Well, there's the whole tax on sugary soft drinks debate, but this misses the point.
In their view, the possibility that Francis intends to be a social-justice pope who deliberately soft-pedals debates over doctrine and morals is just a media creation, reflecting press caricatures of the church's divisions rather than Francis's actual statements and intent.
To the soda industry's chagrin, Mr. Bloomberg's plan has generated widespread interest in the debate about soft drinks and obesity, an issue that had lurked mostly in academic journals and Washington policy circles.
The measure, championed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, is certain to intensify a growing national debate about soft drinks and obesity, and it could spur other cities to follow suit, even as many New Yorkers say they remain uneasy about the plan.
With the Senate moving toward a compromise banning political parties from the scandal-plagued practice of raising unlimited, unregulated soft money contributions, the debate over campaign finance focused increasingly today on one question: what limit should be placed on the money given directly to candidates and their parties by individual donors?
We don't really need a debate over soft versus hard skills.
But J Street leaders seemed determined this week to add their own, softer voice to the debate.
Mitt looked soft and in the debates seemed unwilling to fight.
Mrs. Clinton had tried to steer the day's news away from the debate over soft-money spending and toward more friendly ground.
Until now, we've merely been witnessing a soft-shoe shuffle – a debate here, a hi-vis photocall there, Joey Essex everywhere else – that only really coalesced into anything meaningful when the parties unveiled their manifestos this week.
