Posted on 08/09/2010 6:54:50 PM PDT by randita
NRA chooses Edwards in Texas By: Kasie Hunt August 9, 2010 06:57 PM EDT
Texas Rep. Chet Edwards is the latest endangered Democrat to win a critical conservative credential: an endorsement from the National Rifle Association.
Edwards’s campaign announced he had received the pro-gun rights organization’s backing on Monday. "I cannot imagine any candidate in our district who would not want the endorsement of the NRA Victory Fund, which is by far the largest gun rights organization in the country,” Edwards spokesman Megan Jacobs said in a statement.
Edwards is facing self-funded businessman Bill Flores, who has attacked him for voting in favor of the bank bailout and the stimulus bill.
“Bill Flores is a strong supporter of the 2nd amendment, filled out a perfect NRA questionnaire that received an AQ rating, is a life member of the NRA and the Texas State Rifle Association and has already been endorsed by Gun Owners of America. Bill will never receive an F rating from the NRA as Congressman Edwards did in 2003,” said Flores campaign manager Matt Mackowiak.
Edwards has been a GOP target for nearly a decade and has yet to lose a race—even though former President George W. Bush calls his district home.
Still, the national political environment is working against him, and Republicans have been quick to note Flores’s internal polling shows him ahead.
Both Edwards and Flores raised over $600,000 between April and June, though Edwards is sitting on more than $2.1 million in cash to Flores’s $415,000.
That makes the NRA endorsement all the more welcome—and Edwards isn’t the only vulnerable Democrat to win NRA support this year. Mississippi Rep. Travis Childers and Virginia Rep. Rick Boucher also have the group’s backing, a welcome endorsement for both.
Ties with conservative congressional Democrats have been key for the NRA. The group’s influence allowed it to negotiate a loophole in sweeping campaign finance legislation designed to limit outside groups’ influence in elections. The bill, dubbed the DISCLOSE Act, didn’t pass muster in the Senate.
But the NRA has taken flak from its conservative membership for supporting candidates on the left— and has been particularly roiled by suggestions it would endorse endangered Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The group ultimately issued a statement saying it had not yet made a decision about whether to endorse Reid.
© 2010 Capitol News Company, LLC
I could replace “Democrat” with “Republican” in your reply and be about 75% accurate. Sad state of affairs we find ourselves in.
Done. I’m disappointed to see they only have men’s clothing. Seems the norm but I can’t imagine why. Women are into guns and protection just as much as men.
Back in the early 70’s when we started hunting deer, I had to get men’s clothing and hunting shoes. They have more today but not as much as mens.
I wasn’t aware of their support for murtha.
Just because a demwad actually wants to keep his guns
doesn’t mean the NRA should endorse him. #*%@#%
To me that means the NRA is more dem oriented. Sc*** them!
I let my membership lapse and refuse to respond to their renewal notices ...
I agree completely.The major difference between the Republicans and Democrats is in the spelling.
We are in one hellofa mess.
Thanks. I just printed out a donation form.
That’s it. Screw the NRA. Edwards is a full bore gun grabber.
So what is it you are trying to say?
Maybe those of us who are member of NRA should cancel our membership; specially when they endorse anti 2nd Amendment candidates.
NRA has become a NON-CONSERVATIVE organisation in recent times. Wonder what the hell happened? It ain’t ya Daddy’s NRA.
When they send donation begger mail, I treat it same as RNC, ROUND FILE.
The Harry Reid debacle was the last straw for me and the NRA. This just confirms my decision was correct. No more money to the NRA.
Jax, I quit ‘em after very, very many years when I learned about Grover Norquist...a long time nra board member and get this....a HUGE lobbyist, agenda setter, fund raiser and overall heavy hitter for C.A.I.R!!! yep, C.A.I.R....the anti American nazi style muslim terrorist ‘bund’, (look it up younger FReepers), type front group working right here among us for our destruction....a long time nra board member...and the nra KNEW full well of his anti-American work all along. explain THAT nra toadies, (and don’t give me that “vote him out” crap.....he should have NEVER been let near the nra’s front door to start with!!), those still fooled by this once great org. an nra board member working directly for/with/along side C.A.I.R??? nice huh?
The NRA isn’t a ‘conservative’ organization either. They are simply a gun owner’s interest group. More often than not, republicans and conservatives support gun owners, so the NRA naturally support republicans and conservatives most of the time. If a dem candidate supports gun owners in a serious way, especially if they are an incumbent or someone with a strong previous voting record, the NRA will back them, or not endorse either candidate.
Well, bobby.223 (with a name like that, you MUST like guns)...
I had to check what you said about Grover Norquist, and it’s true. Plus he’s been involved with People of the American Way and GOProud.
NRA’s position that it is a single issue organization has put them in a couple of tough/grimy spots. Yes, they are the best at protecting gun rights, and I still support their efforts... but can’t they make a few exceptions, or would that tear up their pro-gun coalition?
This post has challenged me a bit.
Still, I think Wayne L. and company have been there too long and it looks to me like it may be time for a change at the top. The NRA have done some good things in the past but it appears to me that the folks in charge are having too much fun playing the political game. This endorsement is an example of that, as was the DISCLOSE Act fiasco and supporting Reid, to name just a few recent ones. The present leadership has simply been in the cesspool on the Potomac too long and lost touch with their members, pretty much totally. You said “The NRA has been extremely successful in what it does… supporting gun ownership”. You can bet your bottom dollar thst if Nancy needed one more vote in the house to pass a new gun ban Chet would provide it. If the ‘Rats needed one vote to pass it in the Senate Dingy Harry would do the same. There is no doubt in my mind about that. How is that “supporting gun ownership”? I won’t quit the NRA but I think LaPierre and Cox need to go.
Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record. (Dec 2003)
WTF NRA?
Then the NRA is a sucka$$ organization! Chet Edwards, by their own admission flunked ZERO in 2003, so 7 years later and Chet doing the same ol same ol and now he’s their puppy. I say they have crapped in their nest.
The National Rifle Association has also endorsed Strickland over gun-grabber Republican Kasich for Ohio governor.
I’m glad you checked it out. this is a story that nra toadies do NOT want known. C.A.I.R is the most insidious outfit in America today. to think a LONG TIME nra board member is/was also VERY involved with them in a HUGE way,( with the nra’s full knowledge, verified by my phone conversations with nra people, to his involvement with them and C.A.I.R.!!!!)), is just flat out unreal. GN is also the founder of the ‘islamic institute’ and married to a muslim. he is also a HUGE open border guy and makes no bones about that either. stay safe RCF.
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