Calling a spade a spade

In Saturday's LATimes, Janet Hook laid out some simple truths in her article "Obama is shifting toward the center" --

Barack Obama, as he introduces himself to the broader voting public, is emphasizing centrist -- even conservative -- positions on hot-button issues.

In recent weeks, he toughened his stance on Iran and backed an expansion of the government's wiretapping powers. On Wednesday, he said states should be allowed to execute child rapists. When the Supreme Court the next day struck down the District of Columbia's ban on handguns, he did not complain.

These views would fit many Republican candidates, but they are the recent profile adopted by a man who has been called the most liberal Democrat in the Senate.

The article has plenty of sloppiness -- "a man who has been called the most liberal Democrat in the Senate" -- is factually accurate, just like it's factually accurate to say that social security has been called a bad idea. But the main thrust of the article -- that these stances Obama has taken are, in some cases, conservative ideas, is exactly right.