Posted on 10/14/2008 5:35:10 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3
The Obama campaign goes up in Virginia with its first ad featuring Senator Jim Webb, who offers a strong and personal defense of Barack Obama on guns and assures Virginians that Obama will protect our country's "greatness."
We obtained the radio spot, and it's a strong one, starting off with an "important message to Virginia sportsmen and working families":
Click To Play In the ad, Webb, a Vietnam vet and gun enthusiast, recounts his own gun history -- his dad gave him his first rifle when he was eight -- and goes on to explain that gun-love runs in his veins.
"Our family tradition of hunting and shooting are a way of life to me, and no government will ever take that away," Webb says. "I am an NRA member and I know that my friend Barack Obama will protect our second amendment rights. So don't be misled about Barack Obama...I trust him to protect our right to keep and bear arms."
The repetition of the word "trust" is interesting, as is Webb's description of Obama as "my friend." Webb's military and gun cred are being pressed into service to deflect attacks on Obama as a risky unknown, and Webb is personally vouching for his fellow Senator.
Indeed, guns are really a proxy for the ad's meta-message, which is that Obama can be trusted to honor patriotic values and to keep America strong and great. "I trust him to stand with me to protect American jobs and our greatness as a nation," Webb says. "He's a good fit for me."
Webb isn’t a very bright individual.
Jim Webb is chief among Rahm Emanuels rent a vets. He is an authentic war hero and asshole.
How could you people in VA elect this man over George Allen. Staying home in 2006 to teach us a lesson in the GOP is costing us major league this election because those that stayed home or voted for the RATs gave us a RAT Congress.
The perfect weird ass literary couple.
And what has Webb’s position on guns been? Does he get a passing grade from the NRA? I suspect once 0bama is president and the Dems can do whatever they please Webb will be one of many “moderates” who do filthy Harry’s bidding and take an anti gun stance.
Jim, you sold out your country, boy.
Jim Webb: Jane Fonda’s favorite veteran.
Barry’s Wesley Clark
>How could you people in VA elect this man over George Allen.<
Well, let’s see. I remember a number of people on Free Republic from other states, slamming Allen repeatedly, beotching about the man 24/7.
Webb is a damn liar and I’d be happy to tell him that to his face anythime, anywhere.
I almost laughed out loud when I read Webb’s comments about guns. I am finishing my undergrad in statistics in Dec and my area of emphasis is in political science. During one of my classes “Campaigns and the Money Media” my uber liberal professor (hell of a nice guy - treated me the most vocal conservative with great respect) taught us how a liberal would answer any gun related question. It came in three parts:
1. Speak of how you own gun(s)
2. Speak of your earliest childhood memory involving a guy - something like how grandpa gave you his first p-shooter
3. Recount the great hunting experiences of your youth
Lots of words used to deflect attention to you not giving an answer to the original question.
I wonder if this is printed in the Democratic Playbook? I can’t believe how close Webb’s answer is. It was like I was sitting in class again.
That would not surprise me at all! Democrats that are in the Senate today rarely stand up to their leadership.
Is this the same Jim Webb that refused to shake the President’s hand? He looks like Tim Robbins’ inbred cousin.
What does that say about the voters who put him in office?
Are we surprised? Probably his leg is starting to tingle.
You know, in 0bama’s world a machete and some fire seem to work just fine. Wonder if Webb has been to Kenya?
webb trusts obama!
But who trusts webb?
Interesting, so looks like OBOZO DOES NOT HAVE IT LOCKED UP in ole Virginia. Good sign for McCain that Webb has to do this commercial. 2nd amendment folks are way to smart to take the bait from this liberal schill.
It is the rest of use who happen to not be elected Democrats that have to worry.
The 2nd amendment is not only about hunting, or getting the first p-shooter, or plinking around in the yard. Notice that this is the libs playbook also. I’m sick about hearing that Obama will ensure hunter’s right to bear arms is protected.
The 2nd amendment is also (and primarly IMHO) about defending ourselves from tyranny and self-protection. Without a 2nd amendment, there would be no first.
Obama was such a loud and proud defender of the 2A rights in Chicago. (sarc. off)
So the guy who writes trashy novels about pedophilic activity is an authority on Obama?
Well isn’t that special ...
agree, he may not be very bright, but he’s bright enough to get elected.
thanks to our moron george allen and his “macaca” remark
we hafta put up with webb.
So do I as he didn’t fit the mold they wanted. You would think they would have learned after 2006.
Senator Larry Flynt an embarrasment to the Commonwealth of VA.
