[Joe Brower]

So anyone who lifts a finger to question your condemnation of the NRA is a "shill", huh? Have you even bothered to call the NRA and get their side of the story?

[The Pack Knight]

So anyone who lifts a finger to question your condemnation of the NRA is a "shill", huh?

No, just those whose knee-jerk reaction is to whine any time someone questions the NRA even when they do something that is obviously not in the interests of gun owners.

Have you even bothered to call the NRA and get their side of the story?

Don't have to. Here is their own press release. It's pretty much exactly what the article at the top of this thread says it is.

Of course, they don't bother to explain why, between two candidates with 'A' ratings, they pick the one who will help Nancy Pelosi - who the NRA gives an 'F' - remain Speaker of the House.

[The Pack Knight]

To be fair, I can think of two reasons to back Markey. First, she isn't running for Senate, so she won't have a hand in voting on Obama's judicial nominees. Second, they probably want to reward Democrat incumbents who make pro-gun votes (or, in other cases, who at least support NRA-friendly pork).

But that pales before the key issue: What is the best thing for gun owners that could happen in 2010? That would be for Republicans to take back control of Congress. This endorsement, in a toss-up race in a conservative-leaning district where the GOP has a good chance at beating a Democrat incumbent, works against that result.