The American public can count on a few things during the presidential election season. First, candidates will take a moral high ground and forswear mudslinging. Before long however, they will proceed to engage in nasty accusations against their opponents. A vibrant democracy ought to welcome carefully thought-out views that, when intentionally simplified or distorted by opponents, make a candidate look like a flip-flopper. The term "flip-flopper" is a depreciative term referring to "a person, especially a politician, who (habitually) changes his or her opinion or position." The skill of understanding complex decisions in their historical contexts can help stir a hunger for greater political discourse. Using the example of Abraham Lincoln's views on slavery, history educators can enlighten students about the complexity of national political decisions. (Contains 21 notes.)