Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader, has been very close to Obama ever since he was elected into power. Experts believe that this is all about to change.
However, with the President’s liberal agenda announced for his second term, it seems as if this will not only affect Democrat Senate members but also create a rift between Reid and Obama – thanks to diverging political interests.
A large part of this has to do with Obama’s gun control proposals, climate change and gay right, which could have Senate members worrying about 20 Democrat-held seats which is up for elections next year. However, the most controversial of these changes include his proposed policies for gun control.
Republicans, and in particular, Mitch McConnell, the Senate’s Minority Leader, are opposed to these proposals, and recently voiced his discontent, in saying, “Our Second Amendment rights are under attack, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to stand up for our freedom.”
As mentioned earlier, supporting Obama on gun control can be a dicey affair, and even though several House Democrats did not support his health care reform, they were attacked for it in 2010.
To say the least, for Senate Democrats, it will be difficult to decide whether or not they can support the President on these issues as even if they vote against some of these proposals, they will find themselves having no choice but to work with the President in order to tighten the laws in regard to gun rights.
But in spite all of this, and considering the events in Newtown, the polls indicate that the nation is in favor of stronger gun control laws.