Gun-Shy

Washington Post ^ | July 23, 2009 | Dana Milbank

[george76]

How do you outgun the NRA? Very, very carefully.

Mark Pryor knows all about that. The Democratic senator from pro-gun Arkansas was nowhere to be seen on the Senate floor during Wednesday's showdown over a proposal, championed by the National Rifle Association, that would have gutted state gun-control laws across the nation.

Toward the end of the vote, Pryor entered the chamber through the back door, took a few steps inside, flashed a thumbs-down to the clerk, and retreated as fast and furtively as somebody dodging gunfire.

Several minutes later, the Democrats had racked up more than enough votes to block the proposal. "Are there any senators in the chamber wishing to vote or wishing to change their vote?" the presiding officer inquired.

Pryor burst back in, this time through a side door. "Mr. President!" he called out. "Mr. President!" He stopped in the well to consult with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), a gun-control advocate who was keeping the whip sheet. Schumer gave Pryor a nod, and the Arkansan -- reassured that his vote was not needed to defeat the proposal -- changed his vote to an "aye."

If Pryor wasn't exactly a profile in courage...

Other Democrats, such as Pennsylvania's Bob Casey and Colorado's Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, were said to have been willing to vote "no" if necessary.

Twenty minutes after the voting began, Bennet and Udall left the cloakroom together and walked into the chamber. Bennet went to the well to consult with Schumer, who indicated that it was safe for Bennet -- a product of D.C.'s St. Albans School -- to vote with the NRA. Bennet looked to Udall, who gave an approving nod, and cast his "aye" vote.

[bamahead]

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[kitchen]

Bennet, the liberal carpet-bagger.

At a town hall out here, when asked a gun law related question, Bennet said he didn't grow up hunting and consequently didn't know anything about the Second Amendment.

BTW - He dressed as if an advance man shopped the budget center for his togs. Ill fitting & threadbare. Guess he wanted to "fit in."

[Munz]

Oh the politics of it all.

The rotten no good low down lying sniveling no guts perverted double dealing backstabbing larcenist worm.

(I’m unable to say what I really think about him because I would be banned)

[colorado tanker]

Bennet’s M.O. is that he won't take a position on any tough decision unless his back's against the wall with a floor vote and even then he tries to pull deals like this one to avoid revealing his true colors.

[Taxman]

All we have to remember is that the Democrat Party is anti-Second Amendment and act (vote) accordingly.

[neverdem]

Profile in cynicism!

Great Catch!

[wastoute]

2010. "If you are up, you are out!"

Let us have the first 400 names in the phone book for 2 years.

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[george76]

thanks

[george76]

Interesting that Dana Milbank caught and wrote this.

[colorado tanker]

Same story hit some talk shows here. Bennet got caught in the act. He'll have trouble establishing credibility if he tries to claim he's pro-Second Amendment.

[george76]

He may not do many townhall meeting now

[Morgan in Denver]

I just hope this is another item to come back to bite them.

Elections have consequences. Colorado voters need reminding.