Obama flip flops.....

Barack Obama has postured as a Progressive, but now that he's the apparent Democrat nominee, he has thrown that over the side and is now trying to be Mr. Middle America.  It's easy to document because he does it every time he re-states a new nuanced position.  Here are some key examples.

Negotiate with our enemies

Will Obama work for world peace by opening lines of negotiation, or will he just be an extension of Bush?  You decide.

May 16, 2008 - Obama - "I say that in every town hall meeting that we have and every rally,” Obama said. “What I have said is that I will meet with not just our allies and our friends but I will initiate tough diplomacy with our enemies. That includes Syria, Iran, North Korea and Venezuela. I would meet with them and I would meet with them without preconditions although with preparation."

April 16 - "We must not negotiate with a terrorist group intent on Israel’s destruction”

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Gun Control

Do you think communties should have the right to ban guns?  I do.  How about banning guns in churches, airports, schools, or Disneyland?  Obama now agrees with gun advocates and the Bush Supreme Court... you DON'T have the right to declare a gun-free city.

June 26 - "Today’s ruling, the first clear statement on this issue in 127 years, will provide much-needed guidance to local jurisdictions across the country."

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Faith-based Initiative

This is one of the WORST ideas Bush ever came up with, and now Obama is going to EXPAND it.  This is naked electioneering, clearly pandering to the right wing religious element by promising to pump your tax dollars into churches.  How does "Constitutional Scholar" Barack Obama square this with the 1st Amendment?  He DOESN'T.

July 1 - I'll establish a new Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The new name will reflect a new commitment. This Council will not just be another name on the White House organization chart - it will be a critical part of my administration.

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FISA Fiasco

His speeches and campaign statements speak for themselves.  Here they are.

10/18/07 - Obama: "It is time to restore oversight and accountability in the FISA program, and this proposal -- with an unprecedented grant of retroactive immunity -- is not the place to start."

10/24/07 - Bill Burton: "To be clear: Barack will support a filibuster of any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies."

12/17/07 - Campaign statement: "Senator Obama unequivocally opposes giving retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies and has cosponsored Senator Dodd's efforts to remove that provision from the FISA bill. Granting such immunity undermines the constitutional protections Americans trust the Congress to protect. Senator Obama supports a filibuster of this bill, and strongly urges others to do the same. It's not clear whether he can return for the vote, but under the Senate rules, the side trying to end a filibuster must produce 60 votes to cut off debate. Whether he is present for the vote for not, Senator Obama will not be among those voting to end the filibuster."

1/28/08 - Obama: I strongly oppose retroactive immunity in the FISA bill. Ever since 9/11, this Administration has put forward a false choice between the liberties we cherish and the security we demand. The FISA court works. The separation of power works. We can trace, track down and take out terrorists while ensuring that our actions are subject to vigorous oversight, and do not undermine the very laws and freedom that we are fighting to defend. No one should get a free pass to violate the basic civil liberties of the American people -- not the President of the United States, and not the telecommunications companies that fell in line with his warrantless surveillance program. We have to make clear the lines that cannot be crossed. That is why I am co-sponsoring Senator Dodd's amendment to remove the immunity provision. Secrecy must not trump accountability. We must show our citizens - and set an example to the world - that laws cannot be ignored when it is inconvenient.

6/20/08 - Obama: "It is not all that I would want. But given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as President, I will carefully monitor the program, review the report by the Inspectors General, and work with the Congress to take any additional steps I deem necessary to protect the lives -- and the liberty -- of the American people."

6/25/08 - Obama: Well, the bill has changed. So, I don't think the security threats have changed. I think the security threats are similar. My view on FISA has always been that the issue of the phone companies per se is not one that overrides the security interests of the American people.

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Public campaign financing

This issue is CRITICAL.  It's the first step to removing corporation control over our government and public policy.  But Obama was for it before he was against it.

February, 2007 - Barack Obama challenged Republican presidential candidates to agree to public financing of the general election. John McCain responded positively, prompting Obama's campaign spokesman, Bill Burton, to call on other Republican candidates to follow suit. The headline in the New York Times: "McCain and Obama in Deal on Public Financing."

June 20, 2008: Obama - "We’ve made the decision not to participate in the public-financing system for the general election. This means we’ll be forgoing more than $80 million in public funds during the final months of this election."

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Israel and the Middle East

Do you think anything is going to change in US policy in the ME under an Obama presidency?  Think again... he will continue the same policy that has been in place for 50 years, namely, Israel can do anything it wants and the US will support it without comment.

Obama's AIPAC speech

Reviewing the speech, Ha'aretz Washington correspondent Shmuel Rosner concluded that Obama "sounded as strong as Clinton, as supportive as Bush, as friendly as Giuliani. At least rhetorically, Obama passed any test anyone might have wanted him to pass. So, he is pro-Israel. Period."

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Iraq

Tell me what the difference is between Bush's Iraq policy and Obama's Iraq policy.  There's not a dime's worth of difference.

 On July 3, Barack Obama "refined" his Iraq policy.

“I have always said that I will listen to commanders on the ground. I’ve always said that the pace of withdrawal would be dictated by the safety and security of our troops and the need to maintain stability.”

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Can you seriously say this guy is telling you the truth on ANYTHING?