The ‘Flip-Flopping’ Label Has Jumped the Shark
You know who never changes his position, no matter how wrong the facts prove him to be? George W. Bush. He just keeps throwing out new reasons why he’s right, hoping one will stick.
Modifying an incorrect position or reversing yourself when the facts prove you wrong may well be a flip-flop. But it’s also the mark of a sane human being. Remember: it’s the crazy people who keep doing the same thing after it’s clear that what they think is either not true or that it doesn’t work.
I hate the whole ‘flip flop’ label and the power it has in political discourse. What matters is (1) the changed position; (2) whether it represents a fundamental change in some core belief; and (3) the reason why the politician changed it. But instead of asking why the politician who said ‘A’ is now saying ‘A + B’ or is now saying, ‘Not A, C,’ people just dance around jeering, ‘Flip-flop! Flip-flop!’
There’s a difference between (1) elaborating or modifying your position to take account of new data, (2) because your core beliefs have changed, or (3) because you’re pandering to some hypothetical set of voters.
Before jeering at Barack Obama even about FISA (which I see as a true reversal, whereas his position on Iraq is not), be sure to check out these links about John McCain here and here. McCain’s hasn’t modified his positions; he’s changed his whole posture. And he didn’t do it based on new data or because his previous position was misunderstood. A number of his core beliefs have apparently changed or else he’s not being truthful about them.
7 Responses to “The ‘Flip-Flopping’ Label Has Jumped the Shark”
Finally, someone says it!!! Thank you Damozel. The whole “flip-flop” thing was a joke of an attack from the start in 2004. It continues to pick up steam and I'm not sure we can put the lid back on this genie bottle.
Changing ones mind is fine. Super. Im glad when a politician actually comes to a rational conclusions. Heck you know how much those liberals dance in glee when Conservatives do a flip flop, change their minds and start bashing Bush.
Super.
Obama did not change his mind. He compromised His principals. Campaign funding was a principal and he flip flopped and caved under the pressure of the DNC who wanted to win at all costs this year.
Obama did not change his mind on FISA. He changed is principals on amnesty to telecoms.
Changing your mind is one thing. When you change your mind that reflects on your principals is something entirely different. AND if you campaign that IM DIFFERENT. IM ABOVE THE FRAY. Im better then they are cause I will stand up to special interests………and
His first flip flop was to cave to a special interest. The DNC.
I only wish the people fond of the flip-flop nonsense would flip-flop and stop using the phrase. It has lost all meaning through overuse, anyway
And it gives me hives.
“Remember: it’s the crazy people who keep doing the same thing after it’s clear that what they think is either not true or that it doesn’t work.”
Excellent point Damozel, and one all too often lost on pundits and ideologues.
Some of us have never been so low-class or stupid as to use that stupid term either for “change or reversal of position” or for “sandal.”
Does anyone else think that the Obama-public finances thing is the biggest non-story of the entire election thus far?
Really, am I supposed to be appalled that he is drawing his finances from a record number of small donors instead of using our tax money?
No candidate should be able to help herself or himself to our tax money.