Because the compassion part is just a front. At least, I think so. A lot of politicians seem to gain public support for their agendas by adding a 'moral high road' spin to it. I guess in this case they accidentally slipped up. But maybe it'll help their cause anyway, because as many Americans as there are insisting on compassion, there are just as many angry ones wanting to 'get' people.

This is probably just basic stuff, but the fact that I thought of it scares me. *shudder*