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Andy A

Beach Fanatic
Feb 28, 2007
4,389
1,738
Blue Mountain Beach
What is it about changing your mind on an important issue that makes the main stream media call that change "flip-flopping"? Obama is being called a flip flopper for his change in his attitude about campaign financing. McCain is a flip flopper over his change in oil drilling policy. When did we, as the American public, start accepting that a change in one's perception based on new and creditable information was a dastardly thing? As I have said before, my wise but uneducated father use to say, "A wise man often will change his mind, a fool never does." I'd like some SoWaller's thoughts on this phenomenom which I feel is caused by the news media, particularly the TV networks. I think it goes along way toward stirring the pot unnecessarily and artificially creating a dissension between the political parties that shouldn't exist. What do you think and is there any solution? Or is it a non issue.
 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,706
3,339
Sowal
It's a non-issue for me as I agree with your quote (especially as Shrub never changes his mind).

The media just doesn't have enough to report on - flip flopper is more newsworthy than "changed his position/opinion from several years or months ago"
 

TooFarTampa

SoWal Insider
I agree. I am much more disturbed by people who refuse to reconsider an issue or change their minds. When I read six or seven years ago that W sees the world in "black and white," it horrified me. Almost all I see are shades of gray.
 
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Beemn

Beach Lover
Jan 1, 2006
89
3
so wal
Actually Andy I think the term flip flopper was coined by the swift boat scum to smear John Kerry. The term became common then. Both sides have their spin and the media is part of the problem. All the bitter miserable talking heads on conservative talk shows keep pumping the spin. For example; look up the word liberal! I am happy to be one. It is not a bad word. To hear chub face hannity use it, you would think it is the worst thing in the world. Same with red state vs blue state. More spin. Red blooded americans vs blue blood elitists. Thats the current spin from the talking heads on Obama.
 

elgordoboy

Beach Fanatic
Feb 9, 2007
2,507
888
I no longer stay in Dune Allen
I am frustrated by the way the media handles many topics until I realize that they aren't fooling anyone that does not want to be fooled. Non issue imo and thanks for posting.
 

ASH

Beach Fanatic
Feb 4, 2008
2,153
443
Roosevelt, MN
Any candidate is supposed to be listening to the voice of the masses in making their decisions. At least that's the way it was explained to me.

We shouldn't expect any one running for office to be perfect and have all the right answers, but the media surely does. It makes for good gossip I suppose.
I'm guilty of not wanting to trust someone if they change their minds. I guess that makes me a sucker for the news too. Sorry
 

rapunzel

Beach Fanatic
Nov 30, 2005
2,514
980
Point Washington
It's been an effective tag line to hang on someone in the past. It's hurt more than a few Presidential candidates. IMHO, buzzwords like "flip-flop" just cheapen political discourse. It's been used by pundits who dismiss nuanced positions, and shows a disrespect to the intellect of the average voter. I care much more about how and why candidate's views evolve than simply whether or not they do.
 

hnooe

Beach Fanatic
Jul 21, 2007
3,022
640
I guess the question to be asked, or the suspicion arises from whether they (the politician) "flip flopped" on a particular issue just to to help their poll numbers in an election ( i.e.,Romney and the Abortion Issue), or whether it can from a carefull re-assessment of their current personal belief system or that new knowledge came into play and gave them clearer insights (ie., Hillary Clinton's Vote for the War in Iraq).

How can anyone really tell why a politician changes their mind? :dunno:
 

Will B

Moderator
Jan 5, 2006
4,551
1,313
Atlanta, GA
Obama is running a TV ad up here in Atlanta, right now, that would make you think that he's running on the Republican ticket. Seems to me he's saying anything and everything that he thinks people want to hear...

If people can't figure out what he's truly about, things could get dicey for him...
 

30ashopper

SoWal Insider
Apr 30, 2008
6,845
3,471
58
Right here!
Obama is running a TV ad up here in Atlanta, right now, that would make you think that he's running on the Republican ticket. Seems to me he's saying anything and everything that he thinks people want to hear...

If people can't figure out what he's truly about, things could get dicey for him...

McCain is running one on CNN that makes him sound like a Liberal. :shock: It just blows me away how much these loosers pander to the public.
 
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