NRA Endorses Dem Walz In Minn. Congressional Race

WCCO-TV ^ | 10/2/2010 | WCCO-TV

[Qbert]

The National Rifle Association says it has endorsed Democratic Rep. Tim Walz in southern Minnesota's 1st District because he's a strong defender of the Second Amendment.

Walz is running for a third term against GOP challenger Randy Demmer and Independence Party candidate Steven Wilson.

The NRA's Political Victory Fund gives both Walz and Demmer A grades. But the pro-gun lobby says Walz gets the nod because of a number of his votes in support of gun rights.

[fortheDeclaration]

The NRA will collapse as soon as Conservatives leave it.

Then they can see how loyal their Democrat 'friends' are to the 2nd Amendment.

[fortheDeclaration]

Well, why are you NRA apologists so concerned?

Clearly, you guys don't need us conservatives, just do whatever you want and rationalize supporting Democrats!

The Pro-life groups ended up with egg on their faces as well, they thought they 'had' to endorse 'pro-life' Democrats.

And when push came to shove,the Democrats sold them out!

An endorsement of a Democrat is nothing but a shortsighted act that sells out our freedom.

[1cewolf]

Exactly! The Second Amendment doesn’t exist in a bubble; endorsing big-government liberals who happen to be “pro-gun” is a recipe for disaster. With enough arm-twisting by the leadership, they’ll go where their natural calling leads them and extend the government’s power. Better to look closely for candidates who are pro-gun and in favor of scaling back government.

[DemforBush]

In case anyone’s interested:

http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Tim_Walz.htm

[Red in Blue PA]

He voted FOR obamacare!

When will the NRA get it? Obamacare is a back door gun grab, maybe not now but definitely in the future. When costs need to be cut, guns will be deemed a "public health threat".

Am amazed at how blind the NRA is. This is my last year as a member.

[Dan Nunn]

Great. When they come take your guns after the NRA folds, you can stand on your high and mighty cliff and say, “I’m glad I didn’t waste money on the NRA.”

Their endorsement strategy is simple:

Endorse the A-rated candidate in the race. If there are more than one, endorse the incumbent.

Go waste your money on an organization the Brady Campaign, let alone any politicians, have never heard of. I’m sure their top-selling book “Legislative Victories of the GOA” ranks right up there with “Top Ten GOP Moderate Moments.”

[Red in Blue PA]

shows how clueless the average FReeper is when it comes to successful lobbying.

"Successful lobbying"? Ask the people of NYC if they think the NRA is successful. They still cannot carry a gun.

Current gun laws are nothing to brag about, as much of the country is living with serious restrictions on guns.

[Hunton Peck]

The NRA goes by voting record, not just promises. Democrats in most rural areas have to be pro-gun-rights. I live in David Obey's very rural congressional district. He's always been far left, except on gun rights. The NRA would be sure his constituents knew if he strayed on that issue.

The pro-life debacle is interesting precisely because the pro-life movement is owned by the Republican Party, much as blacks are owned -- and ignored, except for the usual tokenism -- by the Democrat Party. Thus, when RINOs are in power, as they usually are, pro-lifers are commanded to stay on the plantation and vote for the lesser evil.

[Red in Blue PA]

By having endorsees in both parties, they maintain influence no matter who’s in power

That's a great strategy, because we need people like obama, Schumer, Pelosi on our side/sarc

Do you really believe the nonsense you post?

[Red in Blue PA]

You NEVER win by making concessions.

Martin Luther King didn’t say to the blacks of the south “move to the back of the bus” or “you don’t really need to sit at the luncheon counter”. Right is right.

The NRA is on the wrong side of too many issues.

I honestly believe gun owners would be better off if the NRA just folded and a new organization took their place. All they are concerned about is power, not the 2A.

[Red in Blue PA]

it is a pro gun organization......who just backed a guy who voted FOR obamacare.

Tell me how that works out for ya.

[Dan Nunn]

Ask the people of NYC if they think the NRA is successful. They still cannot carry a gun.

