That's Just How Things Work, Son

Years ago a semi-prominent pundit said something like, "It's completely understandable that Joe Lieberman is becoming more conservative and using his powers to thwart anything liberals like because liberals are mean to him."

And, well, as a banal observation about human nature, sure, but it was also meant as a criticism of the tactics of the people who were mean to a sitting senator, who had a long history of doing things to inspire that meanness, rather than as a horrible indictment of the absolute pettiness of one of the 200 or so most powerful people in the country (at the time).

Not "Joe Lieberman, Christ what an asshole," but "liberal activists are sure dumb lol."