Comments on: Political Candidates Not Candid on Big Issues

By: Nikolas Gvosdev

Nikolas Gvosdev — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 20:18:29 +0000

Let me weigh in with one other observation on the whole on/off the record question. I have no problem with off the record when it is consistent with on the record positions or sentiments. What I think frustrates me and others is to have people whose on and off the record statements are going in two different directions.

And sorry, the reference to Alexis Debat is not for the Baker dinner but a National Interest roundtable at the end of August that C-SPAN covered.

Look, as someone involved with a foreign policy magazine I'd like to see more debate, so James' last comment is the critical one--how to get more people to do that and not worry as much that what they say or write is going to be taken part 15 years later by a Senate committee.

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:45:34 +0000

Give him his due. Obama is willing to go on the record. Of course going on the record he suggests we invade a putative ally with nuclear weapons but doesn't seemed to be bothered with doing the spade work of introducing a AUMF for such an action.

Now that Spencer is an example of the republican slime machine. Pointing out what the democrats said and suggesting some of the real world implications of what that means. The democrats hate it when you do that.

By: Stephen Boyle

Stephen Boyle — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:05:46 +0000

If he has previously stated publicly the positions he discussed, doesn't it make sense that the 'off the record' status of the discussion was to encourage his audience. An audience that included senators that might be more susceptible to partisan attack.

By: Nikolas Gvosdev

Nikolas Gvosdev — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 18:34:48 +0000

It's a fair question. Would anything have changed if the discussion had been on the record? I am not sure, given what appeared in the essay. But sometimes the request for going off the record is made in order to prevent journalists from cherry-picking a presentation. Just look at how after an hour and half discussion on U.S. foreign policy the three second quote extracted was Alexis Debat on U.S. contingency plans for Iraq which was then all over the blogosphere. (Those interested can compare the C-SPAN transcript with what appeared in the Sunday Times).

The point about incentives for the next generation to be open and frank in commenting is well taken, though.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 18:34:23 +0000

Your contention is that Democrats don't jump on any opportunity to attack positions for political advantage? Even with other Democrats?

By: spencer

spencer — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 18:09:53 +0000

Just another success story of the republican slime machine.