It's The Constituency, Stupid

"Every time I see talking heads question the positions of politicians on various issues, I have to laugh at their widespread blind belief that policy is based on principle.... The first question in evaluating a politician's stance on an issue that must be asked is not, 'What does the politician feel is the right thing to do?' but rather, 'What constituents does the politician intend to appease or bribe with this piece of legislation?'"