As I Have Always Said

Barack Obama consistently claims to be consistent even when he's doing a 180. (For example, he has supported gun control legislation, but after the Supreme Court decision, said "I have always believed that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to bear arms.")

And he's been pretty much getting away with it.

This statement on Monday, though, is just too much:

For many months, I have warned that there needs to be active international engagement to peacefully address the disputes over South Ossetia and Abkhazia, including a high-level and neutral international mediator, and a genuine international peacekeeping force – not simply Russian troops.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/11/obama-emerges-to-talk-about-georgia/

Actually, Obama's speeches are fully searchable on the internet site speechwars.com. So how many times did Obama "warn" us about South Ossetia? Exactly, 0. Zero. Nada. Didn't mention it.

(To be even-handed, I feel I must note that McCain has mentioned South Ossetia twice. http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NDcwYTIzN2M1YjIzZjVkZDMyNjUzYTI0NDRjNGJmMDA Whether it was a "warning" or not must be decided by the reader.)

Interesting that he can't just change his mind, be persuaded by new argument, become aware of new situations. He always has to have always known.

Saying it doesn't makes it so.