Posted on 06/13/2016 3:32:14 PM PDT by jazusamo
A former Republican senator is endorsing Hillary Clinton for president after the mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., citing her support for gun control.
Former Sen. Larry Pressler (R-S.D.) called for universal background checks on all gun sales and an assault weapons ban Monday in the wake of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
“I can’t believe I’m endorsing Hillary Clinton for president, but I am,” said Pressler, who spoke with The Hill on Monday after endorsing Clinton in a statement issued over the weekend.
“This morning, I woke up and told my wife, ‘Did I really do that?’” he said. "But I did.”
“If someone had told me 10 years ago I would do this, I wouldn’t have believed them."
Pressler, a moderate Republican who served three terms in the Senate before losing his seat to Democrat Tim Johnson in 1997, said he believes voting for Clinton is the “responsible thing to do.”
He said he feels disenfranchised by Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, and modern-day congressional Republicans who have opposed efforts to expand background checks for gun sales.
“We need to go the route of more gun control as a result of Orlando and all the other shootings that have occurred,” Pressler said. “But it’s almost as though Republicans are saying gun control shouldn’t be part of the conversation at all."
But gun control isn’t the only reason why Pressler is ready to join “Republicans for Clinton” — he’s also concerned about Trump’s rhetoric on Muslims.
“This election is starting to sound like the German elections in [1933],” Pressler said. “This is a very dangerous national conversation we’re slipping into.”
Pressler, a Mormon Sunday school teacher, said he understands all too well the dangers of signaling out a particular religious group.
In 1838, Missouri Gov. Lilburn Boggs ordered Mormons to be killed, which forced many to leave the state before eventually resettling in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Trump makes “Mormons very nervous,” Pressler said.
"Mormons are the only religious group besides the Jews who have been ordered by the government to be extinguished, killed,” he said.
“The worst thing is for Republicans to be silent,” Pressler added. “A lot of Republicans are just saying, ‘I’ll sit it out, I won’t vote.’ Or, ‘I’ll vote for a third-party candidate.’ But if they don’t vote, they are giving more power to dark forces.”
Oh spare me, the guy always has been a liberal wuss.
And there you have it.
There is a reason he is a “former” Senator.
Was he the bathroom toe-tapper?
Key word is “former”.
How can you call yourself a Republican when you endorse a liberal, lying, cheating Rat?
Is he the only one that would take the money at this point?
LOLLLL!
Hillary scraping the bottom of the barrel.....
LOL! No doubt!
A liberal Republican.
I’m shocked Larry Prostitute actually endorsed Clinton. NOT!!!
Another Uniparty whore outed.
Pressler MUST be GAY!!!!
He’s a ****ing coward!! This is giving in to radical Islam. We need to call these traitors loud and clear.
...sounds like he wants Romney’s second in command, he’s stupid enough...
DID you really do that? Stick a fork in you; you are DONE.
Must be tight with Mittens.
Did Prostitute look down his magic underwear before he made his decision?
Trump has all the right enemies.
my Lord, do we NEED NEED NEED to clean out the GOP-e!!!!!!!
insane
irrational
dangerous as Hell
and unconstitutional to boot
what a jerko!
glad he’s OUT now of the GOP!
“How can you call yourself a Republican when you endorse a liberal, lying, cheating Rat?”
They’re not as different as you think. All the masks are coming off.
Whatever happens, never forget what Trump has uncovered.
Relative of Paul Ryno?
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