Obama refuses to accept flip-flop description

Middle East News.Net
Tuesday 8th July, 2008

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has rejected charges that he has shifted positions on Iraq and other issues.

Recently, he softened an earlier vow to reopen the North American Free Trade Agreement, would not oppose a Supreme Court decision striking down Washington's gun ban and said he would support expanding the government's wiretap program.

Recently, he suggested he might leave some troops in Iraq, after starting his campaign with the promise to pull all troops out.

Asked about his Iraq policy, Obama rejected claims he was softening his insistence on a total withdrawal by saying: "You know, the people who say this apparently haven't been listening to me."

He also said he would counter the arguments of anyone who said he had been "shifting to the center or that I'm flip-flopping or this or that."

Political analysts believe Obama is attempting to position himself closer to the center in hopes of winning over independent voters, moderate Democrats and some Republican voters who have grown disenchanted with Bush politics.

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