All major things used to distract from the real problems at hand. We have had horrible politicians for years, not just elected but also choices. I think as a nation we are facing huge back lash at the political system, and not for the good. People today vote for the letter beside the name not their own personal reason (well some maybe). We are passed the days when some is elected for being a great general, a great senator, a great governor. We are at a turning point for the bad and there is little that can be done to stop the train from coming off the tracks, its not a question of if, but when.
Politicians have used lower priority subjects to distract from bigger issues. Things like gun rights, gay marriage, health care, and individual rights are being targeted to distract the citizens from real issues like the economy, the inevitable collapse of the middle east, and the amount of inflation we have taken on the last 10 years.