Posted on 04/11/2015 4:03:04 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The National Rifle Association’s annual leadership conference is always a treasure trove of GOP smack-talk and an all-out constitutional liturgy — and if Friday night’s viral talking points are any indication, this year’s celebration ranks further right on the political spectrum than usual. Not that that’s surprising: it is the run-up year to a presidential election cycle, which means that the Republican machine was churning out even more harsh allegations than usual. Of course, one of the biggest showboats of the night was Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who told political opponent Hillary Clinton to “come and take” away his guns, if she so dared.
“I’ll tell you, if Hillary Clinton is going to join with Barack Obama and the gun grabbers and come after our guns, then what I say is come and take it,” yelled an impassioned Cruz to a delighted audience of Second Amendment enthusiasts. “If they are going to come after the Constitution … we say together, ‘Come and take it.’”
Cruz added, “Thanks to the passionate leadership of the men and women in this room, every single one of President Obama’s proposal to undermine the Second Amendment was voted down on the Senate floor.”
The evening wasn’t just about Cruz though (although he most likely would have enjoyed that). Not to be outdone, Cruz’s fellow 2016 hopefuls and GOP comrades-in-arms took it upon themselves to make a few inflammatory comments of their own.
“The sins of the evil do not justify the restrictions of [law-abiding citizens],” said Florida Senator and GOP hopeful Marco Rubio, addressing the large crowd. “In fact, the sins of the evil make those rights more critical.” Rubio has a track record of NRA friendly behavior: in 2005, Rubio voted in favor of the controversial Stand Your Ground law, which states that a citizen may legally use deadly force in self-defense if they perceive that someone is a threat. It’s an opinion he shares with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a fellow potential candidate and political rival who also spoke at Friday’s gathering.
“I have a message for the Obama administration,” quipped Bush. “Why don’t you focus more on keeping weapons out of the hands of Islamic terrorists and less on keeping weapons out of the hands of law abiding Americans?” Bush then compared Democratic gun-control legislation to a breakfast buffet for reasons only known to Bush.
Rubio and Bush weren’t the only two Republican hopefuls vying for the spotlight at Friday’s conference — The New York Times reported that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker had a few words for the president and his liberal opponents as well.
“Some on the left might call it a scarlet letter, but I consider it a badge of honor,” said Walker of his A+ rating with the NRA. Walker, who owns two guns and spends various hunting seasons tracking deer, pheasants, and ducks with his friends.
Added Walker, to thunderous applause:
Sometimes I think that the current occupant in the White House forgets that when the president is sworn in he takes an oath to ‘preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Well Mr. President, the 2nd Amendment is part of the constitution. You don’t get to pick and choose which part of the constitution you support. Preserving, protecting and defending it is not optional. It’s mandatory.
No matter who scored the most points last night in their respective stump speeches and barbed attacks on gun control was irrelevant. Because in the grand scheme of things, if pro-gun rhetoric like this continues without regard to the rising number of school and public shootings, everyone loses.
If Cruz isn't alone in saying those sorts of things, why put him in the headline? Oh, yeah, because he scares them the most and is the frontrunner in the real (internal) polls...
Go, Ted, GO!!
“I have a message for the Obama administration,” quipped Bush. “Why don’t you focus more on keeping weapons out of the hands of Islamic terrorists and less on keeping weapons out of the hands of law abiding Americans?” Bush then compared Democratic gun-control legislation to a breakfast buffet for reasons only known to Bush.
LOL, GOP-e hacks with a track record of leftism are desperately trying to paint themselves as conservative on this imperative issue in the most ineffective way possible. Where were these Floridian pussies when Floridian George Zimmerman stood his ground against a criminal thug, and was vilified by the Lamestream Media for doing so?
Go Ted Go!
The Republican governor and state’s attorney prosecuted him, which I think many people either don’t know or forgot.
MOSES CRUZ LEAD US OUT OF THIS OPRESSION PLEASE !
Hillary will no doubt tweet a response to Ted. LOL!
Question. In your research of Senator Cruz have you seen any info about him being
a hunter in his years growing up? Being in the Houston area, east Texas piney
woods I would think he may have hunted small game like squirrels, rabbits, dove/quail,
ducks or maybe deer.
No, not a word. But with a Cuban father and a very busy scholastic life, he may not have. I don’t want a “hunter-in-chief” just a constitutionalist.
I could vote for this guy.
Let’s not get into that. There is no “hunting” clause in the 2nd Amendment. It’s for personal and group self-defense, the latter a right we have not exercised against the government in earnest since the Civil War, and before that, the Whiskey Rebellion.
The bad guys and nut cases will continue to have access so what is the answer? ARM as many law-abiding citizens as possible to give the crazies second thoughts or stop them once they start. First step - arm trained teachers.
Have you and your ilk ever look at the FBI statistics regarding how many times a year that crimes are deterred by lawful armed citizens? Of course you haven't. You just dream of magic pixie dust that will make all weapons go away. While your pixie is dusting, ask him/her to dust away the thousands of Islamists that are being allowed in this country. That will turn out to be a bigger threat to your bleeding heart.
I don’t want a “hunter-in-chief”
*****************
I don’t think he’s applying for that job.....
But I was curious about his early years.
Hillary and those like her consider themselves above the common folk. None of what they propose applies to them.
Ditto!
What's your point? The Second Amendment is about FREEDOM and has nothing to do with hunting.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard mention of him being a hunter. Although his father has some personal experience with despotism in Cuba which is the real reason behind the second amendment. I’m sure his father has instilled in him the value of Americans being able to bear arms when despots decide to go people hunting.
I don’t give a fart in a hurricane whether Ted Cruz is a verifiable hunter. I’m USAF distinguished rifleman badge # 300. I’ve been there done that in the shooting community. The only thing I care about is his opinion on the second amendment.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.