The Note: Obama Shifts Give McCain Opening
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein Reports in Friday’s Note: It’s not about guns — it’s about ammunition.
Thursday’s landmark Supreme Court may or may not have plopped gun control into the campaign. But it does place Sen. Barack Obama’s careful, cautious, sometimes contradictory (and dare we say Clintonian?) approach to tricky policy positions squarely in the center of the race.
An appropriate day for Obama to wrap himself in the Clinton legacy: As Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton seek unity in Unity, N.H., the emerging portrait of Obama, D-Ill., is of a politician who is racing for the centrist approach, and choosing his words mighty carefully.
Name your issue — on trade, taxes, guns, the death penalty, campaign finance reform, FISA — Obama may well be taking the politically smart position for a Democrat in these early days of the general election.
But the point is that he’s taking positions that are at least shaded differently than those he’s taken in the past, if not outright flip-flops. These are political calculations that make a dangerous assumption for Obama: that he’s willing to risk being called a “politician” at all.
“From the beginning, Barack Obama’s special appeal was his vow to remain an idealistic outsider, courageous and optimistic, and never to shift his positions for political expediency, or become captive of the Inside-the-Beltway intelligentsia, or kiss up to special interests and big money donors,” writes McClatchy’s Margaret Talev. “In recent weeks, though, Obama has done all those things.”
Read the rest of The Note — and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day — from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.
The post-primary migration is looking like a sprint: “In the last week, Mr. Obama has taken calibrated positions on issues that include electronic surveillance, campaign finance and the death penalty for child rapists, suggesting a presidential candidate in hot pursuit of what Bill Clinton once lovingly described as ‘the vital center,’ ” Michael Powell writes in The New York Times. “Mr. Obama has executed several policy pirouettes in recent weeks, each time landing more toward the center of the political ring.”
“His reactions to this week’s controversial court decisions showed yet again how he is carefully moving to the center ahead of the fall campaign,” Massimo Calabresi writes for Time. “Politicians are always happy to get a chance to accuse opponents of flip-flopping, but McCain’s team may be more afraid of Obama’s shift to the center than their words betray.”
This is audacity of a different variety: “Since securing the Democratic presidential nomination, when confronted with a series of thorny issues the Illinois senator has pursued a conspicuously conventional path, one that falls far short of his soaring rhetoric,” Kenneth P. Vogel writes for Politico.
“Obama passed up opportunities to take bold stands and make striking departures from customary politics. Instead, he has followed a familiar tack, straddling controversial issues and choosing politically advantageous routes that will ensure his campaign a cash edge and minimize damaging blowback on several highly sensitive issues.”
Continue reading today’s Note by clicking HERE.
ABC News’ John Santucci and Alexa Ainsworth contributed to this report.
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There is a reason they call McCain Mr Flip Flop Rick.It is obvious you are a very bias “reporter”.
Posted by: Jen | June 27, 2008, 8:47 am 8:47 am
What about McCain’s FLIP FLOPS?
McCain has FLIP FLOPPED this past year FAR MORE times than Obama has.
McCain is NO LONGER on the straight talk express but the double talk express.
Posted by: Paul | June 27, 2008, 8:51 am 8:51 am
Obama is UNELECTABLE!
His position on guns is UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!
He is so far out of touch with the American people and the US Constitution.
McCain ’08
Hillary ’12
Posted by: USVet | June 27, 2008, 9:02 am 9:02 am
A phony is a phony who never could hide his phoniness – too many boneheaded mistakes, too little too late. BTW he, the Bo, even looks phony.
Posted by: skinny dog | June 27, 2008, 9:03 am 9:03 am
If ABC would do a LITTLE RESEARCH, they would find numerous quotes from Obama where he says there is a right to own a gun, but not an *absolute* right.
And this is EXACTLY how he responded to the Supreme Court’s decision!
Posted by: John's conscience | June 27, 2008, 9:10 am 9:10 am
In the audacity of hope, Obama had always voiced support for the death penalty on heinous crimes such as child rape and others. That is not a shift. The gun issue was also not a flip. That has always been his position. Remember the Philadelphia primaries and the heated exchange with Hillary on gun control. The only flip on his part was the public finance but all said and done, he is still being financed by the public and saves the Government money that could be donated to the Hurricane Katrina victims and the Iowa flood victims.
Posted by: vuzous | June 27, 2008, 9:28 am 9:28 am
Mccain is the head of the association of flip-flops. He has flipped on immigration,Public finance, Bush tax-cuts,off-shore drilling,Iraq war and so many others. I have stoppped counting and have accepted that he is no longer maverick.His name is now McBush flip-flop.
