Burnt Orange Report

Finally! The SCLM Reports on the Bush Flip-Flops!

By Byron LaMasters

One of the biggest mistakes the Kerry campaign made was allowing President Bush to define him as a flip-flopper. If the Kerry campaign had hit back with a strong rapid response that George W. Bush is a flip-flopper, the issue probably would either be dead, or greatly diminished. Instead, they didn't respond, and well, we know what's happened.

For awhile now, lefty bloggers have been making the arguement that the Kerry campaign should have been making two or three months ago, and finally the so called liberal media (SCLM) is begining to pick up on it. I think it would be effective for Kerry to point out some of these Bush flip-flops if he has a chance tonight.

First, on Paula Zahn Now:

ZAHN: Kerry isn't alone when it comes to being vulnerable on the flip-flop issue. The Democrats are now stepping up their efforts to point out that President Bush has also changed course on a number of critical issues. We check the president's record involving the war on terror and Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN (voice-over): Six days after the attacks of 9/11, the president had this to say about terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden.

BUSH: I want justice. And there's an old poster out West, as I recall, that said wanted dead or alive.

ZAHN: But only six months later, catching bin Laden was no longer a priority.

BUSH: The idea of focusing on one person really indicates to me people don't understand the scope of the mission.

I truly am not that concerned about him.

ZAHN: The Bush administration at first opposed the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: So creating a Cabinet office doesn't solve the problem.

ZAHN: But less than three months later, that all changed.

BUSH: I asked the Congress to join me in creating a single permanent department with an overriding and urgent mission, securing the homeland of America and protecting the American people.

ZAHN: In building a case for going to war with Iraq, the president argued that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

BUSH: Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised.

ZAHN: But when no weapons were found, his emphasis shifted.

BUSH: Because America and our allies acted, one of the most evil, brutal regimes in history is gone forever.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

BUSH: The dictator of Iraq committed many atrocities and he had many more in mind.

ZAHN: Last month, when the president was asked if the United States could win the war on terror, he was doubtful.

BUSH: I don't think you can win it, but I think you can create conditions so that the -- those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable in parts of the world, let's put it that way.

ZAHN: But the very next day, he reversed himself.

BUSH: We are winning this war against these terrorists, and we will win this war against these terrorists.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: The president in his own words on several subjects (ph), almost certain to come up on tomorrow's debate.

Ok, so lets review. George Bush wanted Osama Bin Laden dead or alive before he said he wasn't concerned about him. George Bush was against the Department of Homeland Security before he was for it. Invading Iraq was about WMD's before they weren't found, and the justification was then about toppling an evil, brutal regime. George Bush believed we could win the war on terror, before and after he said it couldn't be won. Did someone say flip-flop?

And there's more. Also yesterday, CBS News reports on Bush's top ten flip-flops (via From the Roots):

• Weapons of Mass Destruction


• Nation Building and the War in Iraq


• Iraq and the Sept. 11 Attacks


• The Sept. 11 Commission


• Free Trade


• Homeland Security


• Same-Sex Marriage


• Winning the War on Terror


• Campaign Finance Reform


• Gas Prices

To recap - Bush justified the invasion of Iraq on WMD's, but now admited none were found. Bush was against nation building before he was for it. Bush told the American people that Saddam Hussein was part of the war on terror, before admiting that he was not connected with 9/11 or Al-Qaeda. Again, Bush was against the 9/11 commission before he was for it. Bush was for free trade, but then supported tariffs on foreign steel products, before flip-flopping again, and opposing them. Again, Bush opposed the Department of Homeland Security before he was for it. Bush was against federal intervention on same-sex marriage before he was for it. Bush said the war on terror couldn't be won, before changing his mind the next day. Bush was against campaign finance reform before he was for it. Bush was for "jawboning OPEC" to lower gas prices, but as President has seen gas prices rise to $50 a barrel, and done nothing to pressure OPEC to increase production.

George Bush = Flip-flopper. End of story.