January 22, 2004

Drudgery
Posted by Jon Henke

Make no mistake, Drudge is not in the business of reporting the news...he's in the business of hyping the news. His latest "exclusive" is a good example....

Iowa darling and Dem presidential hopeful John Edwards easily flips and flops on major issues, a DRUDGE REPORT investigation can reveal.
...
The senator from North Carolina "strongly opposes investing Social Security in the stock market," according to his campaign website.
...
But just 5 years ago, the DRUDGE REPORT can reveal, Edwards supported investing Social Security funds in the stock market!

In a speech on October 6, 1998 in Raleigh, Edwards told a group of senior citizens that Social Security surpluses - money not needed immediately to pay benefits - should be invested and kept separate. A portion of the money, up to 10 percent, could be invested in the stock market and the remainder put in secure investments such as treasury bills, Edwards explained.

Hm. So.....John Edwards has changed his mind on an issue? Stop the presses! Alert the authorities!

...and hands up if you haven't changed your mind about anything in the last 6 years. No? I thought not.

TrackBack

Comments

I don't thing the point is so much that he changed his mind per se, but that his change of mind just happens to coincide with the Dem position on the subject. Ideological purity or REAL thought which caused a change of heart?

On the surface, and having watched Joe Lieberman do essentially the same thing when he accepted the VP nomination in 2000, the cynic in me says it falls under the "idelogical purity" catagory as one more pean to the Democratic base with an eye to solidifying their support behind his candidacy.

Its all about politics of pragmatism

Posted by: McQ at January 22, 2004 10:44 AM

Okay,so, like ... I support privitization of Social Security. But I might be wrong. If a prominent who formerly shared my current view now has a different view, I'm interested to learn why.

If there is a reasonable case to be made for changing one's mind, a politician ought to be able to articulate that case.

If there's a mighty wind a'blowing and a politician indicates that he has his wet finger uplifted into it ... well, I'd like to know that, too.

So, yeah, I think it is news to hear of the opportunity for a politician to indicate what sort of person he is -- policy maker or wind sock.

Posted by: Pouncer at January 22, 2004 11:01 AM