Posted on 07/25/2007 12:49:59 AM PDT by goldstategop
Sen. Joe Biden is the embodiment of snide. Snide is the embodiment of the left-wing attitude toward gun owners. So when snide Joe Biden confronted a YouTube user who asked Democrat presidential candidates about gun control during a debate Monday night, what unfolded was a Teachable YouTube Moment -- the caught-on-tape embodiment of ideological snideness toward the Second Amendment and those who defend it.
"Good evening, America. My name is Jered Townsend from Clio, Michigan," the YouTube citizen questioner began. "To all the candidates, tell me your position on gun control, as myself and other Americans really want to know if our babies are safe." Townsend then pulled out his Bushmaster AR-15. "This is my 'baby,' purchased under the 1994 gun ban. Please tell me your views. Thank you."
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was asked to respond first. CNN host Anderson Cooper noted that Richardson has "one of the highest NRA ratings." Richardson ran so fast from his record, you could see the Road Runner puff of cartoon smoke billowing at the base of his podium. "The issue here, I believe, is instant background checks," he sputtered. "Nobody who has a criminal background or is mentally ill should be able to get a weapon." Richardson babbled for a few more painful seconds about "attacking poverty, bringing people together, dealing with those kids in the ghettos that are heavy users of gun violence," while the liberals in the audience sat stone-cold silent.
Not a peep from Richardson about the fundamental right to self-defense, of course.
Cooper rescued Richardson by turning to The Smirk from Delaware. "Senator Biden, are you going to be able to keep his 'baby' safe?" Snide Joe grabbed his opening: "I'll tell you what, if that is his baby, he needs help."
Biden threw red meat to the blue audience. He was richly rewarded with loud applause. Biden showed off his lawyerly credentials and continued to wallop the YouTube gun owner: "I think he just made an admission against self-interest. I don't know that he is mentally qualified to own that gun." Why? Because he showed affection for his possession? Because he's an enthusiastic hobbyist? Because he talked about his gun the way Paris Hilton talks about her Chihuahua or Brad Pitt talks about his Ducati or Al Gore talks about his Priuses and compact fluorescent light bulbs?
The audience roared with laughter at Biden's mockery of the gun owner's mental health. So much for politically correct sensitivity toward the mentally ill, eh? "I'm being serious," Biden chuckled. "Look, we should be working with law enforcement, right now, to make sure that we protect people against people who don't -- are not capable of knowing what to do with a gun because they're either mentally imbalanced and/or because they have a criminal record, and . . . "
Cooper interrupted Biden's rant, but he stuck in one more jibe at Jered Townsend, the YouTube gun owner. "I hope he doesn't come looking for me." More laughter.
Did any of the other candidates pipe up to defend the gun owner? Not a one. Biden's snark and smarm spoke for them. The Democrats remain the party of gun-grabbers. Its leading presidential candidates view gun-owners as crackpots and nutballs, and treat the Second Amendment as a nuisance to be circumvented and cured. Big Nanny, not bedrock constitutional principle, rules.
The Democrats are shooting themselves in the foot by taking arrogant potshots at gun owners in a nationally televised debate. A recent Gallup Poll showed that roughly one in three Americans who live in the Midwest and South owns a gun; 27 percent of independents and 23 percent of Democrats identify themselves as gun owners. A majority use their weapons for crime prevention. Who in the Democrat Party speaks for them? Are the majority of women gun owners who own a gun for self-defense "mentally imbalanced," too?
The Dems can enjoy Biden's YouTube-able wisecracking now. But come general election time, it may be Second Amendment defenders who get the last laugh.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
It was an idiotic and counterproductive way to pose the question. How do you expect a stage full of Democrats to react to a guy who calls his rifle his baby? The questioner lived up to the stereotype of a crazy, red neck gun nut, and therefore made the Democrats’ gun control advocacy appear moderate and sensible. If you want to put them on the spot, you ask, Do you believe the Constitution guarantees my right to possess a firearm, and will you protect that right. This puts the candidates on defense, rather than giving them an opportunity to appear normal and sensible and mock the questioner.
I watched the entire exchange....
This is one of the primary reasons that I will NEVER vote for a Democrat again . As long as this is a foundation of their platform.