Posted by: vuzous | June 27, 2008, 9:33 am 9:33 am
Obama’s problem could be that he will find the center is like a doughnut: there is jelly there or there is nothing there. Bill Clinton knows this and wisely stands back from the Obama campaign.
This could be the one election the Democrats believe they can’t lose but wise minds know they should for their own good.
Posted by: len | June 27, 2008, 9:33 am 9:33 am
Mccain has never built a business and has never governed too. His only experience is WAR.
Posted by: vuzous | June 27, 2008, 9:34 am 9:34 am
The democrats will only lose if Hillary Clinton’s supporters stick to their guns by not voting Obama. Obama surely needs their support to win and he is not denying that.
Posted by: vuzous | June 27, 2008, 9:37 am 9:37 am
McCain demonstrated his business skill, or LACK thereof, last fall when his campaign nearly went backrupt.
Does anyone remember the news stories about how ANGRY he bacame when he realized how fast his organization was burning through money?
What kind of chief executive is that? The kind who who wants to burn through HUNDREDS of BILLIONS of dollars in Iraq.
VOTE FOR BANKRUPT JOHN McCAIN!
Posted by: John's conscience | June 27, 2008, 9:43 am 9:43 am
There you go “Thinking” again.
Posted by: rockthebleachers | June 27, 2008, 9:45 am 9:45 am
Whahhhhh, Whahhhhhh, Whahhhhhh -
The sound of all of the Obama cry-babies because poor BHO is being exposed for the fraud he is. This guy swindled a bunch of voters in the Democratic primary into thinking that he was above-politics, the one who would bring us change we can believe it, who would bring us to new levels.
He’s a typical Chicago politician — whatever it takes to get elected.
Thank goodness there are still 4 months left before the election. Time for America to wake up before it’s too late.
Posted by: Sean | June 27, 2008, 10:08 am 10:08 am
FACTS ARE FACTS:
Obama says, AND HAS ALWAYS SAID, that the 2nd amendment grants a right to own a gun, but not an absolute right, and that *common sense* restrictions are legal.
ABC owes Obama a major apology for misrepresenting the facts.
Posted by: John's Conscience | June 27, 2008, 10:32 am 10:32 am
Gallup Daily: Obama, McCain Still Tied, Now at 44%
Posted by: david from texas | June 27, 2008, 10:40 am 10:40 am
Compared to Obama, Mitt Romney is a man of character and a man of his word.
Posted by: Roger Miller | June 27, 2008, 10:46 am 10:46 am
mccain is the president of flip flops the man dont know what he supports or opposes from one day to the next i cant keep up with him and i want him for president yeah right thats like me wanting bush to stay president forever please president of flip flop mr john mccain ladies and gentlemen the only thing hes good at FLIP FLOP FLIP FLOP
Posted by: angie | June 27, 2008, 11:14 am 11:14 am
Shifts? That’s being kind. He’s a serial flip-flopper.
Posted by: Mack | June 27, 2008, 11:32 am 11:32 am
Yes. Change you can believe in in short for “SERIAL FLIP-FLOPPING”.
Posted by: Roger Miller | June 27, 2008, 11:49 am 11:49 am
Why is it conservatives love catch phrases. First it was “liberal” and when that played out it has morphed into “flip-flop”. Why is it so hard for some people to believe that the world is dynamic and we are better served by people that are willing to change their view and positions in response to changing times. I for one am just about filled up with politicians that “stick to their guns” no matter how far the country falls into disarray.
Posted by: Bon Vivant | June 27, 2008, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
It’s interesting that adapting one’s viewpoints to a changing world would be lauded if one weren’t a politician.
Posted by: lop | June 27, 2008, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm
The individual ‘right to bear arms’ IS SATISFIED by the nation’s wise creation of a well ‘regulated (MODERN) militia’, in the form of a STANDING ARMY & STANDING POLICE FORCE!
Every last American possessing arms these days does not form a ‘well regulated’ militia that is going to keep the state free and SAFE.
What it will do however, is to MAGNIFY the DOWNSIDE of individual with arms. It will continue to have Americans turning their arms on each other, instead of on foreign foes.
This ridiculous ruling by the Court demonstrates again why Americans are badly in need of an effective educational system, and why the Constitution should ALSO have a maximum age for government employment.
Old and inflexible minds and senility are dangers from those who wield too much national power!
