I HATE this line...

from a story about the Bridgewater Lee KUED debate:

"I think one of the things the people of Utah want is someone who won't vacillate, who won't waiver..."

Is it ever okay for an elected official or candidate to change their mind?

I don't want to get into who said it and what the issue was that the other person supposedly shifted on. The reason I hate this is because politicians and the media are constantly putting themselves and our public officials in boxes.

Ideologues are quick to cry that a person is "unprincipled" if they change positions. Reporters cry hypocrisy if someone changes their mind. Have YOU ever changed your mind on an issue? Of course you have. New information, evolving dialogue, etc... "Sides" of an issue are not created in a vacuum. It's also fair to say that on some issues there are no formal sides - you may not be for or against - but what if you are somewhere in between? or mostly on one "side" but differ on a few of the details?

This is the political culture of our day. Both in DC and at home. This is part of the reason why people are so frustrated with politics. Surely our elected officials need to be held accountable for what they say. I'm simply saying let's not be so quick to cry hypocrite or heresy when someone changes their mind.

Issues are important. They are also complex. In many cases I think people need time to make up their mind. Let's allow our elected officials to make the best decisions they can with out making mimes out of them.