Robin Kelly endorsed by Daily Kos to help deal a blow to the NRA in Congress

Markos Moulitsas of the Daily Kos endorsed Robin Kelly for Congress yesterday, a move that solidifies her standing as the "true" progressive in the race for the Illinois 2nd Congressional district. Markos Moulitsas is "the leading" progressive voice in America and the Daily Kos is "the leading" progressive platform in America.

Markos Moulitsas says that to help deal a blow to the NRA's continued power in Congress, The Daily Kos is enthusiastically supporting Robin Kelly in the upcoming Illinois 2nd Congressional District primary. Markos says that you can help by contributing $3 (or more!) to her campaign.

To date, nearly 300 individual donors have given close to $7000 to the Robin Kelly for Congress campaign through the Act Blue website.

This endorsement comes on top of the Mayor Michael Bloomberg Super PAC ads that blasts former Rep. Debbie Halvorson for having an "abysmal gun safety record." The Super PAC, Independence USA PAC, is spending $400,000 on these ads that call out Debbie Halvorson for having "earned" an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA) by virtue of her voting record.

Robin Kelly has repeatedly asked her two main opponents, Debbie Halvorson and Toi Hutchinson, to publically release their National Rifle Association (NRA) questionnaires they filled out in previous elections when they both sought the support of the NRA. Due to their non-response, Robin Kelly is now calling on NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre to release the questionnaires. Kelly made the request in a powerful letter sent to LaPierre. This comes only after repeated calls for the candidates themselves to come clean about the promises they made to the NRA.

Dear Mr. LaPierre:

While you publicly display a great deal of bravado about your position on guns and the positions of your favored candidates, your organization goes to great lengths to hide the views of your candidates from the people. I find this contradiction disturbing.

Worst of all, voters are left with ratings by which they can judge your endorsed candidates, but without an ability to see the answers that lead you to give them such grades.

As you know, in Illinois' 2nd Congressional district, there are two candidates, Toi Hutchinson and Debbie Halvorson, who have received ‘A’ ratings in their past races for public office.

If you actually believe in the positions you champion and you, like me and countless other citizens, actually believe that voters have a right to know that public officials are telling them the same thing as they are telling organizations like yours, I call on you to release all previous questionnaires filled out by both Senator Toi Hutchinson and Former Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson.

By releasing these questionnaires, you'll help voters determine whether or not Mrs. Hutchinson and Mrs. Halvorson are proud allies of the NRA as they have claimed to be, or if they have "always" supported reasonable gun control measures, as both are now claiming.

While I am proud to have received an ‘F’ rating from your organization and am proud to disagree with what you stand for, I remain optimistic that you will release these questionnaires and provide the public with the answers they deserve.

Sincerely,

Robin Kelly

In explaining the letter, Robin Kelly said that “The citizens have a right to know what their candidates and elected officials have promised special interest groups like the National Rifle Association, and if Toi Hutchinson and Debbie Halvorson have nothing to hide, they will certainly have no problem releasing their questionnaires immediately.”

Debbie Halvorson has not released her NRA questionnaire, however, she has made it clear that she is with the NRA. She won their endorsement and is wearing it like a "badge of honor."

In the case of Toi Hutchinson, The National Rifle Association’s 2012 questionnaire for Illinois state legislature candidates directly addresses questions about assault weapons bans and bans on high capacity ammunition magazines:

• Question 10: Do you support state legislation banning the lawful manufacture, possession, ownership, purchase, sale and/or transfer of any firearms?

• Question 11: Would you support state legislation restricting the possession, ownership, purchase, sale and/or transfer of semi-automatic firearms used for hunting, competitive shooting, collecting and self-defense?

• Question 12: Would you support restricting or banning magazines that hold more than ten rounds?

How does Senator Toi Hutchinson answer those questions? Can we conclude those answers were to the liking of the NRA.

Unless proven otherwise by the Toi Hutchinson campaign, the answer is "yes." The answers were to the liking of the NRA.

Robin Kelly is the only candidate in the race to issue a five-point pledge to combat gun violence. This plan is the following and is in line with President Obama's plan to reduce gun violence in the streets of America.

• Pass a strong, comprehensive ban on assault weapons.
• Eliminate the gun show loophole.
• Ban the use of high capacity ammunition magazines, like those used in Newtown and Aurora.
• Pledge never to receive support from organizations, like the NRA, that oppose reasonable gun safety legislation.
• Support current laws that prohibit conceal and carry permits.

To donate to the Robin Kelly for Congress campaign, click on the contribution page.

Send John Presta an email and your story ideas or suggestions or even to volunteer for Robin Kelly at johnpresta@att.net.

John is the author of an award-winning book, the 2010 Winner of the USA National Best Book award for African-American studies, published by The Elevator Group Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama, Two Bookstore Owners, and 300 Volunteers did it. Also available an eBook on Amazon. John is also a member of the Society of Midland Authors and is a book reviewer of political books for the New York Journal of Books. John has volunteered for many political campaigns and is currently an unpaid volunteer for the Robin Kelly for Congress campaign. Robin Kelly also has a facebook fan page.