Paul Waldman : Background check , another shameful day for a cowardly senator . Senate undemocratic , he says ; small rural states have little power . He says that Chuck Grassley spread lies to kill legislation . Waldman : This time , you get to see power of state - stoked paranoia .
Paul Waldman : Background check failure another shameful day for a cowardly Congress . Senate undemocratic , he says ; small rural states have outsized power . He says Sen. Chuck Grassley spread lies to kill legislation . Waldman : This time , Americans got to see power of NRA-stoked paranoia .