Friday, September 21, 2007
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McCain Fires Away at Rudy on Guns
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Posted by:
Matt Lewis at
11:40 AM
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During the 1990s, after the Clinton Gun Ban, gun rights organizations enjoyed unprecedented power and influence.
They were so effective that most smart Democrats simply quit talking about guns. In fact, if you look at many of the candidates elected last year (including Virginia Senator Jim Webb), many of them employed a bit of jujitsu by running on a pro-gun platform.
Today, John McCain will speak to the National Rifle Association (NRA), and, according to this story, he plans to cleverly reference Rudy Giuliani's past depiction of the group as "extremists," in his remarks:
"My friends, gun owners are not extremists; you are the core of modern America," McCain said in the prepared remarks. "The Second Amendment is unique in the world and at the core of our constitutional freedoms. It guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms. To argue anything else is to reject the clear meaning of our founding fathers.
"But the clear meaning of the Second Amendment has not stopped those who want to punish firearms owners -- and those who make and sell firearms -- for the actions of criminals," McCain said.
McCain's campaign has also emailed out a press release of positive quotes from prominent gun supporters, touting the Arizona Senators pro-gun position. The quotes include one from former NRA executive director for the Institute of Legislative Action James Jay Baker, who noted McCain's 95 percent pro-gun-owner record.
McCain is also happy to tell us the "Anti-Gun Brady Campaign" has given him a 17 percent rating.
But, the question is: How important is the gun vote in 2008?
Many observers have noted that as a political phenomenon, McCain may have missed his date with destiny in 2000. Could this be another example of an issue that might have helped McCain more in the past than it will today?
No doubt the gun issue was hotter in the late 90s than it is today. So only time will tell if having the support of pro-gun groups will pack the same punch that it once did. As for John McCain, he's hoping the issue still has a few rounds left in the barrel ...
Update: Here's some quick video of McCain talking to Code Pink protesters at the NRA conference.
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Perhaps you would kindly refer me to your martial arts instructor. He/she must be highly competent to instill you with such confidence in your ability to protect yourself and your family unarmed.
I certainly will not be so brash as to accuse you of being among the "violence can never happen to me" crowd of anti-second amendment activists. No, you are undoubtedly a martial arts expert.
Please ask your instructor for a referal for a similarly qualified master in the Spokane, WA metropolitan area so that I, too, can acquire the ability to fend off assailants twice my size.
Do you specialize in nunchuks? |
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doesn't have any room to criticize Rudy, unless he wants to look like a hipocrite. McCain has decimated the first amendment and has been trying to decimate the second amendment. |
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...as your litmus test.
To hell with what a candidate says, and to hell with the NRA's endorsement. Given its history, the NRA is just another "gun control" lobby, trying to get the government to boil us live frogs a wee bit slower.
Put the Atlanta Declaration (September 1987) in front of McCain, and make him sign THIS as an attestation of his policy on the Second Amendment:
... ."Every man, woman, and responsible child
... .has an unalienable individual, civil,
... .Constitutional, and human right to obtain,
... .own, and carry, openly or concealed, any
... .weapon - rifle, shotgun, handgun, machinegun,
... .*anything* - any time, any place, without
... 'asking anyone's permission."
Make him put it in writing, make him speak the words in front of microphones and video cameras, make him put it up on his campaign Web site, make him commit himself to the defense of the most important single item in the Bill of Rights, and then when he gets elected...
...And no matter who runs against him, McCain or whatever other man the Republicans select as their candidate, *if* he has the guts to make this commitment to the Second Amendment, *WILL* win the general election of 2008 and will become the next President of these United States...
...hold him to it.
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"Make no mistake: all politicians — even those ostensibly on the side of guns and gun ownership — hate the issue and anyone, like me, who insists on bringing it up. They hate it because it's an X-ray machine. It's a Vulcan mind-meld. It's the ultimate test to which any politician — or political philosophy — can be put."
..-- L. Neil Smith |
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Accidently hit the post button. Here's what I meant:
God bless the NRA for defending the rights of illegal immigrants and possible terrorists to have easier access to armor piercing weaponry.
Now if we can get the priests to take up arms we could protect the churches. |
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God bless the NRA for defending the rights of illegal immigrants and possible terrorists to have access to easier get armor piercing weaponry.
Now if we can the priests to take up arms we could protect the churches. |
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one liberal (McCain) goes after another (Rudy). Wake me up when there is a true conservative we can talk about. And please, no Fredheads, I've head enough of Bush for the past 6 years, I don't want another clone. |
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Giuliani must come clean on his second amendment stance. Citizens should pressure him to reveal unequivocally his intentions regarding this matter. I wish to know what new gun laws he would enact and which he would veto. He must make concrete promises before the primary election in order to give voters a choice. No ambiguous rhetoric will suffice.
I urge every second amendment supporter to email his campaign asking for exact clarification on his position. If Giuliani does not definitively reveal his intentions, then the voters should assume he supports gun control in any case where he hasn't specified otherwise.
Second Amendment supporters should email an inquiry to his campaign at webteam@joinrudy2008.com |
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Preaching to the choir, pal....
I live in the People's Republic of CA. When I drive with my gun(s), the gun has to be in the back of the car in a locked container, and the ammo needs to be in a separate locked container. Magazines must be empty. If somebody who is not as law abiding as I am starts shooting at me, the odds of me being able to defend myself are slim and none.... If a gun is scary looking, it's banned in CA.
That said, the NRA is the most recognizable gun rights organization and that's why the McCains and the Rudys are over there baby-kissing. There is some some clout associated with NRA. I don't agree with everything they do, but I'm still a life member and I still support them. |
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Good choice. Need something on the female side too since women are the fastest growing group in gun ownership, concealed carry and NRA membership. That story is not being told and would bring the image of typical gun owners in line with reality. |
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Yeah....maybe the Mailman.
