What Is The Big Idea If Someone Changes His Or Her Mind On An Issue?

I am continued to be perplexed by conservative Republicans who attack former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney for being a "flip-flopper" especially on the issue of abortion. Is there not room for growth on an individuals part? Apparently not.
I will digress to point out on the issue of abortion, some Democrat politicians went from being pro-life to pro-abortion. Remember former house minority leader Richard Gephart (D-Mo.), former Vice-President Al Gore? Those are two examples of Democrat politicians switching sides as they moved up the political ladder. But, liberal people will say that these two have "grown" when they went from pro-life to pro-abortion. When a politician goes the other way, they are accused of pandering.
So, some Republicans are taking aim at Mr. Romney. People like Sam Brownback (R-Kans.) who are bashing Mr. Romney for not being pro-life all through his life and boosting the fact that he has been. Yes that is true, but my question to Sen. Brownback is this. How do we get more people on the side of life when we have a convert in Mr. Romney with your approach? You accuse the former Massachusetts governor of being pro-abortion as governor. It was during the time as governor that Mr. Romney changed his view. We should be welcoming that change of heart and hold Mr. Romney to that position.
It is just bizarre to me that someone like Sen. Brownback would by into the liberal definition of Mr. Romney's conversion on the issue. I know that Sen. Brownback has really been in front on the issue of life and abortion, but he should not be bashing Mr. Romney for coming around. This is an issue Sen. Brownback should stay away from and talk about other issues concerning Mr. Romney's term as governor of Massachusetts.
I take Mr. Romney at his word. How we as voters hold him to that is to make sure he is sincere is to ask about the kind of judges that he will appoint to the federal courts and the supreme court. And for good measure what kind of congressional legislation he would support to curtail abortion. The answers that you will hear will bear out the sincerity of his change of heart.
Here is a new paradigm. When someone becomes more conservative that is as much "growth" as any one who becomes a liberal. "Growth" is determined by how you and I stand on issues. We have to look at a candidates overall stands and see where he or she has decidedly changed their mind on an issue and why. Then we will see if they are "growing" in the direction we would agree with.