We all know that politicians tell voters what they want to hear in order to get elected.
We have come to expect it even.
What we don't see often is complete flip-flops, not only on issue positions but on characterizations of who they really are.
Enter Gwen Graham. Her latest flip-flops are of Charlie Crist proportion.
Gwen Graham, in an effort to capitalize on the Parkland school shootings, has appeared as the “saddened mother” who says AR-15s should be banned.
In order to court the vote of progressive voters, Graham sought and received the endorsement of Nan Rich, the progressive former gubernatorial candidate whom Graham failed to endorse during Rich’s campaign.
Well, what happened to the Gwen Graham who described herself as “very conservative” when running for Congressional District 2? You know, the Gwen Graham who appeared to be offended that she was described as a progressive. The Gwen Graham who preferred to have Bill Clinton campaign with/for her, rather than Barack Obama.
I guess having a white former president campaign for her was much better than a black current president.
Are you paying attention, black voters?
This Tampa Bay Times article spells out very clearly who Gwen Graham was in October 2014: "Asked whether she would like President Obama to campaign for her, Graham said how pleased she would be to campaign alongside Bill Clinton, who in fact is coming to Tallahassee to campaign with her Sunday." Read the story.
Let’s talk about guns, shall we? Gwen Graham, who is riding around this state on Bob Graham’s coattails, said the big difference between herself and her father was on the topic of gun control.
Bob Graham voted to ban assault weapons.
Gwen Graham said every law abiding citizen should be able to have any gun they choose.
“I understand the peace of mind that comes with gun ownership. I certainly support the second amendment and I don't think that any law-abiding citizen should have any gun that they choose to have taken away from them," Graham said.
Where have we heard that “law abiding citizens should have any gun they choose” before?
Why Marion Hammer, of course -- another conservative Democrat who shares Gwen Graham’s position!
Democrats are hammering (ha!) Hammer on a position the so-called frontrunner in this Democratic race for Governor shared?
We wonder why we lose.
Graham has been saying the NRA spent $300,000 against her, and she won.
Let’s look at a few things. With a choice between Steve Southerland, a tea party Republican, and Graham, a self-described VERY conservative Democrat, they went with Southerland.
As they will with other Republicans Gwen Graham is chasing!
She didn’t fight the NRA! She agreed with them. She just wasn’t THEIR choice when it came to that race.
Again, we wonder why we lose.
Andrew Gillum actually fought the NRA in court, and won.
I don’t get the impression that Philip Levine, or Chris King, would flip-flop on the gun issue.
As for Gwen Graham, she showed us who she is and how she felt about the Second Amendment.
Hell, Sunshine State News liked her answers to the News Service of Florida's "Five Questions" so much, they printed them.
Now that she needs Democrats who aren’t as gun-crazy as she was a few years ago, this new Graham has emerged.
I’m not buying it.
Neither should voters on EITHER side of the aisle.
Who are you getting? Gwen Graham who hugged her AR-15 when she needed voters in CD2?
Or are you getting Gwen Graham 2.0, who now wants the governor’s mansion and will flip-flop like she's Simone Biles to get it.
Wait a minute, scratch Simone Biles. She’s black, and just like Graham didn’t want Barack Obama to campaign for her, and instead wanted Bill Clinton. I'd better choose Mary Lou Retton or Keri Strug.
They have the complexion for Graham’s protection!
To quote Eminem, whom I’m sure Gwen Graham would prefer to listen to over, say, Snoop Dog, (you know why) ... will the real Gwen Graham please stand up?
Leslie Wimes, a Sunshine State News columnist, is founder and president of Women on the Move and the Democratic African American Women Caucus, www.daawc.com. Follow Leslie on Twitter: @womenonthemove1