Web is stupid and I don’t want anyone trying to instill their likes and dislikes on me . I grew up with guns also and the more I have the better I feel !~
ROFLOL!!! I forgot about Kerry and his hunting! Look at that stance! :)
LOL! Funniest post of the night.
It still scares me that people even consider anything they see in commercials as truthfull, Only past records count ...votes ,decisions, etc.
I’m Jim Webb, and I approved this lie...
Oh, does Obama like travelling around Watts pointing guns at Black people, too ?
I think the term could apply to any appropriate target.
My fear is this, if Obama wins they are going to pass so many laws that will take away our freedoms and our money so fast it will be to late to see what happened...
Dear Mr. Swing_Thought:
Thank you for contacting my office regarding the turmoil in the financial markets that has compromised the solvency of several U.S. financial institutions and has threatened our nation's economy. I appreciate your taking the time to share your specific views and concerns.
For many years, I have said that the current Administration has failed to exercise appropriate oversight of the nation's banking and corporate sectors, and has promoted policies that reward Wall Street at the expense of Main Street. The Administration's actions are largely responsible for our current economic crisis, which resulted in President Bush's September 2008 proposal to help restore soundness to U.S. credit markets.
I opposed the original hastily-written and woefully inadequate financial sector bailout bill proposed by President Bush. In the nearly two weeks after the President's proposal, the U.S. Congress radically changed the original bill to better protect taxpayers and to ensure greater Congressional oversight. I am pleased that the bipartisan compromise legislation to stabilize our nation's economic system (H.R.1424), which the Senate passed on October 1, 2008 by a bipartisan vote of 74-25, bore no resemblance to the original Bush proposal. I understand the concerns raised by many Virginians about certain provisions of this legislation that may have been beyond the scope of the bill's intended purpose. However, I was not given the opportunity to offer amendments to the legislation, and as with any bipartisan initiative, compromise is necessary in order to advance our nation's priorities.
After much deliberation, I voted to support the Senate's economic rescue legislation. I reached my decision based on the reality that this legislation provides the only possible opportunity that will be offered in the U.S. Congress this year to address our nation's economic crisis. I am also satisfied that the significant recommendations I offered during the legislation's consideration were incorporated into the admittedly imperfect bill. Moreover, I was persuaded to support the Senate legislation because it provided meaningful tax relief to hardworking Virginia families and small businesses.
Throughout the bill's negotiations, I was outspoken in support of several basic principles that are essential for the future economic well-being of our country. For example, I wrote a letter to Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd only one day after U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced the original plan. I spoke twice on the Senate floor about the proposal. Moreover, I led an effort to convince the Senate Majority Leader to incorporate these principles in any legislation, including them in a letter that was co-signed by eight of my Senate colleagues.
The fundamental principles that I raised included:
A grave concern about the transfer of so much financial power and discretion to one individual in the executive branch of government, and the lack of a clear mechanism for the oversight of this unprecedented power; The need for proper limits on executive compensation, and a guarantee that the executives who mismanaged our financial markets not be unjustly enriched by a taxpayer bailout; The need for a guarantee that the American taxpayer be able to share directly in any benefits gained by the rescue legislation; Appropriate limits on the ability of foreign institutions to participate in the program; and The release of federal funds for the program in installments in order to ensure that Congress can properly fulfill its oversight role, and to give Congress time to enact meaningful new reforms to the regulatory structure.
We were able to achieve significant progress in each of these areas. In particular, I am pleased that the Senate included meaningful provisions in the bill to limit executive compensation and to give taxpayers the chance to share in any gains achieved through this legislation. These provisions will help to restore taxpayer confidence in our financial system and ease the credit crunch that threatens economic growth.
The President signed the economic rescue legislation into law on October 3, 2008. Going forward, I will work aggressively with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to ensure that this new law is implemented fairly, and in a way that safeguards the American taxpayer. Equally important, the next Congress must restore to our financial system a regulatory structure that will prevent this terrible chapter in American history from ever happening again.
As Congress continues to address issues related to our nation's economy and the well-being of hardworking Virginians, please be assured that your specific views and suggestions will be very helpful to me and my staff. I hope that you will continue to share your thoughts with us in the years ahead.
I would also invite you to visit my website at www.webbisableepingsocialist.senate.gov for regular updates about my activities and positions on matters that are important to Virginia and our nation.
Sincerely,
Jim Webb
United States Senator
That is my fear as well — in the first 90 days we will lose a lot of liberties along with money. Obama will destroy this Country as we know it and the MSM is aiding and abetting this socialist to destroy America.
