2008 Quote by Christopher Hitchens
““During the Senate debate on the intervention in Iraq, Sen. Clinton made considerable use of her background and 'experience' to argue that, yes, Saddam Hussein was indeed a threat. She did not argue so much from the position adopted by the Bush administration as she emphasized the stand taken, by both her husband and Al Gore, when they were in office, to the effect that another and final confrontation with the Baathist regime was more or less inevitable. Now, it does not especially matter whether you agree or agreed with her about this (as I, for once, do and did). What does matter is that she has since altered her position and attempted, with her husband’s help, to make people forget that she ever held it. And this, on a grave matter of national honor and security, merely to influence her short-term standing in the Iowa caucuses. Surely that on its own should be sufficient to disqualify her from consideration?””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Senate debate on Iraq intervention, 2002
She argues that political figures may shift positions for personal gain, undermining credibility on critical issues.
In simple terms: Politicians can change stances for self‑interest, hurting trust.
Key Takeaway
Beware of opportunistic policy shifts.
Themes
politics
integrity
trust
media
campaigns
Mood
skeptical
critical
concerned
Type
political
analytical
commentary
When to use this quote
- election campaigns
- policy debates
- public opinion shaping
Key Concepts
moral hazard
public accountability
strategic communication
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we differentiate genuine reassessment from opportunism?
- What mechanisms can hold leaders accountable for shifting positions?
A Different Perspective
Critics may argue that policy evolution is normal and not necessarily dishonest.
![“It's [Los Angeles] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them aren't even young and beautiful now.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a86/christopher-hitchens-117_beautiful_it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense_10462.jpg)
![“[Religion] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we would not know an evil, wicked act from a decent human act without divine permission, without divine authority or without, even worse, either the fear of a…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ab6/christopher-hitchens-117_action_religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integ_23299.jpg)
