Why do Republicans bash Hillary for "going with what is popular"?

Question

Isn't that what politicians are supposed to do?

I mean - if they refuse to listen to the people of the United States, then they are more like a traitor because they are not doing the job that they are sworn to do... sound familiar?

Answer 1

you're talking two separate issues. popularity contests are what political discourse has become...thus we have the candidates not discussing issues on the merit of their position. rather on how it is perceived by the public. and, unfortunately, 50% of the American public is ignorant, hypocritical and bigoted.

a leader, in a democracy, has one job...do what is best for the all the people. not a select group that has influence or is, in reality, a minority opinion.

the current administration is an excellent example of how concentrated power with a set agenda will be unable to extricate itself from it's own excess. it becomes deaf to the real needs of those it leads.

Answer 2

A better question would be to ask is why it is okay for Republicans to go with popular sentiment on certain wedge issues (emotional pandering to faith/religion, driver's license for undocumented immigrants) while sticking steadfastly to somewhat failing principles on other, more pressing and vital issues (healthcare reform, worker protections, fair trade). Then again, Republicans have shown during their control of Congress in the first 6 years of BushCo's reign how they've essentially abandoned fiscal conservative principles and judicial restraint in favor of pork-laden spending bills benefitting corporate cronies and Bush's appointments of rightwing activist judges to the Supreme Court as well as lower federal courts.

With that aside, yes, principles SHOULD play a role and politicians SHOULD be expected to have better judgement than the average Joe Bloe. At the same time, politicians are elected into office with the presumption that they will benefit their constituents, even if those desires run afoul of their principles. Thus, it is not in any politician's interest to stick solely to principles or simply "go with the flow." There needs to be a balance and reconciling of principle and popular sentiment, which is what many in Congress and in the White House have failed to grasp.

Answer 3

public Opinion should have some say, keyword some. We elect our leaders to do the right thing. If they go with the polls, we would be in Iraq, out of Iraq, in Iraq, out of Iraq, etc. Politicians should be more informed about issues than the normal person. However, nowadays, all they care about is money and power.

Do what is right, fight what is wrong. Its really that simple.

Answer 4

She's being bashed by more than just the Republicans. Part of the reason she's being bashed is because her views change according to popular opinion or what is going on around her.
Perfect example is the licensing for illegals. She was for, then against, then for again, then against yet again, all within 2 minutes, THEN the next day she was for it, then a week later, against it. Which is it?

Answer 5

The problem with "going with what is popular" is too often what the liberal media prints. People tend to believe in what they read in the news.

Answer 6

No, it's not what politicians are supposed to do. Citizens elect people based on what they know the person stands for and believes. People can't know what she believes in when she flip-flops all the time.

Answer 7

Always going with what is popular means that you have no core beliefs of your own. This is a representative republic, not a democracy...

Answer 8

People should have principles that guide them. Politicians should be people, ergo, they should have principles that guide them, not polls.

Answer 9

Yeah but technically they also need to do what is right.

Answer 10

She will say or do anything to get elected, just like all politicians.
That being said, we all better hope she is never elected unless we want to live in a socialist system.