Redistributing the wealth? Not an American dream but a Communist dream!
Jim Webb is Barack Hussein Obama’s macaca.
Senator Webb, contrary to your nonsense, Senator Obama is strongly in support of gun control.
Heck, on Senator Obama's own campaign website, he proclaims his support for gun control at http://www.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/12/11/fact_check_no_news_in_obamas_c.php:
GUNS
REALITY: OBAMA HAS CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED COMMON SENSE GUN CONTROL, AS WELL AS THE RIGHTS OF LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNERS
Obama Supported A Package Of Legislation That Would Limit Handgun Sales To One A Month. ''The package closes the Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card loopholes which resulted in the shooting out in Melrose Park. We're eliminating 17 specific assault weapons. There is no reason why anybody should need an assault weapon to protect themselves or their family,' Obama said. 'We're limiting handgun sales to one a month. 'We're calling for handgun registration. It's very hard right now to track whether or not a felon has turned in his weapons or if he has a FOID card because we don't know how many weapons he has purchased.'" [Chicago Defender, 2/20/01]
Obama Voted To Prohibit Multiple Sales Of Handguns Within A 30-Day Period. In 2003, Obama voted to create the offense of unlawful acquisition of handguns, prohibiting the multiple sales of handguns within a 30-day period. In 2000, Obama was co-sponsor of bill prohibiting the transfer of more than one handgun within a 30-day period. The bill exempted federally licensed firearm dealers who purchase handguns in the regular course of business, military, law enforcement officials and certain hunters. [93rd GA, HB 2579, 5/16/03, 3R L; 23-36-0; 91st GA; SB 1614; 2000]
Obama Disagreed With The NRA That "People Should Be Unimpeded And Unregulated On Gun Ownership;" In Favor Of Handgun Registration And Licensing Requirements. Obama said, "I know that the NRA believes people should be unimpeded and unregulated on gun ownership. I disagree. I do not object to the lawful use and ownership of firearms, but I do think it is entirely it appropriate for the state to monitor it. Too many of these guns end up in the hands of criminals even though they were originally purchased by people who did not have a felony. I'll continue to be in favor of handgun law registration requirements and licensing requirements for training." [Chicago Defender, 7/5/01]
Obama: America Has A "Tradition Of Gun Ownership In This Country That Can Be Respected." The Weekly Standard reported, "When a student asks Obama for his views on the Second Amendment, he reminds his audience that he taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago and is thus familiar with the arguments regarding the right to bear arms. He acknowledges 'a tradition of gun ownership in this country that can be respected,' and says that his academic studies convinced him gun ownership 'is an individual right and not just the right of a militia.' But he was not finished. 'Like all rights, though, they are constrained by the needs and the rights of the community.' Obama then spoke of 34 students who were killed on the streets of Chicago and called for sensible gun control to prevent senseless death. He speaks of the importance of parental involvement in education before listing the many ways in which he would expand the role of the federal government in the schools." [Weekly Standard, 12/17/07]
As to the NRA, the NRA has made this crystal clear to its members:
NRA-PVF Endorses John McCain and Sarah Palin for President and Vice-President Thursday, October 09, 2008
Fairfax, VA. - The National Rifle Association's (NRA) Executive Vice President, Wayne LaPierre, and NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) Chairman Chris W. Cox are traveling to Pittsburgh, Pa., Springfield, Mo., Colorado Springs, Colo. and Reno, Nev. today for a series of press conferences endorsing Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin for President and Vice President respectively in the November 4 election.
"John McCain has more than two decades of pro-gun and pro-hunting votes in Congress. He has stood time and again to preserve our Second Amendment freedom and our rich hunting heritage," said LaPierre. "Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin have earned the NRA-PVF's endorsement and we will encourage gun owners, hunters and anyone who values freedom to vote McCain-Palin on November 4."
"NRA members and gun owners will not allow Barack Obama to hide his radical record of opposition to our constitutional rights," said Cox. "Obama has voted to make self-defense with a firearm in the home illegal, has voted to ban the most commonly owned hunting shotguns, has voted to ban commonly owned hunting ammunition, and has supported a 500% tax increase on guns and ammunition. We will remind voters every single time he pretends that his anti-gun record doesn't exist."
John McCain voted for the landmark Firearms Owners Protection Act and the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, opposed the failed Clinton Gun Ban, and voted against mandatory waiting periods, national gun registration, and bans on hunting ammunition. He also signed the historic congressional amicus brief in the case of Heller v. District of Columbia, holding that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms -- a brief that Senator Obama refused to sign.
Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin is a hunter, gun owner and NRA Life Member. Gov. Palin has been a consistent and outspoken supporter of the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen.
And other organizations document his support for gun control, such as his call to ban all semiautos; from "OnTheIssues.org", here is Senator Obama's gun control record:
Q: Is the D.C. law prohibiting ownership of handguns consistent with an individual's right to bear arms? Ok for states & cities to determine local gun laws
A: As a general principle, I believe that the Constitution confers an individual right to bear arms. But just because you have an individual right does not mean that the state or local government can't constrain the exercise of that right, in the same way that we have a right to private property but local governments can establish zoning ordinances that determine how you can use it.
Q: But do you still favor the registration & licensing of guns?
A: I think we can provide common-sense approaches to the issue of illegal guns that are ending up on the streets. We can make sure that criminals don't have guns in their hands. We can make certain that those who are mentally deranged are not getting a hold of handguns. We can trace guns that have been used in crimes to unscrupulous gun dealers that may be selling to straw purchasers and dumping them on the streets.
Source: 2008 Philadelphia primary debate, on eve of PA primary Apr 16, 2008 Obama was being misleading when he denied that his handwriting had been on a document endorsing a state ban on the sale and possession of handguns in Illinois. Obama responded, "No, my writing wasn't on that particular questionnaire. As I said, I have never favored an all-out ban on handguns."
FactCheck: Yes, Obama endorsed Illinois handgun ban Actually, Obama's writing was on the 1996 document, which was filed when Obama was running for the Illinois state Senate. A Chicago nonprofit, Independent Voters of Illinois, had this question, and Obama took hard line:
35. Do you support state legislation to:
a. ban the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns? Yes.
b. ban assault weapons? Yes.
c. mandatory waiting periods and background checks? Yes.Obama's campaign said, "Sen. Obama didn't fill out these state Senate questionnaires--a staffer did--and there are several answers that didn't reflect his views then or now. He may have jotted some notes on the front page of the questionnaire, but some answers didn't reflect his views."
Source: FactCheck.org analysis of 2008 Philadelphia primary debate Apr 16, 2008 Q: You said recently, "I have no intention of taking away folks' guns." But you support the D.C. handgun ban, and you've said that it's constitutional. How do you reconcile those two positions?
Respect 2nd Amendment, but local gun bans ok A: Because I think we have two conflicting traditions in this country. I think it's important for us to recognize that we've got a tradition of handgun ownership and gun ownership generally. And a lot of law-abiding citizens use it for hunting, for sportsmanship, and for protecting their families. We also have a violence on the streets that is the result of illegal handgun usage. And so I think there is nothing wrong with a community saying we are going to take those illegal handguns off the streets. And cracking down on the various loopholes that exist in terms of background checks for children, the mentally ill. We can have reasonable, thoughtful gun control measure that I think respect the Second Amendment and people's traditions.
Source: 2008 Politico pre-Potomac Primary interview Feb 11, 2008 Q: When you were in the state senate, you talked about licensing and registering gun owners. Would you do that as president?
Provide some common-sense enforcement on gun licensing A: I don't think that we can get that done. But what we can do is to provide just some common-sense enforcement. The efforts by law enforcement to obtain the information required to trace back guns that have been used in crimes to unscrupulous gun dealers. As president, I intend to make it happen. We essentially have two realities, when it comes to guns, in this country. You've got the tradition of lawful gun ownership. It is very important for many Americans to be able to hunt, fish, take their kids out, teach them how to shoot. Then you've got the reality of 34 Chicago public school students who get shot down on the streets of Chicago. We can reconcile those two realities by making sure the Second Amendment is respected and that people are able to lawfully own guns, but that we also start cracking down on the kinds of abuses of firearms that we see on the streets.
Source: 2008 Democratic debate in Las Vegas Jan 15, 2008 Obama sought moderate gun control measures, such as a 2000 bill he cosponsored to limit handgun purchases to one per month (it did not pass). He voted against letting people violate local weapons bans in cases of self-defense, but also voted in2004 to let retired police officers carry concealed handguns.
2000: cosponsored bill to limit purchases to 1 gun per month Source: The Improbable Quest, by John K. Wilson, p.148 Oct 30, 2007 Obama voted for a bill in the Illinois senate that allowed retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed weapons. If there was any issue on which Obama rarely deviated, it was gun control. He was the most strident candidate when it came to enforcin and expanding gun control laws. So this vote jumped out as inconsistent.
