Debates and the flip-flop issue

Kerry touched briefly on the fact that having a nuanced opinion is not a bad thing, but I think that the flip-flop label has to be shot down more forcefully still. Perhaps the acceptance speech is not the place to do it because it looks defensive. Also, ideally you do right to the other guy's face, which is why the debates are fertile ground for this.

What I envision is a simple, direct approach, along the lines of Reagan's "there you go again." There are countless issues on which Bush has flip-flopped and like Kerry's judo-like speech last night, they need to be used against him. One example among many is Bush's stance on the 9/11 commission whose recommendations are bound to come up in the context of the debates.

Kerry turns to Bush and says: "Mr. President, weren't you against the 9/11 commission when it was proposed, only to later change your mind? That sounds like a flip-flop to me."

And then follow that up, in order not to look like you've found a single flip-flop in a sea of consistency...

"Don't you agree, Mr. President, that sometimes after careful consideration and in the context of changing circumstances, one's opinion on a subject can change. That's not flip-flopping that's wise and mature leadership. It takes courage to admit a mistake, and blindness to adhere to a belief in the face of facts just for the sake of consistency. Isn't that right, Mr. President?"

And just as back up, anticipating a Bush response along the lines of - yes, but you can't change your opinions just for politcal expediency, I would come back with this:

"That's true Mr. President. But wouldn't it be unfair to attack your opponent as a flip-flopper when his views reflect careful consideration of changing circumstances in a changing world? After all, then your opponent might claim that [begin listing flip-flops here] one day you're a war president and the next you're a peace president, that you campaign on fiscal responsibility and then you run the biggest budget deficit in history. Wouldn't it be unfair to reduce your carefully considered choices and positions to such platitutdes to score easy points in a negative campaign. I think so too, Mr. President."

Hopefully a brief exchange like this would not only undermine the flip-flop attack, but would also expose Bush for his flip-flops, emphasize the negativity of his campaign, and hopefully leave G.W. looking like his baffled self.