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I\’m a stubborn bastard sometimes, and I know that. And I\’ve been criticized for, when a politician finally comes around on an issue, not giving them credit for it. I\’ve been lectured that I got what I wanted, why not let the newly converted in from the cold? Believe me I can understand the argument, but to be honest, with politicians many Damascus road conversions happen far too frequently and conveniently for me to take them seriously.

Yes, Paul finally \”saw the light\” and he\’s come around, but I want to hear the words that convinced him. I want to see the line of logic that lead to the final switch on the issue. The fact that you made that flip on the issue is of little importance to me. I want to know that your conversion is real, and not just of political convenience. Because what is political convenient changes constantly, so I have no reason to trust, or \”let in from the cold\” anyone who\’s conversion is not real.

I equate it to doing long division in grade school. The teacher could give you 20 problems and if you turned in 20 correct answers you could still get an F. Because the correct answer is not the important part. You have to show the work that got you there. Otherwise for all they know you got it via a calculator, copying from a neighbor, or just plain luck. The point of the exercise is that you can follow the process to get that answer.

I\’m not concerned that they eventually got the right answer on the issue. I want to know that they got to the right answer and because they did the work, their heart is behind it for reasons other than that that is what the latest poll said. Leave the convenient flip-flopping to the Democrats. And if I can\’t trust you on an issue, the fact that you\’re telling me what I want to hear doesn\’t mean a thing to me.

I\’m looking for allies, not political parrots.