What does a credit card reform package and packing heat in national parks have in common? Apparently a lack of courage by Congress.
The Senate passed the credit card reform bill overwhelming 90-5 but Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) introduced the gun amendment to the credit card bill, probably figuring since the GOP was going to lose on giving consumers more rights, one has to wonder if he thought he could kill it by allowing park goers to bring allowing loaded weapons. The House had enough sense to require the measure to be in a separate bill, however it was included in the consolidated bill.
Republicans, perhaps under the belief that people need to be allowed to carry guns in national parks because the parks aren't safe (and parks aren't safe because there are too many people with guns?) promoted the measure to counteract recent action by a federal judge.
Democrats, no longer willing to challenge conservatives on this issues, apparently are willing to sacrifice their constituents to the NRA alter for votes. Unfortunately the people who act concerned about the ability to carry guns probably are rural voters who live outside of areas where there is a need for a gun. Those who should be concerned about guns live in urban areas where guns are are a too real fact of life.
So the Democratic Party, which brought in a number of conservative candidates to win in red states, apparently has decided that many of their constituents, and people who voted for them, are expendable.
So short term goals of getting reelected trump the lives of people in their district. Somehow I don't think that will get them a chapter in a future edition of "Profiles In Courage."
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