Rand Paul-backed group attacks Republicans (Paul not cowering under pressure)

Politico ^ | 4/2/13 | Kate Nocera

[cotton1706]

Sen. Rand Paul, the tea party favorite and possible 2016 presidential candidate, is raising money for a conservative gun rights group that’s targeting fellow Republicans, including House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.

And when one congressman complained, the message from Paul’s camp was: too bad.

The Kentucky Republican has lent his name to fundraising pitches for the National Association for Gun Rights, a group that says the National Rifle Association is too willing to compromise on gun rights.

The group has blitzed the districts of Virginia Republicans Cantor and Rep. Scott Rigell with $50,000 worth of TV and radio ads accusing them of helping President Barack Obama pass gun control legislation.

Paul’s email pitches for the group don’t mention Cantor or Rigell by name, but his activity for an organization that attacks fellow Republicans shows the potential 2016 presidential contender isn’t afraid to pick a fight inside the party.

Paul chief of staff Doug Stafford is unapologetic.

“Rand signs normal, run-of-the-mill activist emails and letters for numerous groups and this is one of them,” Stafford told POLITICO. “That’s all he’s ever done for them, he’s not affiliated with the group in any way, he doesn’t control how they decide their activism should take place in terms of who the people are that need to be shored up on an issue.”

Paul poses a formidable challenge for fellow Republican lawmakers. He has a built-in base of libertarians, and his profile rose again last month after he filibustered against the Obama administration’s drone policy and won the Conservative Political Action Conference presidential straw poll.

[cotton1706]

The old game. Moderate or liberal politicians are made to feel the heat by a conservative group, then conservatives are told to repudiate the group so the heat stops. Only this time Rand Paul isn't playing.

Cantor is the House Majority Leader. If he and Boehner agree to introduce a gun control bill on the floor, it will pass with democrat (and moderate republican) support. Cantor and the gang are not conservative and they don't like the people being reminded of it!

[deoetdoctrinae]

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[Georgia Girl 2]

I stand with Rand.

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We stand with Rand.