In our textbook, we note that politicians sometimes take political risks to do what they think is right. At other times, however, they frankly acknowledge the need to cover themselves politically. In 1990, after President
George H.W. Bush backed away from his "no new
taxes" promise,
House GOP Whip Newt Gingrich said:
I`m not going to vote for anything which causes us to lose politically . . . and we`re not going to make stupid deals.