UMD Libertarians

Sen. said Saturday he is simply acting pragmatically in softening his opposition to additional oil drilling along the nation’s coastline, a shift Republicans say shows he is calculating and out of touch with voters.

Speaking in Florida, Obama insisted he still generally opposes additional drilling as his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain, once did as well but would be willing to support it as part of a new bipartisan energy proposal that seeks to lessen dependence on foreign oil.

“If we can come up with a genuine bipartisan compromise, in which I have to accept some things that I don’t like, or the Democrats have to accept some things that they don’t like in exchange for actually moving us in the direction of actual energy independence, then that’s something I’m open to,” the Illinois Democrat said.

Oil drilling, a hot topic in Florida, has been a point of dispute between Obama and McCain in recent weeks.

“Sen. Obama says he wants energy independence, but he doesn’t support anything that serves that goal,” McCain said Saturday in his weekly radio address. “He believes every domestic energy source has a problem. I believe every energy source needs to be part of the solution.”

Obama, meanwhile, delivered his most pointed critique on questions about negative campaigning, including suggestions last week by the McCain campaign that he had played the “race card” when he said he does not look like previous presidents.

“In no way do I think that John McCain’s campaign was being racist. I think they’re cynical,” Obama said. “Their team is good at creating distractions and engaging in negative attacks and planting doubts about people.”

Obama said his comment did have something to do with race, but he was trying to make a broader point about how he believes he is being painted as risky.

“I’m young. I’m new to the national scene,” Obama said. “My name is . I am African-American. I was born in Hawaii. I spent time in Indonesia. I do not have the typical biography of a presidential candidate. What that means is that I’m sort of unfamiliar and people are still trying to get a fix on who I am.”

Obama dismissed suggestions by some in the media and the McCain campaign that he has acted presumptuously. “If I was presumptuous, or taking this for granted, I wouldn’t be working this hard this week. I’m beat.”

Later, in a speech to the National Urban League convention in Orlando, Obama pledged to avoid the kinds of attacks McCain’s campaign has made in the past week.

“I’m not going to assault Sen. McCain’s character,” he said. “I’m not going to compare him to pop stars.”

McCain ads criticize Obama as being a celebrity like Britney Spears or Paris Hilton.

At another event in Titusville, Fla., on Saturday, Obama sought to counter reports that he would use funding from the successor to the space shuttle program to help pay for his education proposals. “We’ve got to make sure that the money that’s going into NASA for basic research and development continues to go there,” he said.

McCain, meanwhile, used his radio address to contrast his record of independence with Obama’s speaking skills.

While calling Obama an “impressive orator,” the Arizona Republican added that it was a lucky thing for him that people “aren’t just choosing a motivational speaker.” He also portrayed Obama as a tax-hiker who will expand government.

“Government is too big, and he wants to grow it. Taxes are too high, and he wants to raise them. Congress spends too much, and he proposes more. … We’re finally winning in Iraq, and he wants to forfeit,” McCain said. “With an agenda like that, a knack for rhetoric comes in mighty handy.”

Tribune correspondents Mark Silva and Jill Zuckman contributed to this report from Washington.

This should really upset the liberal bloggers/MSNBC etc
Not at all. It takes the wind out of the sails of the one issue McCain and the GOP had going for them. Obama showing again why he is far superior to McCain.

its just another clear example of how he will say anything to get elected

When your own candidate himself has flip-flopped on the issue, you really have no room to argue about pandering.

I just love how Obama throws out “bipartisan compromise”, when he has never been part of one.
The real problem in this thread is the blunt stupidity of the thread starter. He believes everyone should have a clear position on all issues and no nuance should exist in politics. He’s the typical voter that McCain is looking to persuade to vote for him.

In reality, Obama is taking a compromising position to pass legislation he belies is ultimately good for the nation. For the longest time he has taken the “bipartisan” approach to politics in which he isn’t simply aligned to an issue and completely uncompromising on that issue. He takes a pragmatic approach to government wherein he can evaluate the issues on both sides and come to a conclusion of which is the lesser of two evils. The charges of flip-flopping appeals best to the typical working class retard who needs a “straight talker” to feel comfortable with because he can’t use the brain power necessary to fully understand an individual if he’s anything less than adamant on a position at all times.

