Does it matter what they say?

I am beginning to wonder whether we should pay any attention to what candidates say during the election . At most it tells you what groups they are trying to attract and may or may not predict what they will do in office. Lyndon Johnson ran as the peace candidate, then got us deeply involved in Viet Nam. The first George Bush said "read my lips, no new taxes", then he raised taxes. Bill Clinton's first campaign included a promise of a tax cut, which never happened. George W Bush was a "compassionate conservative" and a "uniter not a divider." Now we have both candidates changing their positrons on all kinds of issues. Perhaps the best we can do is look at what the candidates have done in the past.

Comments: 9

Christopher K. Leavitt Jul 3, 2008, 9:46am EDT

Of course, you have to "read between the lines" they spew. The longer a candidate has been "in the public eye," the easier it is to do. McCain is fairly transparent, especially when he tried to tell conservatives that he would get tough on illegal immigrants. I didn't believe him for one minute, and he has tacked back to his "comprehensive immigration reform" line, since he got the nomination. Wonder of wonders! So why wasn't I surprised?

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Marilyn M. Jul 3, 2008, 9:59am EDT

You're absolutely right. Campaign promises mean nothing. It's what a candidate has done or not done in the past that is important.

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*LORA* M. Jul 3, 2008, 10:00am EDT

I agree with you

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Peter Joseph Swanson Jul 3, 2008, 10:18am EDT

I'll hang on every word at the debates. Or I'll try to (they might just talk past each other like all the past debates).

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Tim Nelson Jul 3, 2008, 11:50am EDT

Didn't Hillary win most of the debates so far?

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Stephanie B. Jul 3, 2008, 3:02pm EDT

I guess this is the time they both stop preaching to the choir...

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Charles Temm JR Jul 3, 2008, 3:13pm EDT

and so far no surprises except how fast they both tacked towards the others positions...

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Rex T. Jul 3, 2008, 10:10pm EDT

"Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends. We're so glad you could attend. Come inside, come inside." Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. The carnival is back in town and the suckers are lining up. This entire campaigning process needs revamped. It's getting to be more like picking the winner in a liars' contest.

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Sandy (back in Ohio...blah!) Jul 8, 2008, 10:36am EDT

I don't believe any compaign promises. I go more with what the canidite believes. Like they believe in abortion or not. This tells me what stands they will take once they get in the white house. Not what they promised.

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Does it matter what they say?

Comments: 9

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