I think it's usually a mistake to think of the behavior of politicians as indicative of who they are as people. Politicians respond to pressures of various kinds. It's... sort of their job.
In some cases a politician might bow to particular pressures happily. In other cases, they might resist for various reasons (either personal or because there are competing pressures in other directions). Too much resistance, though, and the politician will be replaced by someone more responsive.
1/?
@dynamic How you respond to pressure is very indicative of the kind of person you are. Politicians have to make compromises, but they don't have to compromise their morals. They can only be removed by their constituents, but they can be punished by their political party. In a two party system, the political party can have undue influence, and be an opposition block to the will of its member's constituents.
@dynamic Yes. They are closer to the money and farther from the constituents.
@lwriemen
That then opens the question of what pressures the political parties are responding to and why.