Never have political principles been more heavily scrutinized than they are right now. And despite the re-election rates of incumbents, the story is told in Congress’ bottom-of-the-barrel approval ratings, the rates of retirements in successive election cycles and the kinds of candidates being elected to Congress today. Principles matter, and the public is paying attention. But some members of Congress seem to show more loyalty to the well-heeled political class than to those principles that got them elected — and that kind of political “tin ear” is dangerous from both a political and a public policy perspective.

The public will have ample opportunity to see those “tin ears” in action, as that lack of philosophical fidelity will be on display today. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will be holding a hearing titled “A Casino in every Smartphone — Law Enforcement Implications” in an effort to placate Las Vegas billionaire Sheldon Adelson’s number one legislative priority: an effort to prohibit states from legalizing online gaming for their residents by passing federal legislation, the so-called “Restoration of America’s Wire Act” (RAWA).