(AP Photo/Mike Groll)
The gunhaters are in an uproar over New York Governor David Paterson's selection of Kirsten Gillibrand to fill Hillary Rodham Clinton's senate seat vacancy. Ms. Gillibrand, you see, was given an "A" rating and endorsed by the National Rifle Association.
Congresswoman Gillibrand grew up in a family of hunters and strongly supports the rights of all hunters and gun owners. She has been an ardent opponent of legislation that will curb the Second Amendment for responsible gun owners and currently has a 100% voting record with the National Rifle Association (NRA). As a Member of the Agriculture Committee, she sponsored an amendment to the Farm Bill that will expand public lands dedicated for conservation and hunting.
This appointment surprised me. Paterson is no friend of gun owners. And it also surprised the New York political establishment. Carolyn McCarthy is tearing out her hair :
''I don't think someone with a 100 percent NRA rating should be the next senator from New York..."
McCarthy has made this a personal vendetta, and plans to lead the opposition:
Hours after she was named the state's newest senator, Kirsten Gillibrand is already facing a likely primary challenger next year in Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy...McCarthy is now preparing to topple David Paterson's pick for the Senate...
"Oh, I'll do it. Just because I'm quiet and go about doing my work, doesn't mean I don't know how to fight," said McCarthy.
I'll get you my pretty...and your little dog too!
Still, as amusing as the tantrums are, and as relieved as I am that we dodged a pick who would have been an anti-gun tag team partner for Charles Schumer, it's important to examine the rhetoric. It's important to realize that what The New York Times, Mike Bloomberg, Carolyn McCarthy, and the NRA pass off as "pro-gun" is actually a "C" student--at least according to Gun Owners of America.
Perhaps it's because the Second Amendment ain't about hunting and farm bills?
Let's look at the Times article I used as the springboard for this column. Gillibrand is already horse-trading our rights:
Gillibrand appeared to offer an olive branch to McCarthy during her news conference after being introduced by the governor. She complimented the state's entire female House delegation, saying McCarthy has ''provided outstanding leadership in fighting against gun violence and keeping our children safe. I pledge to work with her on her signature bill for updating background checks to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.
I'm going to assume she's talking about H.R. 297, the so-called "NICS Improvement Act." You know, the one GOA calls a "serious threat to the Second Amendment."
And there was another serious threat to the Second Amendment she supported. Barack Obama--the guy NRA characterized as "the most anti-gun president in American history."
Oh, and the love has been returned.
So what, am I just belly-aching again? Nothing is good enough? Maybe I'd have preferred Caroline Kennedy?
Hey, I'm just pointing out that what the enemies of gun rights would have the world believe is "pro-gun" is hardly a benchmark definition we should settle for. Why would you let someone who hates guns define a line over which anyone who crosses can be labeled an "extremist"?
I'm arguing for truth in advertising. If she had been presented as, say, a moderate on guns, with the acknowledgment that the political reality in New York makes her about the best gunowners are going to get, that would be tough to rebut.
I'm also cautioning against placing too much faith in any "pro-gun" democrat, once party politics come into play--with the attendant carrots for support and sticks for straying from the path.
Check out the latest from other Gun Rights Examiners:
Comments
Gillibrand gets a C from GOA. Anyone who does not receive an A from them is unfit for what the establishment is pleased to call "public service". This does not mean that only the 2A is important, or that people who receive A's are fit for office either. But gun rights is the best litmus test. Anyone who thinks that government should be involved in the purchase and possession of our rights cannot be trusted with any power whatever.
Lets look at it like this. We let her know that antigun stuff is going to be coming fast. Play it safe and vote against any kind of new gun laws. Because the economy is going to tank hard and the democrats in control of the white house and running both houses of congress will be unable to deal with it. The American people after two years of suffering will be looking for some "real change" to believe in. If she plays ball now when we really need every Second Amendment democrat we can get. We will support her in 2010. She's only in her mid 40's meaning she would like to stick around for awhile. My hunch is if this country is still working at all and we are going to have an election in 2010. The GOP will retake both houses of congress.
