Posted on 07/01/2010 7:08:29 AM PDT by Ogie Oglethorpe
Multiple sources tell me the National Rifle Association is planning to endorse liberal Harry Reid against pro-gun champion Sharron Angle.
Two weeks ago, I told you about the carveout the NRA received in exchange for their support for the DISCLOSE ACT deal.
Then this week, RedState broke the story of the “gag order” the NRA issued to members of its Board on the Kagan nomination.
Now, I’m getting credible reports that the NRA is leaning toward endorsing Harry Reid, even though the NRA is finally saying it will score a vote on Kagan — something that was not a sure thing.
Why would they do this? Why would they go out of their way to protect a Senator who has demonstrated a repeated hostility to the Second Amendment in his votes and his leadership?
Well, I thought perhaps the NRA carveout in the DISCLOSE Act might be the answer. But, there is more. It turns out, Reid secured a $61 million earmark for a gun range in Clark County, Nevada.
NRA members were recently treated to a three-page spread in the American Rifleman about a visit to Nevada by Wayne LaPierre and Chris Cox to “thank” Reid for the earmark. The article even includes a cliché picture of Reid cutting a ribbon with a gigantic pair of scissors. (Every good porker has his own giant pair of gold earmark scissors.) More here.
Here is a video of the event from Reid’s youtube site.
At 3:25, you can hear LaPierre touting Reid’s record on guns saying, “I also want to thank you, Senator, for your support every day for the Second Amendment and for the rights of American gun owners. “
The American Rifleman article also commends Reid’s Second Amendment record noting, “His dedication to this project is just one of the ways Sen. Reid has demonstrated his support for gun owners and the Second Amendment.”
Well, that’s all very nice. What politician representing a pro-gun red state wouldn’t want Wayne LaPierre to come out for a personal photo op at their earmark ribbon cutting.
But, here is the problem. Reid has not supported the Second Amendment “every day.” Or ever.
Reid has a lifetime rating of “F” from Gun Owners of America (who Ron Paul once called “the only no-compromise gun lobby in Washington”). GOA is actively supporting the 100% pro-gun Republican nominee, Sharron Angle, in her campaign to unseat Harry Reid.
But if you don’t believe GOA, see for yourself below the fold. Then call (800) 392-VOTE (8683) before it is too late and make the NRA knows they’d be betraying second amendment voters by endorsing Harry Reid.
Below are just a few of the votes that demonstrate Reid’s longstanding hostility to guns and the Second Amendment. Not included in this list is the long list of consistent and active support for anti-gun nominees to the Federal Judiciary and to high level cabinet posts. The reason I did not include anti-gun nominees is because he supported every last one of them.
June 28, 1991. Vote No. 115. Voted for a 5 day waiting period for handgun purchases.
October 21, 1993. Vote 325. Voted to eliminate the Army Civilian Marksmanship Program. Only the most fringe anti-gun Senators voted for the amendment.
November 19, 1993. Vote 385. Allow states to impose waiting periods over and above the 5 days waiting period required under the Brady Bill.
November 19, 1993. Vote 386. Voted to eliminate he 5-year sunset in the Brady Bill.
November 19, 1993. Vote 387. Voted to close off debate on the Brady Bill.
November 19, 1993. Vote 390. Voted to close off debate on the Brady Bill.
November 20, 1993. Vote 394. Voted for the Brady Bill, which imposed a 5-business-day waiting period before purchasing a handgun.
August 25, 1994. Vote 294. Voted to close off debate on the Clinton Crime Bill, which contained the ban on so-called “assault weapons.”
August 25, 1994. Vote 295. Voted for the Clinton Crime Bill, which contained the ban on so-called “assault weapons.”
April 17, 1996. Vote 64. Voted to expand the statute of limitations for paperwork violations in National Firearms Act from 3 years to 5 years.
June 27, 1996. Vote 178. Voting to destroy 176,000 M-1 Garand rifles from World War II, and 150 million rounds of 30 caliber ammunition, rather than giving them to the Federal Civilian Marksmanship program.
September 12, 1996. Vote 287. Voted to spend $21.5 million for a study on putting “taggants” in black and smokeless gunpowder.
September 12, 1996. Vote 290. Voted to make it a Federal crime to possess a gun within 1,000 yards of a school.
