This is why I don't do politics.

Everybody in the gunblogoverse is hopping from foot to foot, waiting to see if the NRA will endorse some politician named Harry Reid. Harry Reid ... No, no, I know I shouldn't casually use such insults on a person I've never even met, but it's true! Harry Reid is an actual, card-carrying politician, and apparently quite a successful one. He currently holds a position called "Senate Majority Leader," which basically makes him the fattest tick on the dog.

Now, for sane people like you and me, this information naturally makes us think in terms of ropes and lamp posts, and deservedly so. What do you call a thousand politicians at the bottom of the ocean? I don't even need to know their names, let alone their ideologies, to know the answer to that one. And this is why it's so important not to get personally involved in politics, because if you get involved in politics you end up in ethical dilemmas like the following:

For us to factor non-gun-related issues into our ratings would foolishly divide our unified base of support on the Second Amendment. This policy has served NRA and gun owners well over the past three-plus decades, making us the nation’s pre-eminent pro-Second Amendment advocacy group.

We fully understand that voters must take into account a variety of issues when deciding for whom to vote. We respect that. It is our responsibility, however, to provide voters with information solely on a candidate’s position on gun-related issues so that they may factor that consideration in addition to other issues.

Admittedly, Senator Reid’s record is not perfect; few politicians’ records are. For a number of years (primarily in the 1990s) Sen. Reid had some problematic votes on our issue. But in the last five years, he has dramatically improved his record on our issue, so the NRA-PVF would be irresponsible if it did not give due consideration to those recent votes and actions. There is no doubt that, as Senate Majority Leader, Reid has supported efforts to protect Americans’ gun rights, both by voting FOR pro-gun measures AND preventing anti-gun legislation from reaching the Senate floor.

Translation: Yes we know Harry Reid is a corrupt, scum-sucking bastard who belongs under the capitol building instead of ruling it.

But we're going to endorse him anyway, because:

All of which leads to a very serious question for all NRA members and gun owners who oppose Sen. Reid to contemplate: who would take Reid’s place if he loses his race—and his critically important position as Senate Majority Leader? Remember, the Senate Majority Leader is the gatekeeper who decides which legislation will be considered on the Senate floor. If Sen. Reid loses, the next candidate for Majority Leader is very likely to be Chuck Schumer or Dick Durbin—two of the most anti-gun U.S. Senators in history!

Because the alternative is even more vile.

There are some things you just shouldn't touch with your hands, people.