Sen. Chris Dodd writes, “Public officials aren’t supposed to change their minds. But I firmly believe that it’s important to keep learning.”

Really? Public officials aren’t supposed to ever change their minds? Who has ever argued, “Public officials aren’t supposed to change their minds”? Nobody but the straw man that is still polling within the margin of error in a hypothetical matchup with Dodd.

It’s the craven, sudden about-faces, taken in response to shifting poll numbers, that spur the cynicism and the snickering.

You know, like when a senator runs for president and takes a position on gay marriage that’s designed to get him into national office — you know, opposing it, but insisting that the same “traditional view of marriage” that stirs him to oppose it leaves a loophole for civil unions — and then throws it away when he faces a tough reelection campaign in his home state.

Hey, guess who now supports gay marriage? Chris Dodd. Gay Democratic donors, please note the reappearance of your fair-weather friend.

UPDATE: Once again, Dick Cheney leads, Chris Dodd follows.

I see that back in 1996, when the Defense of Marriage Act was up for debate, Chris Dodd said, “I agree with my colleagues who have risen and raised questions as to the motivations of why this legislation is before us. It is clearly, in my view, premature.” Then . . . he voted for it anyway. Profile in courage!