Obama Flip-Flops On Soldiers Dying In Vain
Here’s what Obama had to say about soldiers dying in vain back in 2002, when he gave his much-touted (by him) anti-Iraq war speech as an Illinois state senator:
The consequences of war are dire, the sacrifices immeasurable. We may have occasion in our lifetime to once again rise up in defense of our freedom, and pay the wages of war. But we ought not — we will not — travel down that hellish path blindly. Nor should we allow those who would march off and pay the ultimate sacrifice, who would prove the full measure of devotion with their blood, to make such an awful sacrifice in vain.
Here’s what Obama had to say about soldiers dying in vain at last night’s debate:
Particularly interesting given Obama’s comments earlier in the speech about taking a politically inconvenient (at the time) stance on the Iraq war from the beginning. That’s not actually a true statement. In 2002 Obama was a very liberal politician representing a very liberal district in Chicago. Being anti-war wasn’t risky. Being pro war would have been.
Which is exactly why Obama has made subtle shifts to his rhetoric since moving to the national stage. When he was merely a liberal state legislator in a very liberal district he could talk about soldiers dying in vain. When he’s trying to run as a mainstream candidate in a national election his tune changes.