Never ! again....
I think he got exactly the result he wanted.
Whichever of them wins the nomination will have their obligatory, staged hunting photo-op. I love it, they are so stupid they don’t get how out of place they appear.
You have to imagine one of these people in hunting attire carrying a rifle or shotgun (ranked in the order I prefer to see):
1) Edwards (yes, he even beats Shrillery)
2) Shrillery (least likely to have her hair done post-hunt)
3) Obama (Skinny, floppy-eared Ivy leaguer)
Recommended reading before the hunt: Faux Hunting, by Lurch Kerry.
Hahahahahahaha! Man this is going to be good.
Fox411 quote about an off-the-record Hollywood get-together with Obama:
“I did like a pretty smooth answer Obama has about gun control policy: He’s for it, of course, but doesn’t want to disturb the “traditions” of those who aren’t. He said something to the effect that gun owners didn’t appreciate Easterners “who drive Volvos and sip white wine” thinking they were crazy. He also said if you were against abortion, you weren’t going to vote for him.”
The Rats don’t realize that it wasn’t hanging chads that denied Algore the Presidency, but his support for Gun Control which denied him his home state Tennesee.
barbra ann
I’m sure you’ve noticed that the democraps have been avoiding confrontation over firearms since they got their a$$es handed to them in elections prior to ‘06. Biden was only vocalizing what they all feel about firearms owners, when they get absolute power, they will come for the guns again. This cynicism also extends to the so called religious right that they have decided to woo. Off topic I know, but how many loud ameners on Sunday morning vote for the party of abortion and special rights for homosexuals on the second Tuesday? We were truly lucky when the first Clinton administrations were in power that they were focused on their own selfish personal interests like trips to the oval offfice sink. It may not be that way next time.
The idiot’s handlers probably had to coach him heavily on how to properly hold the firearm, and off stage they had large cue cards so he could get it right.
Heh :)
I will expect yet another "convincing argument" from the 100 million gun owners to the contrary.
They got the attention of Americans with the last "assault weapons ban". We know now that it can and will happen if we let it.
Lock and load...
Absolutely. I think Clinton had enough political savvy as well as other problems creating a legacy that he knew better than to repeal the 2nd Amendment. The next demonrat prez? Assuming they have the House and Senate, we can expect they'll do everything they can to turn gun owners into criminals.
That's how they prove that they're "unbiased". They get 5 questions about more welfare, government run health care, increases to the minimum wage etc and make sure all the people are as mature, sober, and attractive as possible, then you get 5 questions about individual rights, personal responsibility, and respect for society's traditions, and make sure that everyone that asks them is dressed in a clown suit complete with rubber nose.
You make the conservatives look ridiculous and the liberals look angelic, but since it's 5 of each,... it's fair and balanced.
Can you say “set-up”? This stinks like old fish...
This guy was trying to be funny and provocative while making a point about gun control. He’s obviously a conservative or libertarian who wanted to turn the gun grabber’s argument around on them.
He asks them what they are going to do about gun control to protect his babies. At this point in the video he does not have the gun with him and you are thinking that he is dredging up the tired old line gun grabbers use about more gun control to protect the children. Then he brings the rifle onto the screen and states this is my baby and reiterates his question.
It was brilliant because he flipped the gun grabbers argument around on them by calling his gun his baby. Do you really think that someone just getting on the screen and asking about the second amendment would have gotten shown during the debate? Never. However, this was so witty and provocative that is the reason why CNN decided to show it. Only obtuse democrats would not have understood him.
The proper answer to his question is that as President I will ensure that your baby is protected. I will also be out there protecting other people’s babies by promoting tougher sentencing laws for criminals that use guns to commit violent crimes. Guns are merely tools to be used for good or evil. It is the criminals that we must go after and stop blaming crimes on guns.
Hark, hark, the snark.
Michelle Malkin correctly pointed out the absolutist, soul-stunning arrogantly abhorrent attitude of the typical liberal for ANY kind of firearms, in the possession of ANYBODY, police included. This is not merely an issue of control, it is explicit designation of EVIL, branding the possession and use of a sidearm as anathema.
There is no such thing as a “pro-NRA” advocate among this bunch of Democraticans.
Malkin ping!
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