Such nuance is completely ignored by your post.

And what do you define as a bipartisan compromise?

Or maybe they just want a candidate they can trust. Like, how maybe you’re just defending ‘flip-flopping’ because its Obama’s who’s doing it and not the other guy.
obama would favor a cock in his ass if it meant getting into office. i’m not saying mccain wouldn’t either but this is such obvious pandering.

I don’t really see why you can’t trust a person who embraces one of the most fundamental principles of his candidacy: bipartisanship.

I also don’t see how you can’t trust a candidate just because he is doing something pragmatic instead of the same old political stances that keep government moving at a snail’s pace.

Also:

“The charges of flip-flopping appeals best to the typical working class retard who needs a “straight talker” to feel comfortable with because he can’t use the brain power necessary to fully understand an individual if he’s anything less than adamant on a position at all times.”

I can point to a handful of bipartisan legislation that John McCain has worked on, what bipartisan work does Obama have?
Obama willing to compromise to get shit done.

only after John McCain led him there

lol@you

he said this two weeks ago, lol:

“If offshore drilling would provide short-term relief at the pump or a long-term strategy for energy independence, it would be worthy of our consideration, regardless of the risks. But most experts, even within the Bush administration, concede it would do neither. It would merely prolong the failed energy policies we have seen from Washington for 30 years. Senator Obama believes Americans need real short-term relief, which is why he has proposed a second round of stimulus with energy rebates for working families. And over the long-term, Senator Obama understands that our national security and the survivial of the planet demand a real strategy to break our dependence on foreign oil by developing clean, new sources of energy and by vastly improving the energey efficiency of our cars, trucks and our economy. He is ready to lead such a transformation.”

cool quote hansel

he’s still not saying he thinks it’s a good idea…

It’s called compromise, because all the GOP wants is offshore drilling.

It’s also called good politics.

Win-win.

then why would he be for it?

he’s not “for it”

he’s simply said that he’ll consider it as a compromise.

Good politician who understands what is necessary to get things done. This is not a bad thing unless you like the current state of our government where nothing of importance ever gets done because both parties constantly fight in order to avoid having to compromise on anything.
Really though it’s an excellent position to compromise on because nobody really gives a fuck and it won’t hurt anyone.
The Obama cult continues. It’s not ‘flip-flopping,’ it’s pragmatic government. Obama is an old-time, old-fashioned strategic campaigner. What comes out of his mouth is whatever will get him elected. It’s like saying ‘new and improved’ on a package of something you buy from a supermarket. Same old product, different packaging.

Serious question: was Obama ever actually opposed to drilling?

That is, did he ever actually say it was really a bad thing? Everything I ever heard from him simply said it was a distraction and wouldn’t help our problems with foreign oil and gas prices. (Which he still says).

I might be wrong though, it’s not an issue I’ve followed closely.

Your cynicism is too great to argue against. I can see that you’ve made your biased opinion without even contemplating nuance in government.

Just comparing John McCain’s attack ads against Obama’s can give you a sense of the simplicity (and stupidity) of McCain’s constituents. After all, why else would he be putting out these ads if he didn’t think it would work on the people he wants to vote for him?

If you want Obama’s policy guidelines, go to his website. His constant talk about hope and change is just to bring excitement to his speeches (and hey it works — even John McCain is attacking him based on how good he talks as if that’s a bad thing ). Most of the people he gives speeches to are probably too dense and ADD to listen to him rattle on about policy anyway Anyone who’s serious about analyzing him can easily just go to his website. Along with John McCain’s website.

Read my initial post. How can you be so dense to not read what Obama says? He isn’t for off-shore drilling but would accept it as a small part of a larger piece of legislation to effectively improve America’s energy security (in his opinion).

