Actually it's like just about every other issue, it's demagogued. A few years back Dems had a Paul Ryan like character pushing Grandma in a wheelchair over a cliff. Joe Biden said to a Black audience that the Republicans were going to put them back in chains. Only it never happens, things get worked out. But hey, what's a few lies, distortions, fibs if it keeps the money flowing and the Dems put back in power? We will pay the piper someday, and those who insisted on spending us into the grave will blame that on Republicans too.