NRA Support Propels Candidates

Newsmax ^ | 09 Nov 2010 | Brad O’Leary

[neverdem]

When you analyze the impact of conservative and single-issue membership organizations on the 2010 midterm elections, you find that one group’s efforts dwarfed the rest: The National Rifle Association of America.

The NRA spent $20 million on behalf of its candidates — nearly five times more than the combined effort of all other such groups.

In fact, the amount of money the NRA spent to defeat Democrat John Spratt in South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District was more than all the other Second Amendment groups combined.

The group is now well-positioned to protect gun owners’ rights at the state and federal level for the next 10 years.

As of this writing, there are 17 new Republican faces in governors’ offices, 14 of whom received an A rating from the NRA on Second Amendment issues, and two of whom received a B rating.

The most important of these might be Scott Walker in Wisconsin. Wisconsin is a state which might now join the 40 other states that allow their citizens to carry a firearm for personal protection.

It also means that 116 electoral votes that went for President Barack Obama in 2008, will now be hotly contested in 2012.

In the U.S. Senate, seven of the new Republicans are A-rated by the NRA, and one of them has a solid B+ rating. In addition, not a single incumbent senator with an A rating from the NRA lost election. This too would indicate a political tide returning.

Considering there are 100 seats in the Senate, it will take two more election cycles for the tide to completely turn. In addition, only two NRA A-rated senators could be considered at risk in 2012, while 10 Senators with NRA ratings of F, D and C will likely have contentious re-elections...

[LibLieSlayer]

They helped to elect harry reid.

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

They helped to elect harry reid.

LLS

[gramho12]

But what I really want to know is, did they really help elect Harry Reid?

[LibLieSlayer]

They endorsed him... if they have any sway at all... they did.

LLS

[SoConPubbie]

But what I really want to know is, did they really help elect Harry Reid?

Because they tried to straddle the fence where the two candidates were concerned.

Knowing that he is a socialist, they first floated the idea that they were going to endorse him. When that did not go over well, they then kinda-sorta endorsed Sharron.

Too little, too late.

I will not be re-upping my dues with them because they were traitors to conservatives and to the 2nd Amendment cause this election cycle.

They also endorsed many other Democrats.

[VADoc1980]

They retracted that endorsement of Reid.

[ArrogantBustard]

The NRA spent $20 million on behalf of its candidates some of whom are socialist democRats.

Thanks for nothing, NRAts.

[PeteB570]

Do you want the NRA to be a political arm of the Republicans?

[JSDude1]

It would have been even more if they hadn’t helped to retain some-anti gun Democrats! NRA can act like team players now, but they should be relegated to the back of the Republican coalition since they supported so many Democrat Incumbents in the last election.

[LibLieSlayer]

Oh... they pulled a kerry... they were for him before they were against him. Look how many dims they DID endorse without retraction. I only give directly to their ILA program. They can no longer be trusted outside of their court cases.

LLS

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Correlation <> Causation

[VADoc1980]

They’re not part of the Republican coalition. Sure, they mostly support Republicans, but the NRA is a single-issue organization. They don’t owe it to you to lend support on non-gun related matters.

[ArrogantBustard]

I want the NRA to refrain from endorsing socialists.

I want the NRA to refrain form endorsing a candidate when both the Republican and the democRat are both "A" rated.

I want the NRA to show ratings for candidates who are neither Republican nor democRat.

[TonyInOhio]

The NRA endorsed Ted Strickland, the soon-to-be former Governor of Ohio, the man under whose administration Ohio has lost 400,000 jobs. The NRA nearly pulled it out for Ted, even going so far as to do robocalls attacking Governor-Elect Kasich by name during the last weekend before the election.

Coincidentally, my NRA renewal packet arrived two weekends ago. I threw it away.

[PeteB570]

How they endorse candidates is well known. As well as what it takes to get an “A” rating.

They will support an incumbent who has “VOTED” for gun rights over one who has just answered Yes on a mail in form.

And how much did GOA spend on candidates this past election cycle?

[Vigilanteman]

Two RATs in SW Pennsylvania, Jason Altmeier and Mark Critz, both narrowly survived re-election contests thanks to NRA endorsements. Had they simply butted out, we would have flipped seven house seats, rather than five and be looking at a 14/5 split in our congressional delegation rather than 12/7.

[ArrogantBustard]

How they endorse candidates is well known.

And I disagree with it. Their method has the effect of supporting professional politicians, an act of which I heartily disapprove. Nobody has a "right" to remain in office or to be elected the first time; nobody can "earn" a right which does not exist.

NRA endorses socialists.

That's a fact, stone cold and incontrovertible.

Deal with it.

Don't bring up red herrings, they stink.

[ozzymandus]

Are we still bitching about the NRA? Jeeze.

[PeteB570]

So GOA didn’t spend much?