PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has been accused by many of being a people-pleaser who tells everyone what they want to hear - but the worst flip-flopper you will come across in the political world has got to be Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts who looks set to win the Republican nomination in the US .

Romney eked out a win in the January 3 Iowa caucuses by a mere eight votes and now pundits predict he will win the Republican nomination to run against President Barack Obama in the race to the White House.

I find it strange Iowans would trust a man who changes his mind so much that flip-flop brand Havaianas should name a pair after him. Some of Romney's memorable turnabouts include:

• "I respect and will protect a woman's right to choose" ... to "I never really called myself pro-choice";
• "I believe the tax on capital gains should be zero" ... to "It's a tax cut for fat cats";
• "I would like to have campaign spending limits" ... to "The American people should be free to advocate for their candidates and their positions without burdensome limitations";
• "My view is that we don't know what's causing climate change on this planet" ... to "I believe the world is getting warmer, and I believe that humans have contributed to that";
• "I'm going to take burdens off the back of the auto industry" ... to "Detroit [the centre of the US auto industry] needs a turnaround, not a cheque";
• "Based on the numbers of American Muslims ... I cannot see that a cabinet position would be justified" ... to "A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith";
• On catching Bin Laden: "It's not worth moving heaven and earth spending billions of dollars just trying to catch one person" ... to "He's going to pay, and he will die".
• "Those ... paying taxes and not taking government benefits should begin a process toward application for citizenship" ... to "Amnesty only led to more people coming into the country"; and
• "It's a key issue that faces many people across this country that don't have health insurance. We need to find a way to get them insurance so they get better care" ... to "Obamacare is bad law constitutionally, it's bad policy, it's bad for American families".

Romney has changed his mind so many times that he has been the butt of comedians' jokes constantly since he entered the race in June last year.

Jay Leno said: "In an effort to clear up his reputation as a flip-flopper, Mitt Romney will give a speech on healthcare. And then, right afterward, he'll give a five-minute rebuttal."

Conan O'Brien on his late-night show, quipped: "Experts predict that in the first Republican debate, Mitt Romney will face his fiercest ideological opponent: himself from four years ago."

Should Romney win the Republican race, he will run for president against Obama, the man who, inter alia, caught Osama bin Laden; passed healthcare reform; ended the war with Iraq and brought the troops home; made sure the US didn't enter into an unnecessary war with Libya; visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office; ended Don't Ask, Don't Tell in the military; and passed the Hate Crimes Bill.