Now it's time to play
5 Questions with Waingroh

A central strategy in the presidential campaign thus far has been the image of each candidate's "character". This will likely not change, so Waingroh would like to weigh in before the mudslinging gets really nasty (remember, we have 6 more months of this to go!). Each campaign wants to attack the other candidate's character while enhancing it's own. For the Bush Administration, much of this tactic has taken the form of labeling Kerry a "flip-flopper" throughout his career, including recent issues of abortion and defense spending.

Waingroh would like you to now do two things. First, setting the Hannitization of this label aside, let's just say the Republicans are right. Kerry has been inconsistent and flip-flopped on many stances. OK. He is a politician after all. Second, try to put your partisan politics aside, and try, just for the sake of this article, to ignore Bush's own flip-flopping record, and buy the argument that Bush is a direct, unwavering, confident pillar of strength. Choke back the dry heave, and continue. As impartial as you can let yourself be, ask yourself this question: how important to you is flip-flopping when grading the the character of someone who is the leader and representative of the American people?

1. Is it important to you that your candidate be someone who can adapt, even reverse and "flip-flop" policy due to changing circumstances? Or do you think they should trust their instincts, and stay the course no matter what new difficulties arise?

2. Should he be mindful of popular polls and public opinion, so much so that he'd be willing to even give in to political and public pressure if the majority of Americans felt a certain way? Or should he proclaim that polls do not influence his policy, that he and his advisors are the only ones who are capable of making sound policy?

3. Should he be open minded about the realities of politics, and understand that although he may not like a policy, it is in America's best interest to have a diverse political landscape? Or should he tilt all policy-making processes in his own party's favor, and even change the Constitution, to divide the American people into categories of "right" and "don't get it yet" ?

4. Should he be willing to admit, that in this explosive world situation, that he alone does not have it all figured out - and that mistakes may be made along the way - and to admit, explain, and apologize to those mistakes? Or should he, as president, simply be expected to know it all, and admit no mistakes, explanations or apologies, to anyone, ever?

5. Should he be candid about past imperfections and explain other political views he may have had in the past? Or should he hide any potential blemishes and classify all records - both personal and professional - until decades after his administration is over?


These are pretty simple questions, and every American - Democrat, Republican, or independent - has a right to ask them of someone who is campaigning to be the represent them as President. How do Kerry and Bush stand up to those questions?

Partisan beliefs can now commence, read Dr. Boudreaux's post below for answers to some of the above.