If you believe that privacy and social welfare rights aren't subject to presidential politics, you are naivete.
rfenst wrote:
Define privacy.
I don't know if you're talking about the sodomy type or the Big Brother type.
As for social welfare, again be specific.
Using your earlier example of abortion, please remember that Roe v Wade was decided during Nixon. And despite 5 1/2 terms of Republican Presidents since that time, not one has even hinted at applying pressure to overturn the decision.
See my original point: the right and the left use these factors to win votes.
Romney has to be "pro life" in order to win the GOP ticket.
Means nothing towards the ruling should he win.
Likewise for the Gay marriage.
Bill Clinton didn't push for national acceptance of a gay marriage law, and neither did Obama.
But they will tell you that they're in favor so they win the Dem ticket.
These are two polarizing subjects, yet they're the LAST thing that will change based on a sitting president.
But because it's so emotionally charged and more interesting than, say, the deficit, it'll be a major factor in how people vote. And that's sad.
Note: I'm not suggesting that their power to appoint justices doesn't influence social laws. Simply that the POTUS can't be bothered enough by such issues to base their choices accordingly.