Posted by: Patriot | June 27, 2008, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm
The difference between McCain and Obama flip-flops is that John McCain explains why he has changed his mind and has a long history that is totally transparent. On the other hand, Obama lies and blames his staffers for things like his signature on an anti-gun document. He choose to vote “present” in Illinois in order to hide where he stands. He’s a shifty guy who doesn’t offer confidence in his beliefs. They all can be tossed away for a vote. He blows lies.
Posted by: Mary | June 27, 2008, 1:42 pm 1:42 pm
Senator Obama certainly has flip-flopped at least 10 times in the last 10 days. Seems his stance on any subject depends on the audience he is speaking to or the donors he is trying to get funds from. Or maybe the wind starts blowing from a different direction. Whatever the reason, it definitely shows he lacks maturity and he will say and do anything to win. America is in big trouble if this socialist with terrorist ties wins.
Posted by: Mary | June 27, 2008, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm
Obama is a serial flip-flopper. He will say anything and do anything to get elected.
The mainstream media analysts are prostituting their journalistic principles just to see their guy get elected.
People are cynical about politics because of hypocrites like Obama.
Posted by: Roger Miller | June 27, 2008, 2:00 pm 2:00 pm
Israel has given notice to the Bush Adm that unless there are effective sanctions imposed against Iran soon, Israel will take out Iran’s nuclear facilities, probably before the US elections in Nov.
Many of us are betting that Israel will wait at least until AFTER the US elections. REASON? If McCain wins, Israel can play the waiting game for a while longer to see how much McCain can influence other countries to join in the sanctions, especially Russia and China. If Obama wins, look for air strikes sooner as Israel knows that it will get no help from Obama.
One thing for sure, when Israel hits Iran, look for oil prices to double or even possibly triple – THAT IS WHY IT IS EMPERATIVE THAT WE START DRILLING, BUILD MORE OIL REFINERIES, MORE NUKE PLANTS TO TRY TO BECOME MORE ENERGY INDEPENDENT……..NOW!!!!!(We should have been doing this 20 years ago) AT least McCain is pushing for same – Obama’s oil plan is to to sock it to the oil companies – great press, but will not give us a drop of more oil. Your choice!!
Posted by: Jimbo | June 27, 2008, 7:24 pm 7:24 pm
Our health care is a big scam, people pay the insurance for 20 or 30 years, but if they get sick they’r insurance is cancelled becous they are sick.
Posted by: Calmana | June 27, 2008, 11:28 pm 11:28 pm
I think that the media waking up might be about DOLLARS. A significant part of the public now understands that most mainstream media is in the tank for Obama and other left wing causes. One of the reasons that FOX is running circles around the others. Same thing for many big city newspapers like the Washington Post and NY Times. FOX may well be to the right – but sure is a lot more fair and balanced than others.
Posted by: Jimbo | June 28, 2008, 6:31 am 6:31 am
Obama is flipping and a flopping all over the hot frying pan trying to find a cooler spot. If he keeps flipping he will flip out of the pan into the fire! I have no respect for the man as he is the worst lier that I’ve seen in politics my whole adult life!
Posted by: Goodtimepolitics | June 28, 2008, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
American voters are not that stupid. As I said, we do not need a debate.
All he said is totally opposite to what he has done. My problem is the way how the Dem Party handled the situation.
They failed to test-and-veirify the qualification of their candidates fairly only by imposing rules: If something was suspicious then the Leaders should have intervened.
With his phony record? hell no. This Election is 200% Republican Victory.
Posted by: Susie | June 29, 2008, 11:59 am 11:59 am
More pro-McCain bias from the Note.
The Note is a shallow pro-GOP spin machine as usual.
It is McCain that has violated his own campaign finance reform law, and has flip flopped on abortion, gay rights, war tactics, the GI bill, the environment, everything. So of course you make Obama out to be the flip flopper instead.
You are using the same up-is-down, help-the-GOP strategy that you did in 04. I hope people don’t fall for it this time.
Disney-ABC is a big GOP company.
Posted by: tomsoppe | June 29, 2008, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm
Wake up America! Just say no deal to phoney B.O.! Does anyone know why his lips are purple? Could it be that he’s really dead and a puppet?
Posted by: jeep395 | June 29, 2008, 5:18 pm 5:18 pm
Barack Obama doesn’t need Bill
Clinton to campaign for him!
He has already Morphed in Bill Clinton!
On every issue his responses seem to
be “well that depends on what your
definition of is is”! Doubletalk,
Doublespeak, and Barack Obama,
Perfect Together!
Posted by: reaganfan | June 30, 2008, 3:08 pm 3:08 pm