You can't squeeze blood from a rock. How are they going to change the laws and mindset of a city where even one of the most conservative politicians, Peter King, is NRA-rated D? NYC controls Albany and thus nothing will come from the State level. Really, the only offense for the NRA is through the courts - not an ideal process in that state.

Current gun laws are nothing to brag about, as much of the country is living with serious restrictions on guns.

Some perspective:

I'd say progress has been made, and that IS something to brag about. I won't rest until every state is green, but you can't say that we haven't made progress.

As for every Democrat voting against freedom if it came to it, you and I both live in PA, probably the most gun-friendly state in the east (including Vermont, minus the Constitutional Carry they have there). You know as well as I do that most of the state-level reps, Republican or Democrat, treasure their NRA endorsement unless they represent Pittsburgh or Philly (with a couple one-off exceptions). They vote wrong on everything except when it comes time to vote on guns.

Just watch Monday when HB40, the Castle Doctrine, comes to the House floor for a full vote. Plenty of anti-gun Dems from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia will propose anti-gun amendments to the bill, and watch how many Democrats vote against them. It's not as cut and dry as the anti-NRA folks here make it out to be.

[Red in Blue PA]

People like you remind me of democrats who never leave the democratic plantation or even question it.

[dalebert]

i am also tired of getting personal attacks in my freepmail.

[Red in Blue PA]

obamacare is going to be a gun grab at some future point when costs need to be cut within the medical system.

Guns and gun owners will be targeted.

This is obvious as day, yet the NRA (and others) have their heads up their backsides on this.

I would not be so opposed to supporting dems if not for the toxic nature of obamacare in regards to the 2A.

No excuse for the NRA supporting ANYONE who voted for obamacare.

None.

[Dan Nunn]

It's a shame how many FReepers don't understand this statement by Chris Cox in an interview with the National Review:

CHRIS COX: It is important for us to stand by our friends who stood by us. This is often the hardest policy for people to understand, especially in a year like this, when the prevailing mood is, “Throw them all out.” I get that, I understand that. We hear from people who aren’t happy with some of the endorsements we’ve made. But we also have to understand the political reality. If we turn our back on the politicians who stood with us, there’s no incentive for other politicians to stand with us when we’re fighting the gun-control lobby or attacks from the national news media. It’s important to keep perspective. We put a lot of time, effort, and research into this, working through all these candidate questionnaires and interviewing candidates in many of these cases. We try to give our members and gun owners a clear choice. Sometimes the choices aren’t as clear.

The only thing I've heard is strawmen about Obamacare seizing guns.

[Red in Blue PA]

The only thing I've heard is strawmen about Obamacare seizing guns.

Get back to me in 5 years.

obamacare promises healthcare for everyone while healthcare costs are increasing. How do you think they will make this happen? Gun owners will face premiums much like smokers face premiums for "dangerous behavior". It's coming. You can ignore this obvious fact if you like, but by all means, please bookmark this post for reading in another 5 years.

[Dan Nunn]

Ok. I've offered facts (NYC's leading conservative is anti-gun), evidence (the last 2 years of Democrat rule saw pro-gun legislation become enacted) and results (Right to Carry map from the last 25 years). You've offered a strawman (just wait and see in 5 years).

I get it. You hate the NRA's pro-incumbent policy. Like I said before, let me know when the Brady Campaign blasts, or even acknowledges, the GOA.

[ronnie raygun]

The rats are turncoats, does the NRA believe the rats are true to thier word? Even if he holds true and he does support the 2nd amendment rights what good is that when he’s agreeing to everything else that will eventually kill the country. What good is the 2nd amnedment when you don’t have a country

[Red in Blue PA]

I've offered facts (NYC's leading conservative is anti-gun),

Who cares? If there are anti-1A people, does this mean we cannot speak?

(the last 2 years of Democrat rule saw pro-gun legislation become enacted)

All at the local level and almost entirely because of Republicans.

You've offered a strawman (just wait and see in 5 years).

If you think so.