Off-shore Drilling Explanation,,,Not a Flip-Flop

[kurtboss]

I was discussing Obama's switch on off-shore drilling and my friend made a good point.

Reframe this obeying the will the people. Still maintain his personal stance against it. Let states decide.

This keeps his integrity. Gives people their drilling. Gets a bad issue off the table. And shows Obama to be sensitive to the will of the people.

[Radical Activist]

1. ummm...Obama still opposes off shore drilling.

Its not just a "personal" stance. Obama making a statement about the nature of politics involving compromise doesn't mean he changed his stance on it.

If we the people make enough arguments against it then Obama won't have to make that compromise.

[kurtboss]

2. Too Late

He had to move on it and did. What he doesn't want to get into is all kind of explanation.

This is one simple explanation that doesn't require elaboration.

Obama saw how people were for it. So, although it wouldn't be his choice, he's just a representative of the people and will let states decide.

He can still maintain McCain is using a gimmick and say he thinks we need serious change.

[Radical Activist]

5. Well, I can't see the first black President taking a states rights stand.

Obama is against off shore drilling and I think he should stay that way.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. I think Obama made the right move

if the rest of us ensure that it gets framed the right way. In fact, I think that with so many people seemingly brainwashed into believing that lifting the ban on offshore drilling will reduce gas prices NOW, stepping aside somewhat and allowing the GOP to press their attack without ongoing opposition may help us inject some real facts into the debate. Up until now, the GOP has been able to hammer away at Obama for opposing offshore drilling and claiming, dishonestly of course, that he and the EVIL Democrats are preventing the rest us from getting some price relief at the pump by refusing to allow the poor and humble oil and gas companies from getting more oil here and keeping us in slavery to ME countries that hate us. Now that Obama and the Democrats are signaling that they are willing to consider allowing more offshore drilling (at least as part of a COMPREHENSIVE energy plan) then people will need to see an immediate effect on gas prices and if they don't get it then the GOP is going to have to be the ones doing the explaining about why they haven't and the GOP will have to explain why it isn't happening sooner/faster. At least theoretically..........???

[ajh60]

4. I have to disagree

Even though he is right. He basically said if it was tied to good legislation and was safe and within reason he would not stop it. A good position to have. That is great in this forum. McCain's ad will have Obama saying no a dozen times and then him saying yes....fade to the words flip flop, having two positions etc. If it is a bad idea it is a bad idea, no matter how many may want it. If every position is going to be poll based, then we will lose in November.

Obama ran as another, newer kind of Democrat. McCain is painting him as more of the same. He is having some success at that.