And it is entirely possible to give away too much of your principles while trying to get elected, just to say what you needed to say to get elected.

Selling out one's principles (if they actually have them, that is--it appears Obama doesn't have any principles upon which he is willing to take a principled stand) in order to "compromise" isn't a sign of leadership.

It is a sign of demagoguery.

So, how much demgoguing is too much demagoguing?

Leaders take principled stands on their positions because that is the right thing to do, and they do it knowing it will cost them some votes.

How many votes, no one ever knows. But certainly not enough votes to rationalize and justify not having ANY principles whatsoever, to make yourself enough of a chameleon to beat the other guy.