You know who might be good is Glenn Beck. He is not happy about not being able to carry in NYC. He has just the right amount of smarm too....
He's also a little like us in that he's not real concerned about who he offends.... |
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How about Karl "Mailman" Malone? He's not afraid to use those elbows. |
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You're right, but I wish Selleck had a little more fight in him....
Remember how Heston used to go after Clinton....?
We may need some more of that..... |
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Tom Selleck AND Heather Locklear |
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....the public voice of 2nd Amendment rights was Charlton Heston. Now the most readily identifiable spokesman is Ted Nugent...
Only a few light years difference....
We really could use another Heston. |
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At least McCain recognizes that his open borders policies currently in effect and balkanizing the country at the speed of light significantly increases the need for gun ownership and the right to defend person and property from the increasingly hostile and numerous have-nots ensconsced within our borders. If I were a betting man, I would be long on any firearm related industry. As the US continues to evolve to a Brazilian (or Latin American oligarchy) styled economy and demographics, gun ownership and security related tools will be a huge growth industry. In other words Matt, the gun issue IS more important now than in the 90's and will only continue to grow in importance. |
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20 years ago when I went to the range to punch paper, it was 99% adult males. Today it looks like Chunkie Cheese Pizzia! Entire families shooting multiple weapons as if they went bowling. And I love it! 2nd amendment voters are just as committed as anti-abortionist; as a "first issue qualifier". If a candidate fails the 2nd amendment test, he is done! Neocons have tried their best to make "Islamaphobia" the master issue, overlooking that huge numbers of American cities have never even seen a muslim........But they have seen their share of illegal alliens! The great "Northeast" is once again overlooking what is and what is not a big issue to the silent majority.(Trust is a big part, and they trust their founding fathers and the constitution, but not their government.) |
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Both wear pants AND dresses. |
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...both have had trouble with their wives..... |
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The difference is one is bald. |
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I'm a gun owner and a staunch supporter of the 2nd amendment. But this quote:
"The Second Amendment is unique in the world and at the core of our constitutional freedoms. It guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms. To argue anything else is to reject the clear meaning of our founding fathers."
Rankles.
Why does the GOP elevate the 2nd amendment over all other constitutional rights? The Republican party has dismissed the 4th amendment as quaint and proposed amending the constitution to ban gay marriage.
If you want to own guns, fine. I own one. But people who so casually throw away their right to not be spied upon without a warrant or not thrown into prison without being charged with a crime forfeit the "right" to cloak themselves in the constitution on the gun issue IMHO.
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Kinda like Romney, and the stem cells/abortion thing.
Oh, and Romney on guns, too (from NRA enemy to "lifelong hunter" in a few months!). And gays. And most other issues for that matter... |
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Excuse me. I typed "McCain-Feingold" when I meant to type "McCain-Lieberman." McCain has been responsible for spawning so many big-government tyrannies that sometimes I have a hard time keeping them straight. |
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Rudy says 9/11 affected his thinking on gun rights? Sounds like selective use of 9/11 to me. Does that mean if 9/11 had not happened, he would not be for 2nd amendment gun rights? |
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Rudy says 9/11 affected his thinking on gun rights? Sounds like selective use of 9/11 to me. Does that mean if 9/11 had not happened, he would not be for 2nd amendment gun rights? |
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...a lot more people at the range I belong to as well.
At the last gun show I attended, Ron Paul was the only candidate represented, and he had a booth in every building. I would not vote for him, but I found that interesting.
Rudy is a bit like Hillary in that he has some negatives, and guns is definitely one of them.
No, that does NOT mean that I'm somehow equating him with Hillary..... |
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"Today, John McCain is hoping his pro-gun record will help distinguish him against former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani
"But, the question is: How important is the gun vote in 2008?"
No it isn't. The question is: WHAT pro-gun record?
His stumping in Oregon to close gun shows to private sales and to establish a permanent state police registry of all firearms sales? His attempts to stonewall the law allowing airline pilots to arm themselves against terrorists? His public alliance with the false-flag Americans for Gun Safety? His introduction of the McCain-Feingold Act, which would have created a federal registry of every gunshow attendee in the country, and which picked up Hillary Clinton as the only co-sponsor?
The same John McCain that gun owners were busy RECALLING until the 9/11 incident struck?
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I've noticed the same thing here (in BrianR country). Despite what the anti-gun crowd thinks, the gun ranges are populated largely and increasingly by professionals like me, women, father/son outings etc.. In other words, regular people. Shooting clays is very trendy out here. |
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No GOP nominee has been elected without the NRA's endorsement. Does anyone think Rudy will get that endorsement? Judging by the increased business at the range I go to, more Americans are gun owners than ever. |
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Nothing will revive it unless he runs third-party in the highly fragmented race that Rudy vs Hillary will guarantee. |
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Not when Fred Thompson and Ron Paul are both stronger on the issue than McCain. |
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McCain/Kennedy, nuff said. Rudy is also for amnesty. We must nominate someone to vote FOR. Hillaryscare will not work. We want somone who WILL secure the border and uphold the laws.
The primary responsibility of the U.S. government is to protect the territorial integrity and people of this country. They have completely abdicated this responsibility. Both parties have been complicit in this. We are being told it is not possible to control our borders, enforce our laws, and thereby control our destiny as a nation. Hogwash. We are being sold out by corporations intent on importing workers for jobs that can't be exported with the taxpayers paying the true costs, financial and human. If we act like sheep and don't stop the inundation across our borders, we will lose our country without a bleat.
http://www.gohunter08. |
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"Can Guns Help McCain?"
No. Too much baggage for McCain. |
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