There's a lot of "if" coming down the road but for now we have a new senator from NY and we need to see if she will be willing to work with us. Which means NO new gun laws.
Frankly I would love to see McCarthy get jacked up that Gillibrand voted against all new gun laws and runs against her. With the economy tanking we may be able to see McCarthy lose and be out of the political show altogether.
OK "Dave" LOL! I stayed on topic.
Good analysis of the situation, David. When she gets put through the political washing machine, it will be interesting to see how strongly she holds to her guns.
As has been pointed out, a politician's stance on gun rights is like an X-ray into their beliefs. If they don't trust you with any type of weapon, everywhere you go, without asking permission from anyone, ever.... they think you are an evil idiot. Right back at 'em.
Pro-gun NYer politician is an oxymoron. Of course as soon as I saw that the NRA gave her an 'A' rating, I knew something was wrong. Who believes the NRA anymore? Not me. Is the word 'hunting' even in the Constitution? I didn't think so.
it's no bellyache, this is a fine point. when the enemy chooses the battlefield, you lose the battle. it's much the same in politics, which is as much about emotional insecurity as combat is about physical insecurity.
The bellyaching is from city dwellers, apparently. They already have a fellow city dweller in Schumer, but apparently 43 percent of the population wants two senators, all the political power and most of the tax revenue.
Just a thought here: I'm wondering how many Gun owning citizens of "the City" are sick and tired of Caroline McCarthy? This woman is the classic Demogogic Democrat, the type that generally wears out a welcome quickly, even amongst friends.
Personally, I think she is badly mistaken in her belief that she can beat someone with even as little as a 'C' rating with GOA.
I also believe that NY Gun Owners from all parts of the State could be convinced to take a shot at voting against "NoGun" McCarthy. I suspect that Republican voters might even cross Party lines to vote against her...I would.
"Of course as soon as I saw that the NRA gave her an 'A' rating, I knew something was wrong". (Steiner)
Give it up with your anti-NRA attitude Steiner! No other pro-2A organization has more weight in DC than the NRA. I'm also a member of GOA and they don't hold a feather to the NRA's power, I like their views better, but they have very little pull bro. If you don't like what the NRA does, you have two choices. 1-Run for public office and change things yourself. 2-Lock and load your AR/AK and head for DC. Do you see how good the NRA looks now compared to your choices?. Anti-gunners love it when we 2A supporters BASH the NRA, good job Steiner.
"I'll get you my pretty" does seem to describe McCarthy's vicious irrational crusade to 'get those guns'.
People whose minds are 'split' blame the innocents and embrace the guilty. Is this true of McCarthy?
Can McCarthy point to even a mild anti-criminal bill which she might have co-sponsored? I doubt it too.
No, it seems all she can do is inveigle against innocent law abiding citizens who own firearms.
Criminals are cowards. Why is she afraid to take them on? Why instead does she attack guns and the law abiding citizens who own them?
Her attempt to violate the Second Ammendment rights of anyone who even sees a high school guidance counselor speaks volumes about her inner conflicts, doesn't it?
Leftists and their useful dupes of are pimping a theory crabbed from Freud's Bargain Basement: 'someone who sees a counselor because they're grieving over a death in the family will without fail become mass murderers - but only if they own a gun. Therefore we must violate their right to own firearms, because they wouldn't dare flout our law.'
Talk about an egomaniac!
Does this old dame realize that crooks couldn't care less about laws? Isn't that why we call them criminals?
Senator Gillibrand's appointment is a breath of fresh air. Isn't it also an unmistakeable signal that American citizens will not likely surrender private property, whether guns, cars, or cameras, merely because a puny arrogant gaggle of shills who blat on behalf of the chicago mafia demand they do so.
Paul Vincent Zecchino
Manasota Key, Florida
28 January, 2009
Good column Dave. I liked the one you wrote for FMG this month too.
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