Kelli Ward at Yuma Primary Rally for Senate: National Reciprocity and Hearing Protection Act

Gun Watch ^ | 29 August, 2018 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Dr. Kelli Ward had a campaign appearance in Yuma on Saturday night, the 25th of August, for the Republican primary for the Senate. Yuma was the last stop at the end of a whirlwind bus tour around the state.

I was able to attend and ask Dr. Ward a question about gun issues beyond the usual "I support the Second Amendment" boilerplate.

I arrived before 6 p.m. I ran into many of the local political activists. It was clear Dr. Ward was getting much more attention than she had in 2016. I had attended a similar rally in 2016, and the attendance was only about a quarter of what was at this rally.

There was significant media presence. I had a talk with a reporter from Japan who works out of New York City.  We traded cards.

Ward has developed strongly as a candidate in two years. Her manner was polished. She did not make any obvious mistakes. She had a strong command of the  issues.  She was able to bring the crowd to its feet in standing ovations.

The stop reminded me of what I have seen of Donald Trump rallies, in miniature. The enthusiasm of the crowd was high, and contagious.

The difference from 2016 was the enormous amount of media ads in opposition to Dr. Ward. It is the worst case of taking words out of context and creating a false image that I have seen in Arizona. All legal under the First Amendment, which I explained to the Japanese reporter.

The contrast of upbeat, enthusiastic campaign, to the negative radio ads that bombarded me from the car radio was startling. Will Dr. Ward be able to survive the combination of attacks by the McCain machine, the McConnell establishment, and dominant media bias?  If she does, it will show how much the media has lost its ability to shape the narrative.

Near the end of the stop, I asked Dr. Ward if she supported national carry reciprocity, and if she supported the Hearing Protection Act (HPA).

She knew what I was talking about, a plus for a Senate candidate.

She said that she supported both bills.

She said that a person should be able to exercise their Second Amendment rights anywhere in the country, which is why she supported national reciprocity.

She reminded me she had authored a bill to decriminalize suppressors in the Arizona Senate before the HPA was introduced into the U.S. Senate.

The bill was introduced in 2015. It would have removed Arizona bans on suppressors, short barreled rifles and shotguns, and nun-chucks. It was a common sense reform of the Arizona weapon laws.

Dr. Ward is the most Second Amendment friendly person in the race for the Senate. She would represent Second Amendment supporters far better than former Senator McCain or Senator Flake.

Given that, Yuma is a conservative, military and agriculture town. 

The Republicans that are supporting other candidates claim Dr. Ward is less likely to beat the Democrat candidate in the November election. That remains to be seen. If she had raised a few million dollars to fight this campaign, she would likely be the Senate candidate. Keeping your political independence from the Washington king makers has a price.

If Dr. Ward is able to gain the Republican candidate spot, she will show a level of grass roots support that makes it plausible for her to beat the Democrat in November.

©2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

[katykelly]

Past couple months ?

[marktwain]

Who has been pulling the strings for the past several weeks?

I do not know. The press release simply says "the family" released a statement.

It is crimethink to suggest that someone other than the Senator chose the moment to pull the plug.

Maybe Senator McCain did. It is not hard for me to see a scenario where someone asks the Senator "Do you want us to keep up treatment?" "If you want us to continue treatment, just nod."

Senator McCain, already in a vegetative state, does nothing. Treatment is stopped, the next day, bodily functions have ceased.

But we are not allowed to write such possibilities.

It is crimethink. It is the nature of reality, that there cannot be an investigation. Doctors involved are behind a wall of secrecy. It is a taboo area.

Maybe, in 5 or 10 years, a retired nurse or policeman involved will tell us that the Senator had been unresponsive for several weeks. Very likely, we will never know.

That is the taboo the Media and Ward's enemies are exploiting. They use these taboos like bludgeons against Conservatives, not against liberals.

[Jeff Vader]

I voted for Dr. Ward this morning and have been a monthly donor to her for over a year. I hope she wins, but I think the mcsally/rino/gope machine is too much for her.

[BobL]

“Except, that was fake news. Here is her actual statement: “

I guess it depends if you’re running to WIN, or running to MAKE A POINT.

If you’re running to win in Arizona, you, and your aides, don’t don’t go stamping on McCain before his body is cold, REGARDLESS of what you may think.

I want someone wanting to win.

[marktwain]

“I have mixed feelings about McSally...” I don’t - Flake endorsed her.

God help us. I mean that sincerely. Flake has lived up to his name.

[marktwain]

If you’re running to win in Arizona, you, and your aides, don’t don’t go stamping on McCain before his body is cold, REGARDLESS of what you may think.

Ward has been running to win. The desire is not the same as the result.

You are correct, though. A conservative has to be twice as good as a liberal to get elected. They are running with their legs hobbled and the Media throwing obstacles in their way.

[ifinnegan]

Yep.

Your response seals it.

You have the GOPe swamp rhetoric down pat.

[rktman]

Hmmm. With a bow!?

[ifinnegan]

I know coordination when I see it.

I know GOPe smarminess and insidious cowardice when I see it.

[hsmomx3]

This entire illness has been odd.

The hearse was nearby and how did they manage to get all of those police vehicles/motorcycle in such short notice to escort the body to Phoenix.

Something strange that we will never hear about.

[BobL]

Thanks - yes, it’s a VERY HIGH standard, but it is really easy for Republicans...just don’t say anything! ...unless it is thoroughly vetted. Comment on McCain’s death: “Very sad for the State of Arizona, the United States, and his family”...anything beyond that you vet with with 20 random FReepers (half women) to find out if you’re about to make an ass of yourself.

[BobL]

ABSOLUTELY! Been a BIG-TIME supporter of Jeb from Day 1. Just go back and look at all my TRUMP BASHING!

[Reno89519]

Why hasn’t she dropped out? Trump endorsed her opponent. Tired of seeing people split the vote. Get aboard Trump’s choices.

[Reno89519]

Hey, did she give an update on contrails?

[originalbuckeye]

Flake has not endorsed McSally. THE HILL says Flake has endorsed her. The Az Republic TODAY says Flake hasn’t endorsed anyone. But hey, when you believe fake news, the agitators can sway people. If Flake wanted McSally to win, he would not have endorsed her, as he knows he’s poison. So, maybe he does support her, but we don’t know as he has not endorsed her.

[gibsonguy]

We’ll know in about an hour but l think Joe screwed us. Joe is at best a fool but maybe worse.

[originalbuckeye]

One thing I can say, unequivocally, Dr Ward’s supporters are bitter, nasty people, judging from the comments I have received from them on this thread. I will vote for the Republican that wins tonight. Will Dr Ward’s supporters??? I can say for sure, ANY REPUBLICAN will be better than Sinema!

[Reno89519]

Joe should never have run. I do not understand what led him to do so, hopefully he does’t play spoiler and set up Doc Contrail to win tonight, then lose spectacularly in November.

[marktwain]

Why hasn’t she dropped out? Trump endorsed her opponent. Tired of seeing people split the vote. Get aboard Trump’s choices.

Trump has not endorsed her opponent. Why do you think he has? I have not seen any evidence of this, and I have been bombarded with radio spots by her opponents for weeks.

[Reno89519]

Trump has talked up McSally and had her, if I recall correctly, at his rallies. That’s endorsement in my mind. Doc Contrail and Joe did not get any word from Trump. Who cares about Flake. If anything people are using Flake to undermine Trump’s choice.