Why Obama "wins" when Issa is his adversary.
Ordinary people see Issa as a weasely guy...waaay too eager to slime anyone who disagrees with him.
Ordinary people who "know" about Issa, have NO love or respect for car thieves or arsonists. They can easily understand those crimes. Probably everyone in American has had something stolen from them or knows someone who has. Many have survived fires or know someone who has.
The esoteric nonsense of his hearings is lost on most people who already dislike the IRS, who understand that foreign service in a dangerous country is ...well.. dangerous, and who can figure out the fact that the 501's are usually formed for political reasons, and should probably NOT be tax exempt, no matter the party affiliation.
They see most congressional hearings as little more than a bluster-fest where each party just trash-talks their opponents and wastes time that should be spent fixing the real problems we all have.
We Californians know Issa for the blubbery buffoon he is. No doubt the Bush admin coerced him to take down our governor over damage done TO us, by Enron et al. Issa knew in his bones that HE would be the candidate, but all he was, was the opening act for Arnold who would swoop in at the 11th hour & take it all away from him.. Issa was a bad guy then, and he still is....just a more determined, more petty and more vindictive one these days.
Issa is the ultimate republican. He has NO interest in legislating.. He sees majority rule by republicans as an opportunity to hold bullshit hearings, so he can rant & rave and fling mud on democrats...and of course waste time..