May 12, 1999. Vote 111. Voted to give the Treasury Department expansive new authority to regulate and keep records on gun shows and their participants, and criminalize many intrastate firearms transactions.
May 13, 1999. Vote 116. Voted to ban the importation of ammunition clips that can hold more than 10 rounds.
May 14, 1999. Vote 119. Voted to criminalize internet advertisements to sell legal firearms in a legal manner.
May 18, 1999. Vote 122. Voted to for Mandatory triggerlocks.
May 20, 1999. Vote 133. Voted to create new Federal regulation of pawn shops handling of guns.
May 20, 1999. Vote 134. Voted to give the Treasury Department expansive new authority to regulate and keep records on gun shows and their participants, and criminalize many intrastate firearms transactions. The vote was 50-50, with Vice President Gore casting the tie-breaking vote.
May 20, 1999. Vote 140. Voted for the Clinton Juvenile Justice bill, which contained a package of gun control measures.
July 29, 1999. Vote 224. Voted to close debate on the Clinton Juvenile Justice bill, which contained a package of gun control measures.
February 2, 2000. Vote 4. Voted to make firearms manufacturers and distributors’ debts nondischargeable in bankruptcy if they were sued because they unknowingly sold guns to individuals who used the gun in a crime. 68 Senators voted against Reid’s position, including 17 Democrats including Bryan of Nevada.
March 2, 2000. Vote 27. Voted to say that school violence was due to the fact that Congress “failed to pass reasonable, common-sense gun control measures” and call for new gun ownership restrictions on the anniversary of the Columbine shootings.
March 2, 2000. Vote 28. Voted to say that school violence was due to the fact that Congress “failed to pass reasonable, common-sense gun control measures” and call for new gun ownership restrictions on the anniversary of the Columbine shootings (reconsideration of vote 27).
March 2, 2000. Vote 32. Voted to use Federal taxpayer funds to hand out anti-gun literature in schools and to run anti-gun public service announcements.
April 6, 2000. Vote 64. Voted for a gun control package including new onerous restrictions on gun shows.
April 7, 2000. Vote 74. Voted against an amendment to provide for the enforcement of existing gun laws in lieu of new burdensome gun control mandates.
May 16, 2000. Vote 100. Voted to commend the participants of the so-called “Million Mom March” for their demand for more Federal restrictions on firearms ownership, and to urge the passage of strict gun control measures.
May 17, 2000. Vote 102. Vote to overturn the ruling of the chair that the Daschle amendment (commending the participants of the so-called “Million Mom March” for their demand for more Federal restrictions on firearms ownership, and to urge the passage of strict gun control measures) was out of order.
May 17, 2000. Vote 103. Voted against an amendment stating “the right of each law-abiding United States citizen to own a firearm for any legitimate purpose, including self-defense or recreation, should not be infringed.”
May 17, 2000. Vote 104. Voted for an amendment commending the participants of the so-called “Million Mom March” for their demand for more Federal restrictions on firearms ownership, and to urge the passage of strict gun control measures.
February 26, 2004. Vote 17. Voted for mandatory triggerlocks.
March 2, 2004. Vote 25. Voted for Federal regulation of gun shows.
July 28, 2005. Vote 207. Voted for mandatory triggerlocks.
March 5, 2009. Vote 83. Voted against a ban on the United Nations imposing taxes on American citizens after France and other world leaders proposed a global tax on firearms.
Here are the donations TO Harry Reid FROM the NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA POLITICAL VICTORY FUND
FEC - Committees And Candidates Supported/Opposed
| 26940510996 | |||
| REID, HARRY VIA FRIENDS FOR HARRY REID |
11/17/2003 | 1000.00 | 23992515200 |
| REID, HARRY VIA FRIENDS FOR HARRY REID |
04/23/2004 | 1000.00 | 24961318572 |
| REID, HARRY VIA FRIENDS FOR HARRY REID |
06/14/2004 | 1000.00 | 24971349475 |
| REID, HARRY VIA FRIENDS FOR HARRY REID |
08/13/2004 | 1500.00 | 24971465041 |
| REID, HARRY VIA FRIENDS FOR HARRY REID |
09/22/2009 | 2500.00 | 29935351870 |
| REID, HARRY VIA FRIENDS FOR HARRY REID |
03/25/2010 | 1500.00 | 10930620649 |
In 2004, Harry Reid got a B and his opponent, Richard Ziser, got an A. NRA-ILA did not endorse a candidate in that race.
