Would that face lie to you?
News story: Republican legislator running for higher office dodges past extremism, promises that if you vote for him
this time he
won't be a crazy person.
Republican Thom Tillis has flip-flopped on how he views the federal shutdown the GOP used last year in a failed attempt to stop Obamacare.
Back then he seemed all for it, grumbling that Congress should use "every tool available" in its ongoing attempts to kill the Affordable Care Act. Now that he's trying to put some distance between his leadership position in the absolutely insane North Carolina House in order to challenge Democratic incumbent Kay Hagen for her Senate seat, though, don't worry: He's learned his lesson.
Pinky promise.
On last year's government shutdown, Tillis tried to make clear that he would not have supported it, but he took care not to demean the motives of the Republicans who did. "I think what some of the members did was well-intentioned," he said, but "you've got to fund government operations."
But he still wants to repeal Obamacare, mind you. He just has had a revelation that maybe that one method that turned out really, really badly is something he shouldn't be seen as supporting anymore. A higher level of genius might be to not support the obviously dumb thing
beforehand, but at least the man has good self-preservation instincts.
Stove hot, stop touching it: that sort of thing.
Congratulations, Republican running for something, here's your trophy. It comes from the same store as the So You've Changed Your Mind About Iraq and the Suddenly Noticed Executive Orders trophies, and yes, you get a volume discount if you change your mind about multiple things per campaign season. Collect 'em all.