He knew it was impossible for anyone to get elected in NYC without championing the cause of “more gun control”. It’s pathetic, but that’s the position of about 99% of NYC voters. As a result the law-abiding among them wouldn’t arm themselves anyway, even if the state and local laws explicitly allowed them to. When a population has that kind of mindset, the prospect that “only the criminals will have guns” isn’t dependent on the gun laws, it’s a foregone conclusion regardless of the gun laws. Over the long term, that mindset is changeable, but not in the time frame of any political office term.
And, Bill Clinton knew it was impossible to get elected President without sounding like a new, more conservative Democrat.
I'm confused.
Are you saying that it's okay for a candidate to say anything just to get elected?
Or are you saying that it's okay for a candidate to reshape his core principles based upon the office for which he is running? Because remember: he didn't just champion gun control to get elected. He consistently pushed for it after he was in office.