To Hillary: In Praise of Political Flip-Floppers Everywhere

[Herman Munster]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/blake-fleetwood/to-hillary-in-praise-of-_b_71002.html

Debate moderators, the main stream media, bloggers, and television superstars never seem to tire of the Gotcha question, as Hillary pointed out to Tim Russert in this week's debate: But, didn't you support drivers licenses for illegal immigrants --- gun control, gay marriage, abortion, universal health care, and Iraq ---- before you started opposing it?

This is a magnificent season for the ever so sanctimonious flip-flop cops.

And they have much to work with. Almost all the current crop of presidential candidates, both Republicans and Democrats, are flip-flopping all over the place.

But Gotcha questions are almost always self-serving ploys, and pundits and political reporters, of all people, know it. The constant trumpeting of these trick questions quickly becomes tiresome and ultimately not very illuminating. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds adored by little statesmen, wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson.

With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day. -- 'Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.' -- Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood?

It would be sheer folly to expect unwavering constancy or even, complete honesty, for that matter, from politicians during an election, much less during a nominating process.

Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage, as H.L Mencken once said.

[jgraz]

1. Hillary is NOT a flip-flopper

You have to actually take a stand on an issue before you can change it.

[Deja Q]

2. I always thought she prefered to stand on a podium...

but she'll just have to step on whatever she wants instead. Issues are nice. She has issues. :evilgrin:

[still_one]

7. The Kerry nuance had better stop if we want to win the white house in 2008

and that doesn't just go for Hillary, but for all the leading Democratic candidates, along with Congress

[Think82]

3. Funny David Brooks op-ed on the debate:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/opinion/02brooks.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[Rageneau]

11. What's funny about another wingnut attack piece?

There is nothing in this (typical) Brrok's column but one insult after another flung at all the Democratic candidates in an(other) attempt to make them ALL look like charlatans.

This is character assassination, not journalism.

Which figures -- because most wingnuts who masquerade as journalists are, in fact, professional character assassins.

[rucky]

4. "Quoting Emerson and Mencken...

doesn't make this an intelligent arguement," as Rucky once said.

[MethuenProgressive]

5. Compared to Edwards, Hillary's the Rock of Gibraltar.

And Obama? Well, missing over 3/4 of the votes in the Senate -
who knows if he's a flipflopper or a don'tgiveashiter?

[sniffa]

6. pretty Lame defense

and it's not fLip-fLopping as it is taLking out of both sides of her mouth and never giving a direct answer.

she's a Leader!!

[ddeclue]

8. Sorry but the questions Hillary got asked were not "gotcha"..

It's just that Hillary is afraid to ever take a clear stand for fear of having to offend some voter some where.

Well guess what?? The 90's are over and people want politicians who are going to be clear as to what they believe - and Hillary can't seem to move past Bill Clinton-esque 1990's style triangulating... It's old, it's worn out and the voters just won't stand for it.

So whine all you like about "gotcha" questions but the fault is all Hillary's for not being able to simply say "Yes" or "No" to a yes or no question and then shutup and stop trying to qualify her answer and give herself weasel room.

Actually the most offensive double speak answer she gave in my opinion wasn't the Driver's license question but her weasely statement that she's opposed to the RUSH to war with Iran

Well I learned to diagram sentences in English class into subject verb and object and the object of that declaratory sentence by Hillary is that she is opposed to the RUSH, as opposed to a war with Iran.

So as long as it happens "slowly" apparently Hillary is still for a war with Iran...

She could not simply say "I am opposed to war with Iran".... It would have been simple and clear but she could not say it because she might offend some pro-war-with-Iran voter somewhere????

Give me a break...

She did it again with Social Security and yet again with driver's licenses trying to take two or more sides of an argument and holding none of them convincingly.

This is why Hillary's campaign is now imploding... It's not because she's "being picked on"... Ironically this deflection/excuse tactic is itself a case of trying to take two sides to the argument of "I'm tougher and smarter than the men up here on this stage" and at the same time "All these mean old men are picking on poor little defenseless old me..."

Well which is it Hillary? Are you ready for the big leagues and can handle the debate from six or seven other men (by the way Hillary got the most speaking time of any candidate in the debate) or do you want your opponents to stop picking on you because they're mean old men and you're a defenseless woman???? I certainly hope it's the former and not the latter..

Make up your mind Senator Clinton...I've made up mine...

Doug D.
Orlando, FL

[Maribelle]

9. Hillary is not hardly afraid, nor is her campaign imploding. In fact, her numbers ticked up.

She was perfectly clear on Social Security, and Iran. She has no vote on drivers licenses, that was truly a gotcha question. As well as Russert's lying pomp over the documents, also gotcha.

Just because you do not agree with her does not mean she is not clear.

[Rageneau]

12. So -- yes or no -- do you have an irrational hatred of Hillary?

If yes, then you are irrational and shouldn't be listened to.

If no, then do you presume that your hatred of Hillary is rational?

Yes or no?

[zulchzulu]

10. Sorry Mrs. Clinton, but it was a question that you got yourself tangled up in

If Mrs. Clinton can't handle a simple question with a "yes" or a "no" and has to flail in the pool like someone who can't swim, then she is certainly the best chance for a Republican victory in 2008 if she is the nominee... which she won't be anyway.

The "Poor Me" act was even worse than the "Ha Ha Ha Funny..." act.

It's Focus Group time. Again.