James Carville Quotes
There's nothing wrong with changing your position to fit the facts; there's everything wrong with changing the facts to fit your position.
James Carville, Presidential Campaign Strategist (Democrat), Frequent Statement in Debates
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
See {627632} for an earlier advocy of change when circumstances warrant and {636175} for a modern view.
Although this quotation has been cited by many scholars, none has yet given a primary citation. As a result a few researchers question the attribution to Keynes and argue that the first primary source of this notion was the Nobel Laureate in Economics Paul Samuelson -- Quote {645739}. However, even Samuelson attributed this quotation to Keynes although he did not do so at this particualr interview.
Most politicians would never do this. Ideologues rarely analyze their beliefs. Pragmatic politicians are fearful of being called a flip flopper with no core principles. However, some politicians follow this advice. For example, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt were both among the rare politicians who would frequently change positions as they learned more. See John Maynard Keynes {619441} for a personal statement of this principle and {636175} for a modern view.
When a scientist is persuaded to change his position, he is acting in the great tradition of the best of scientists. When a politician does the same, he is a flip flopper, without any real principles and clearly not to be trusted. A scientist would not be trusted by his peers if he did not readily change is views.
Chester James Carville Jr. is an American political consultant who has strategized for candidates for public office in the United States, and in 23 nations abroad. He is also a media personality with expertise in U.S. elections who continues to appear frequently on cable news programs, in podcasts, and in his public speeches.
