Why do we criticize politicians so much for flip-flopping?

It becomes a problem, when they flip flop for no apparent reason.
There is a difference between changing your mind, because you were convinced by arguments, and just changing your professed opinion because that is what people want to hear.

Or tell people what they want to hear and say you will do certain things to garner support and then do the opposite.

I can’t really add to what the two above have already said.^^^^^^

Unfortunately many of these politicians flip flop to get the nomination or vote, then they are constrained to continue living their lie (voting) to get re-elected.

The problem with this is that we have so many politicians on both sides of the aisle who clearly have sold out strictly for ambition and greed. To me, that’s not right ethically.

Like you said, they are just like us. I’m a fiscal conservative, Pro Life, have LGBTQ friends and family, and care about the environment. I’ve voted both parties, so if I picked a party for higher office, then at some point, I’d have to lie (or flip flop as you call it) to get the nomination of either party. You also have to get endorsements, and they not only check your past voting records and speeches, but you essentially promise to vote how they want you to, to get the endorsement.

It’s all a big serious game, but a public flip flop is really hard for me to swallow, because to me, Biden (or whomever) is up there saying “I’m a sell out because I really want to be President.” I want to hear their REAL thoughts and feelings, not just what the parties tell them they have to be to get in.

That’s the one thing I actually kind of liked about Trump, he really didn’t have to play the game too awful much to get in with very little experience. Abortion and the faux Christianity, while not attacking SSM futher. It’s been interesting to watch him, I’ll give him that.

No excuse needed for criticising politicians, they chose that profession & are loathsome, toxic wankers.

That’s a good question. When they are flip flopping it could be that that saw that they were wrong.

If they do it while running for office it’s suspect.