[marcusverus]

Obama is the consummate politician. I read this statement in the same way I read his comments in '08 and '12 about how he 'struggled' with the question of whether gay marriage should be legal. Now, as then, he is playing to the middle (In the case of gay marriage, to the middle of the American electorate. In the current case, to the middle of the Democratic party). He doesn't know which way the political winds are blowing for Democrats--further leftward or back to the center--and he is too shrewd to be left behind in either case.

[gnusty_gnurc]

> He doesn't know which way the political winds are blowing for Democrats--further leftward or back to the center--and he is too shrewd to be left behind in either case.

I'd argue the wind is blowing outward. Across the political spectrum, as the establishment parties are hollow shells of increasing extremism and the rest of America is a plurality of independents frustrated by the lack of anyone that can speak to them without left/right platitudes.

[vaidhy]

This seems to be a very cynical view. There also seems to be an expectation that people should stand in either end of all issues. Why not take his for his word that there are times he is conflicted and he is good at communication?