There is no “flip-flopping”. He is compromising to get legislation through congress. These charges of “flip-flopping” directly pander to morons who need a simple politician with simple values and simple positions. Any sort of nuanced positions that involve compromising to get things done is always a bad thing. Yet, in real life, a “simple politician” would be a complete failure since he’d be unable to bend his opinion even when conditions say that it’s a good idea to do so lest he be attacked as a “flip-flopper”

I don’t know why you keep on insisting there wasn’t a flip flop, I never said there was. How dense can you be.

I am questioning Barack’s record on bipartisanship, though.

This implies you think it was a flip-flop (or something very close to it).

And that post wasn’t just for you. It was for the others who also believe he’s “flip-flopping”.

Here’s one piece of bipartisan legislation Obama was a part of:

Just one though

Wrong. When the facts change people change their minds.

What is it that you do when the facts change, sir?

an appropriations bill that someone else introduced for him, that is some great experience.

how have the facts changed in the last week?

It takes more than a week to develop a well thought out and articulated policy?

or, should one of the most important policy points facing this country be made from the gut and on the spot with no research and examination?

that didn’t answer my question, what changed in the last week to make Obama rethink his plans for a policy?

Now Obama wants to unleash the
Soren is exactly right.

“Straight talker” and “100% consistent” can simply mean you’re too stubborn or stupid to ever change your mind on something.

Whereas on the other hand, someone intelligent who can change their mind and do what is best can be called a “flip flopper.”

I would find either extreme very uncomforting to be honest. I don’t want a stubborn moron, but I do want someone with integrity who will do the right thing.

And as for the rest of the article, I think the McCain attacks are fairly pathetic.
Attacking your opponent because he is popular?
Attacking him because he is getting younger people involved in politics?
Attacking him because he’s a good speaker?

They’re fairly feeble points really.

So, he flip-flops on an issue and McCain is now supposed to be all about it?

The longer Obama keeps running his mouth, the smaller his chances of being elected become.

I don’t disagree with being pragmatic but what has changed in the last week in order to change Obama’s mind.

I think garbagemanlb hit the nail on the head, and at least he is being honest. It has nothing with looking for a better policy but rather with what is doing politically expedient.

I don’t like your question

As to what changed? Maybe he decided to shift his thinking because of a preponderance of evidence?

His anti-drilling stance may have been no good. And he changed his mind after the facts overwhelmingly pointed to that fact.

Should he stick to failed policies to avoid being labeled a flip-flopper? I think not.

Should someone be labeled a flip-flopper for abandoning a failing policy position for a more pragmatic approach to government?

Again I haven’t called him a flip flopper, I have no problem with pragmatic government. I am just wondering what made him change his mind and I think it has something to do with his falling poll numbers

…

Didn’t you read the post you quoted? He gave REASONS why Obama switched. All of which are more sensible than simply switching based on poll numbers.

what evidence made him change his opinion, I am looking for something specific. I think garbagemanlb hit the nail on the head, at least he was honest enough to admit it. There is no doubting Obama is a master politician, much better than Nancy Pelosi who is getting slammed so bad for that she ran out of town

I don’t know specifically why Obama changed his position. And i don’t think that his personal reason are necessarily important. He probaly saw all the same things you and I saw.

elected officials have the responsibility to lead based on reasons other than their own personal convictions. Polling numbers indicate the will of the American people. This will is fickle and should not be the only guiding factor a politician uses, but there is nothing wrong with taking a stance that supports what the American people need.

John McCain has bucked his personal ideology, his past position, and the radicals in his party in order to effectively lead (think: supreme court appointment battles) . This makes John McCain a good leader.

Barack Obama is doing the same thing; making politically risk choices that are good and sound policy.

ibpartisanhate

Indeed. Alas this nuanced position of governing is lost on the majority of the voting population. They are easily influenced by marketing gimmicks and phrases intended to subvert rational thought.
He’s flopped on Wright, on his church, on firearms.
Hell, he chewed the automakers out for not making more fuel-efficient cars…when his ride was a Hemi 300C. After called out for that, he bought an Escape Hybrid.

…and the flops continue. I hate GWB, but he’s shown more spine than the Junior Senator from Illinois.

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