While reading a comments section, I came across the following statement made by a democrat in support of President Obama:
"Obama signed a bill that EXTENDED the right of gun owners"
This was in response to a 2nd amendment comment against Obama made by a republican. Now, isn't that the way of politics? Here you have a democrat who, most likely, is for gun control yet goes out of the way to promote the president as pro 2nd amendment. Would any republican believe that? Probably not, but what about independents with pro-gun attitudes? Would this sway them into the Obama camp? It might if they took it at face value.
However, when one looks into the facts behind the statement it becomes clear that, like most things political, there's more to it. The particular bill being referred to was introduced to impose new restrictions on credit card companies. The gun-friendly measure was added to the democratically popular bill and the votes were such that it would have almost certainly withstood the veto test. So, is Obama pro gun? It's very doubtful he would have endorsed the gun allowance on its own merits.
Because of the nature of lawmaking and the all-encompassing soup that these bills become, politicians can be everything to everybody as lawmakers toss in their personal ingredients. Voting for or against most bills can be construed as anything one wishes depending on what one focuses on, no matter how ridiculous it sounds. Notice that the democrat commenter didn’t point out that Obama was against credit card companies. Another point to consider is how little the presidents control the lawmaking. While they can stump for or against certain particulars, the reality is if you don't like certain laws, you have either a group of red or blue politicians to thank… and many times both.
Do people even know what they stand for anymore? I get the feeling that the democrats and republicans duking it out on that page would embrace anyone with the proper letter behind his name. Take last Saturday's primary for example. As a political enthusiast, I can only marvel at a scenario wherein a bible-belt state cheers death, boos the golden rule, then overwhelmingly votes for an adulterer who left office under ethics violations. But he's a republican!
Politics is the country's blood sport. The teams are mostly the same but, hey, on game day you’ve gotta' root for somebody. Right?
