That was then and this is now. Of course she would turn out to be a reliable liberal vote on the court. No surprise there.
How to get ahead in DC: Say anything. Be brazen about it. Never flinch or blink. And when called to account over something, admit nothing, deny everything, and make counter-accusations!
Remember that Kagan is one of the least-qualified justices ever to sit on the Supreme Court. She has something like 1 1/2 years experience as a junior associate attorney. The rest of the time she has been either in academia or holding leftist political positions.
What idiot would expect a liberal to tell the truth or to honor anything they said?
She knew she had to say that so that the Pubbies would vote to confirm her....Liberal Taqqiya.