Down the page on that 2004 ratings page, I see that Sharron Angle was rated A by NRA-ILA, and endorsed, for her NV State Assembly race that year.
I was an NRA-EVC (not a paid position, BTW) for a number of years, and was sometimes surprised to see "no endorsement" on a number of pro-gun challengers in races where they were up against squishy, weak on RKBA incumbents. The NRA-ILA explanation to me was that while the challenger answered the questionnaire the right way, he/she was an unknown when it came to voting for RKBA laws; when the challenger had not held a lower office prior to running in the particular race in which an endorsement was not given. Their rationale then was that anybody can say anything on a questionnaire. In their ratings/endorsements decision process, sometimes the squishy, weak on RKBA, enemy we know (and can squeeze to our advantage on some issues) is better than the enemy we don't know, who may have lied (imagine that, a politician lying) on the questionnaire.
With the Reid vs. Angle race this year, Sharron Angle has a track record as a state legislator. Whether NV has had state RKBA legislation with which they can judge her record, I am not aware; as I am not a NV resident.
In this case I have to wonder if maybe these rumors, about "gag rules" on BOD members re Kagan, endorsing Harry Reid over Sharron Angle, NRA selling out over Disclose Act, etc., are being put out there by the Obama Chicago 'Rat machine to hurt NRA membership numbers.
That wouldn't surprise me.
They already have.....google "Project Exile" or "Safe Neighborhoods".......
“What happened to the NRA?”
They have decided to follow the AARP and AMA into oblivion by thwarting the will of their members. Look for a real tanking of membership if they really do endorse this loser.
As the old saying goes, Actions speak louder than words.
The puff piece on Reid in the mag says it all. Alleged telephone comments have zero credibility.
This crap is not new - the NRA has done irreparable harm to our rights over the years.
Another member of the Soft-headed Noobie club, huh?
.
I wouldn't have written the checks, but they're for a piddly amount and I could see why the NRA would do it.
An endorsement, however, at least to my mind, is a different kettle of fish. And it doesn't look like the NRA is gonna go there :)
They don’t need to “go there,” they’ve already done it in the magazine - its done!
If that article isn’t an endorsement, Freerepublic is Obama Central.
This would be like me joining “Jews for Hitler”.
I can't see why the NRA would do it! I can assure you, Second Amendment Sisters would NEVER do the same if we had a PAC and made donations to political campaigns, which we don't.
BINGO!
Hardly.
Yah, I read the “puff-piece.” I keep the NRA mag in my john : P . . . Reid helped fund a gun range and he got some good comments in an article in the NRA mag. I don’t think the NRA magazine should have kicked Reid in the teeth for doing something good for gun owners so I don’t have a problem with it.
gundog leaning toward not renewing NRA membership. With friends like these....
I just called their Legislative Action hotline and they claim they have not endorsed Reid. They said that Angle has an “A” rating and Reid a “B” (!) and that they haven’t endorsed a “B” in the past. The kid sounded a little evasive/mushy so it would be my advice that they get crushed by our response and that we should not let up until the NRA publicly announces that it will not endorse Reid.
“What happened to the NRA?”
The same thing that happens to government when there are no term limits: The people in power direct most of their efforts to staying in power. La Pierre is a politician and he has appointed another one (Cox) to deal with the governmental politicians. They both need to go but the way the directors are nominated and elected pretty well guarantees that no such thing will happen. La Pierre will probably die in office and be succeeded by Cox thus ensuring continuity of sleaze.
I’m glad I’m out of there...
Fund a gun range?
That was mostly Democrat party operation money, the range was just the vehicle, and the NRA should have made that clear in the article.
I wouldn't be so hopeful.
The NRA is working with these politicians to get something, but what that "something" is remains a mystery. I don't think it should be such a mystery, especially if they expect you to remain a member.
I don’t understand the Democratic Party operation money stuff you are talking about, but you get my point. If Reid did something good for gun owners it makes no sense for the NRA to attack him or not mention it.
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