Concealed carry OK for retired police officers When I queried him about the vote, he said, "I didn't find that [vote] surprising. I am consistently on record and will continue to be on record as opposing concealed carry. This was a narrow exception in an exceptional circumstance where a retired police officer might find himself vulnerable as a consequence of the work he has previously done--and had been trained extensively in the proper use of firearms."
It wasn't until a few weeks later that another theory came forward about the uncharacteristic vote. Obama was battling with his GOP opponent to win the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Source: From Promise to Power, by David Mendell, p.250-251 Aug 14, 2007 Q: How would you address gun violence that continues to be the #1 cause of death among African-American men?
Stop unscrupulous gun dealers dumping guns in cities A: You know, when the massacre happened at Virginia Tech, I think all of us were grief stricken and shocked by the carnage. But in this year alone, in Chicago, we've had 34 Chicago public school students gunned down and killed. And for the most part, there has been silence. We know what to do. We've got to enforce the gun laws that are on the books. We've got to make sure that unscrupulous gun dealers aren't loading up vans and dumping guns in our communities, because we know they're not made in our communities. There aren't any gun manufacturers here, right here in the middle of Detroit. But what we also have to do is to make sure that we change our politics so that we care just as much about those 30-some children in Chicago who've been shot as we do the children in Virginia Tech. That's a mindset that we have to have in the White House and we don't have it right now.
Source: 2007 NAACP Presidential Primary Forum Jul 12, 2007 I believe in keeping guns out of our inner cities, and that our leaders must say so in the face of the gun manfuacturer's lobby. But I also believe that when a gangbanger shoots indiscriminately into a crowd because he feels someone disrespected him, we have a problem of morality. Not only do ew need to punish thatman for his crime, but we need to acknowledge that there's a hole in his heart, one that government programs alone may not be able to repair.
Keep guns out of inner cities--but also problem of morality Source: The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama, p.215 Oct 1, 2006 KEYES: [to Obama]: I am a strong believer in the second amendment. The gun control mentality is ruthlessly absurd. It suggests that we should pass a law that prevents law abiding citizens from carrying weapons. You end up with a situation where the crook have all the guns and the law abiding citizens cannot defend themselves. I guess that's good enough for Senator Obama who voted against the bill that would have allowed homeowners to defend themselves if their homes were broken into.
Bush erred in failing to renew assault weapons ban OBAMA: Let's be honest. Mr. Keyes does not believe in common gun control measures like the assault weapons bill. Mr. Keyes does not believe in any limits from what I can tell with respect to the possession of guns, including assault weapons that have only one purpose, to kill people. I think it is a scandal that this president did not authorize a renewal of the assault weapons ban.
Source: Illinois Senate Debate #3: Barack Obama vs. Alan Keyes Oct 21, 2004
Ban semi-automatics, and more possession restrictions Principles that Obama supports on gun issues:
- Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
- Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
- Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.
Source: 1998 IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1998 A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages, injunctive or other relief resulting from the misuse of their products by others. Voting YES would:
Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers.
- Exempt lawsuits brought against individuals who knowingly transfer a firearm that will be used to commit a violent or drug-trafficking crime
- Exempt lawsuits against actions that result in death, physical injury or property damage due solely to a product defect
- Call for the dismissal of all qualified civil liability actions pending on the date of enactment by the court in which the action was brought
- Prohibit the manufacture, import, sale or delivery of armor piercing ammunition, and sets a minimum prison term of 15 years for violations
- Require all licensed importers, manufacturers and dealers who engage in the transfer of handguns to provide secure gun storage or safety devices
Reference: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; Bill S 397 ; vote number 2005-219 on Jul 29, 2005
I’ve never actually been bird hunting, but I’ve done my share of shooting and it’s always gone pretty well for me. Always interested in improving my technique, however. In the picture you posted John Kerry is displaying an interesting technique. Tell me, does it help your aim if you crouch down, raise your arms in an awkward position, and stick your butt out when you’re firing, the way he does? ;-)
You can count on exactly that if the hypocrats control congress too.
Within 2 years a SCOTUS judge will mysteriously retire or die and that’ll be that.
useful idiot.
I guess he’s grown tired of being one of a hundred in the U.S. Senate... probably sniffing around for the Sec. of Defense post should the “chosen one” attain higher office.
Webb’s been promised more earmarks unchallenged by the Dems in exchange for his active support. Maybe a committee chairmanship or two as well. Business as usual.
Textbook example of what is commonly known as a “useful idiot.”
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