statements and positions on the war are confusing and contradictory. I guess this should be expected from a lawyer. In my opinion, he will not live up to his promises on withdrawing from Iraq.

Yes...Obama does equal change...he changes his positions quite frequently! I am waiting to see what his next "change" will be.

thats the problem. people equate a change of position with being "wrong" on the first position. thats not always true. lets say i wake up one saturday and look at the weather and see they're calling for rain. so i decided to not go to the beach. then by 2pm its a beautiful sunny day, so i decide to go to the beach. was i "wrong" for not going to the beach in the morning? did i "flip-flop" on my beach going position? of course not. my position changed as time progressed, new developments arose, and i gained new information.