home
Obama's Liberal Survey: Did He or Didn't, Does He or Doesn't He? | 194 comments (194 topical)
But when will he stop fudging his position? (5.00 / 9) (#78)
by cymro on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 02:41:25 AM EST
Skex, I understand your argument. But if someone has to fudge their real principles and sidestep public conflicts just to become popular enough to get elected, and this stratagem is successful in getting him elected, what makes you believe he will suddenly develop a different personality afterwards?

It seems far more likely to me that he would continue to value popularity over principles, and to seek to deflect conflict by adopting the same stratagems that got him elected. And you can bet that anyone who opposes the liberal principles which you obviously value will recognize this tendency, and take full advantage of it. And your principles, and mine, will be the casualty.

That's why I'd much rather have a candidate like Hillary who is willing to fight and who is not in the least bit surprised when some people don't like her. Because if you stand up for what you believe in, you will never be universally loved. We've just had eight years of a president who tricked a lot of people into voting for him by claiming to be "a uniter, not a divider." That should be enough to demonstrate that political differences are real, and cannot be glossed over by smooth-talking candidates.

Though I hate to think of this, when the Republicans so deserve to pay for the last 8 years, it would even be better to nominate a principled candidate who loses to McCain, and wait another 4 years to reap the electoral benefits, than to elect a Democratic President who doesn't have the courage of his convictions when confronted by the inevitable Republican opposition.

[ Parent ]

Well said (none / 0) (#107)
by ColumbiaDuck on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 08:54:52 AM EST
I would add, too, that if Obama were to win the presidency, he would be up for re-election in four years.  So it would be likely he would continue his "winning" strategy into office to keep that office.

[ Parent ]
Bush was very good at "fudging" (none / 0) (#173)
by jawbone on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 10:58:02 AM EST
his actual stands. He was presented as a carefully crafted "compassionate conservative," and people could attach to him their own values. The only thing he was absolutely clear about was cutting taxes and appointing non-activist judges to the Supreme Court. For him, saving SocSec was getting his hands on the "lockbox" funds to give to his uberwealthy base.

Remember those kind of weird things he said in debates? Which turned out to be dog whistle phrases to assure his conservative base that he wasn't really what he was presenting himself as?

How well that worked out! Not.

[ Parent ]

Obama's Liberal Survey: Did He or Didn't, Does He or Doesn't He? | 194 comments (194 topical)

  • Premium Ads

  • Blog Ads

  • Contribute To TalkLeft

    donate to TalkLeft