Politicians, believe it or not, have a lot to do – even if most of it is pointless, useless, and irrelevant.
The trick is, see, to remember which stuff isn’t pointless and useless. And irrelevant.
Let’s face facts: a lot of what politicians do is hobnob – go to parties, rub elbows with people of influence, and use that influence to further their own agendas. Which, ideally speaking, is the agendas of their own constituents.
In short, most of a politician’s job is finding the right people to meet, the right things to say, and the right things to sign…just in case those things are useful for that politician’s home base.
Of course, if you sign the wrong thing during that time, well…you’re screwed.
Which is why two Republicans are now shaking in their boots. And why their base might be pissed off.
The Daily Caller reports:
Two Republican members of Congress say they accidentally signed their names to a Supreme Court brief urging the justices to restrict partisan gerrymandering.
Filed amicus brief w/ @SenWhitehouse calling on #SCOTUS to reassess constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering https://t.co/JOl3cPD4TE
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) September 5, 2017
Now, this is more serious than it sounds. Way more serious. But we have to get through some of the boring language first.
So, bear with me:
GOP Reps. Mark Meadows and Walter Jones signed an amicus brief in Gill v. Whitford, a marquee case in which the justices will consider the constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering.
The duo said Friday they did not mean to sign the brief.
Confused? Let’s clarify things.
‘Partisan gerrymandering’ is the Left’s phrase for ‘not dividing up voting areas in a way that is fair.’
The problem, see, is this: if I’m given absolute power to divide up a state according to voting districts, I could, theoretically, put all Republicans in one area, and all Democrats in another. Then it’d be easy to elect a Democrat in one area, and a Republican in another.
#Gerrymandering is perhaps one of the biggest threats to democracy!
The voice of the majority is suppressed.
END #Gerrymandering NOW‼️ pic.twitter.com/EbqjNmmDY1
— Tauriel 🍃🏹⚔️ (@TaurielResists) September 9, 2017
If I’m clever with this technique, I can make it so that each district has just enough Democrats to win – not 100% Democrat in each, mind you, but 51%. Just enough.
Which means the state, in the end, is majority Democrat. A Democrat state, because of just a few votes.
Two GOP lawmakers accidentally sign anti-gerrymandering legal brief https://t.co/2Euen7xF97 pic.twitter.com/4GZNjzR4GC
— The Hill (@thehill) September 9, 2017
If you’re wondering if this is actually done…yes. It is. And Republicans have been fighting against it for years. But the courts have only noticed it when Republicans fight back.
So two Republicans signing against the practice? Well…big mistake.
It’s like giving the country away to Democrats.
Source: Daily Caller
