2002: Romney runs for governor as a "moderate" and "non-partisan" and assure potential Massachusetts voters that "My views are progressive."
2012: Romney runs for president as someone who's "severely conservative."
Can we have your 2002 persona again, Mitt, please? #ddtb
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Romney 2002 v. Romney 2012
Romney '02: "My views are progressive." Romney '12: I'm "severely conservative"
53 view(s)
It will change by the time of the general election. During the primaries, Republicans try to be fascists and Democrats try to be commies in order to engage the active portions of the primary electorate. During the general, both candidates will claim that their opponents are outside of the mainstream, and that they are firmly within the mainstream – they'll do this to attract the swing independent vote.
Certainly one of the downsides of our party primary system is that it encourages just that kind of behavior. That said, I think it's still worthwhile pointing out that disconnect, in either major party.
+Dave Hill I agree…though I would ask: is there a better way to go about this process in a way that would encourage less flip-floppery and more honesty? Is it pessimistic to always expect this type of behavior from politicians or is it simply realistic?
One potential way to reduce flip floppery would be to move to open primaries, but even those would only attract the truly committed, forcing the candidates to pander to them.
I would think Open Primaries would help, but not definitively. The best way I can think of to encourage less flip-floppery is "eternal vigilance" and noting to candidates (and voters) when such flip-flops are spotted.