General Discussion

Jim Lane

(11,175 posts)

21. I agree with that and I'll add another "but"

Sat Apr 18, 2015, 06:29 PM

Apr 2015

If someone genuinely didn't know better, and evolved through the application of reason rather than craven political calculation, I wouldn't rule that person out on the basis of having been wrong -- but the previous error is a legitimate subject for inquiry.

Consider, for example, a politician who adamantly opposes marriage equality, until he discovers that one of his kids is gay or lesbian and wants to marry a same-sex partner. If he's now a vote for the progressive side, that's good to know. On the other hand, issues may come up in 2017 or whenever that require a vision of justice but that don't happen to affect a member of that politician's family. We're justified in being less than completely confident that the politician will do the right thing.

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Should we disqualify politicians who had to "evolve" on marriage equality? [View all] RandySF Apr 2015 OP

Agreed. guillaumeb Apr 2015 #1

No. But touting a candidate as a leader in LGBT issues when MannyGoldstein Apr 2015 #2

You don't have to be a pioneer to be a leader. bluedigger Apr 2015 #20

Manny supports a candidate who MUST have evolved because she was a Republican for 30 years Bluenorthwest Apr 2015 #25

+100.... N/t obnoxiousdrunk Apr 2015 #38

Never ever ever ever did I ever think I would ever see the day of gay marriage in the US. It has RKP5637 Apr 2015 #3

For many years my position was don't give me the details of your bedroom. Thinkingabout Apr 2015 #4

+1. Some get to the table later than others but I think we should welcome all who sincerely show up. pinto Apr 2015 #5

Yup. Agschmid Apr 2015 #8

Evolution is good. JaneyVee Apr 2015 #6

Nah, we all "evolved" at one time or another tularetom Apr 2015 #7

+1000 nt okaawhatever Apr 2015 #42

No, but I also think we shouldn't pretend craven political calculation and expedience Warren DeMontague Apr 2015 #9

And therein lies my main problem with Hillary Clinton - and not just on LGBT issues. Ms. Toad Apr 2015 #14

Yeah. Warren DeMontague Apr 2015 #17

you have no evidence for that on gay issues dsc Apr 2015 #40

There is a difference between people evolving Ms. Toad Apr 2015 #43

I agree with that and I'll add another "but" Jim Lane Apr 2015 #21

I dont really think the leadership of our party genuinely "evolved" on this in their thinking Warren DeMontague Apr 2015 #22

You may be right about the Democrats. I was thinking specifically of Rob Portman. Jim Lane Apr 2015 #34

No, on that, I think you're right. Warren DeMontague Apr 2015 #46

KnR Hekate Apr 2015 #10

History is a good teacher, too bad about all the sleepy, lazy, inattentive students. Fred Sanders Apr 2015 #11

TPM: In an interview with NPR last summer, she said marriage equality was a states issue. AtomicKitten Apr 2015 #12

And because of our state by state battle on the issue justiceischeap Apr 2015 #37

Many people have had "evolving" positions on many social issues. Arkansas Granny Apr 2015 #13

Of course people evolved. Many people right here on this site did OKNancy Apr 2015 #15

It's a question of timing and intention. I don't trust changes of heart at election time. liberal_at_heart Apr 2015 #16

Its what people are suppose to do as they procon Apr 2015 #18

People who criticize Clinton and Obama for jumping on this when it was politically advantageous to PeaceNikki Apr 2015 #19

But that was different... beam me up scottie Apr 2015 #23

mmm hmm. It's a *moral* issue for some, yada yada bullshit PeaceNikki Apr 2015 #24

not only abortion dsc Apr 2015 #41

I think a good example is our current President. salib Apr 2015 #26

Thread worth reading in its entirety.. AuntPatsy Apr 2015 #27

So you're saying that you've "gotten it right" on all topics from the very beginning, right? WillowTree Apr 2015 #28

I don't think that's what he's saying. beam me up scottie Apr 2015 #29

You're absolutely right. Obviously not a high reading comprehension day for me. WillowTree Apr 2015 #30

You just made mine better. beam me up scottie Apr 2015 #31

willow stopped reading at the end of the subject line Doctor_J Apr 2015 #33

disqualify? no. be highly skeptical of? absolutely. Doctor_J Apr 2015 #32

I've never understood why it makes any difference to someone whether someone else can marry or not Fumesucker Apr 2015 #35

The older I get, the less I understand people. liberal_at_heart Apr 2015 #39

It certainly beats not evolving on the position. mythology Apr 2015 #36

Refusing to rethink old ideas, gain knowledge or change is the hallmark of a Republican. nt okaawhatever Apr 2015 #44

No. Behind the Aegis Apr 2015 #45

+1 ... 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2015 #47