Robin Kelly is emerging as the leading candidate for the 2nd Illinois Congressional district seat vacated by former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. At the invitation of Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL), Robin Kelly will attend the State of the Union event at the nation's capitol tonight.
While in D.C., Kelly will also meet with families who have fallen victim to gun violence.
Yesterday was Gun Violence Prevention Day of Action and Robin Kelly released the following statement.
“The Gun Violence Prevention Day of Action is a day to step up and say ‘Enough is enough’ to the epidemic of gun violence plaguing our communities. I urge everyone to take time today and reflect on how we can work in the community to reduce gun violence and give our families the safe neighborhoods they deserve,” said Robin Kelly. “We have to stop the NRA and the pro-gun lobby who are letting dangerous weapons flood our streets. I will stand with President Obama to do just that.”
Robin Kelly is not only emerging as the leading candidate for the 2nd Illinois Congressional seat, she is also emerging as a national spokesperson for the need for stronger "gun control" laws aimed at reducing gun violence in the streets of America.
The national media, including Politico, has stood up and taken notice of Robin Kelly's strong position on gun violence and of this growing "grassroots" campaign to elect Robin Kelly, a candidate that has firmly stood up to the National Rifle Association.
With the backdrop of Chicago’s rising tide of violence, and in the wake of the tragic Newtown shootings, the race has focused heavily on the issue of gun control. Kelly has hammered Halvorson and Hutchinson over their past support from the National Rifle Association while casting herself as a fierce supporter of gun control measures. And Halvorson has faced attacks from a super PAC funded by billionaire New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg over her opposition to gun control.
Robin Kelly, who is listed first on the long ballot in the Democratic primary, has an "F" rating from the National Rifle Association.
Debbie Halvorson has made it clear that she is with the NRA, having won the NRA endorsement and wearing it like a "badge of honor."
Toi Hutchinson, however, has continued to waffle on the issue of strong, effective "gun control." Until last December, Hutchinson had listed the "National Rifle Association" as an endorser on her website. Since announcing for Congress, the Hutchinson campaign has removed the endorsement of the "National Rifle Association" from their website and has steadfastly refused to discuss the issue.
“I am calling on my opponents to release their previous NRA questionnaires so that the people of the second Congressional district know what promises they have made to the NRA, and how they earned their ‘A’ ratings,” Robin Kelly said. “I earned a lifetime ‘F’ rating from the NRA and I could not be more proud of that fact. The voters deserve to know how Toi and Debbie both earned ‘A’s’ from the pro-gun lobby, which is notoriously known for only issuing ‘A’s’ to its very strongest supporters."
Politico reported that Michael Pfleger, a Roman Catholic priest and gun control activist in Chicago said, “The NRA gives Debbie Halvorson an ‘A’ rating. That tells me she should not be the representative from the 2nd District. If she gets an ‘A’ rating from the NRA, she gets an ‘F’ from me.”
Robin Kelly agrees with Father Pfleger saying that "it is a tragedy that we have lost so many lives in Chicago and the Southland to gun violence, including losing seven lives this Saturday alone. We have to stop the violence and get the guns off the streets. I am the only candidate in the race with the record of fighting against gun violence. I am ready to work with President Obama to take on the NRA and protect our communities.”
In addition to the strong show of support from Congressmen Rush and Davis, Robin Kelly received the coveted endorsement of the Chicago Tribune. She was also recently endorsed by over 100 ministers. who are members of the International Ministers & Community Alliance at the Holy Zion Church in Chicago.
In another important endorsement that continues to pay dividends for the Robin Kelly campaign just ten days ago, Markos Moulitsas of the Daily Kos endorsed Robin Kelly for Congress in 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.
The amount of money raised is edging close to $100,000, with nearly 4,095 individual donors have given close to $95,277 to the Robin Kelly for Congress campaign through the Act Blue website.
In addition, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Super PAC, Independence USA, has poured nearly one million dollars into the race. The momentum is moving toward the Robin Kelly campaign and overwhelming her opponents campaigns.
Robin Kelly is the only candidate in the race to issue a five-point pledge to combat gun violence.
• 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.
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