Rep. Mark Kirk, GOP gun grabber (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
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We discussed the Illinois Senate race yesterday, and more specifically the position of candidates on guns. True to form, the Democrats all show us what I call their "big buts": I support the Second Amendment but...
Likewise, Republican front runner Rep. Mark Kirk has established himself as a committed enemy of gun owners, sponsoring a federal ban on semiautomatic firearms, and earning the support of the Brady Campaign.
There's a cynical quote about gun owners attributed to the late Lee Atwater, a political consultant, Reagan and Bush I advisor, and former chairman of the Republican National Committee. I can't document he ever actually said it, but it does convey an attitude and arrogance the party clearly and continually exploits: Who else are they going to vote for?
The Republicans in most cases take us for granted. During Kirk's last run for congress, the mantra was if we opposed him, we'd be helping an anti-gun Democrat.
What difference would that make? And what incentive do we give the GOP to ever change if we continually allow them to get away with treating us like political hostages and reward them with power anyway?
This race gives gun owners an opportunity to send the party an unequivocal message: No gun grabbers.
And we may even have a candidate or three worthy of support. From the Associated Press story I referenced yesterday that kicked this whole thing off:
Kathleen Thomas, a historical researcher in Springfield, opposes any restrictions...GOP candidates Patrick Hughes, Hinsdale developer, and Andy Martin, a lawyer and talk-show host, also oppose a federal ban on assault weapons and emphasize their support of the right to keep and bear arms.
We'll see about that. Tomorrow.
Comments
I will support niether of these clowns. Illinois republicans are pretty much Democrat-Lite. If my job didnt keep me in this state I would move to texas.
Sounds like the gun owners need to find a third party candidate they can stand behind. Doesn't matter if they have the votes to win, just to send a message.
Gun owners are to the GOP as African-Americans are to the Dems. We can contribute. We can campaign. We can even sit under the tent. But we're not allowed to expect anything in return, like actual support for the Second Amendment. Time for us all to start sorting out the real supporters from the ones who only talk the talk. If they can't pass that test, we don't need 'em regardless of whether their name is followed by D, R or I.
Many gun rights organizations rate candidates by survey responses and voting records. Those ratings are usually posted on the organization's web site. USE THEM!
DDS -- NRA Life member says:
...ratings are usually posted on the organization's web site. USE THEM!..
You mean like the NRA crapy rating system NO THANKS!
The NRA only picks winners so they can claim a win, later they go begging to the same legislator to vote their way and end up telling there constitutents "well this was the best we can do", this is HOGWASH!
The NRA has been guilty of putting many a Repulican on a "High Horse" then when they ride into town they forget all about gun rights or for that matter conservatism.
If the GOP 's best shot is to ride in on the Dems coat-tails of stupidity, shut them out! Remember if we do enough stirring the cream always rises to the top.
A number of years ago in a Minnesota gubenatorial race the GOP and DFL (MN's Dems) each offered an anti-gun candidate. MN Concealed Carry Reform Now had been working for several years on getting 'shall issue' passed, and both 'major' candidates were on record as opposing it. So that year I wasted my vote on a third party candidate who supported shall issue. You may have heard of him; Gov. Jesse Ventura. Admittedly we didn't get shall issue passed while he was in office, but the *next* GOP candidate did push to get it passed, and signed it into law. (This was before he started running for President/Vice-President and broke a promise made to CCRN leadership, stabbing permit holders in the back)
I'll tell an embarrassing secret: when Romney was challenging Teddy for his Senate seat, he made a big deal of his support for the AW ban and Brady, throwing out sound bites like "I'm no friend of the NRA." It was enough to make me consider voting for Teddy -- solely on the basis that Romney was healthy enough to survive his entire term, but Teddy had one foot and a liver in the grave. Luckily, a Libertarian entered the race, making my choice easy. Next time Romney was up -- for Governor -- the Gun Owners' Action League, the NRA's state affiliate, had had it so far up that they actually endorsed the Libertarian candidate, which was unprecedented.
A. Bouchard :
1. I specifically didn't mention any one organization to avoid irrelevant flame jobs. There are other organizations that rate candidates, including the Brady Campaign if you are more comfortable with them. Pick what ever one you wish. I really couldn't care less.
2. See a chiropractor as soon as possible to have your Cranio-Rectal Inversion Syndrome taken care of. Your anti-NRA rants make no more sense than an Obamabot ranting about Bush. You should leave the tinfoil hat stuff to the far left.
Don't assume that an R next to the name gives the candidate a passing grade on gun issues. My representative is in the GOP and had a solid F rating from NRA/ILA. She has somehow since pulled it to a solid C. Big Whoop. Spend your vote and your "political $peach" wisely. Use the ratings from gun rights organizations. They have (hopefully) put in the legwork to get the right scoop. USE IT.
Such sturm und drang! My life as a voter/supporter has been hugely simplified since I was able to wave bye-bye to the Golden State in 1970 and haul my (self) back to the South where two-faced, back-stabbing candidates aren't so frequently encountered.
The ONLY issues upon which MY vote depends are: the Constitution, individual sovereignty, and individual freedom (ie FROM government). The R's screwed with us through Bush's "entitlements" and violations of our Constitutional rights, happily supported by the drooling Bush lapdog idiots in congress. And now the D's are currently busy screwing us with Obama's entitlements and violations of our Constitutional rights, happily supported by the drooling Obama lapdog idiots in congress.
Gun owners shouldn't support Republicans OR Democrats. Gun owners should support American citizens running for office who have the integrity to actually uphold the oath of that office to support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America.
David I’m really getting ticked off at gun owners and their ignorance.
Yes we know that R & D on the end of names means nothing except tyranny in most cases but NO one seems to read and understand the power of a simple statement.
I live in the hole called Illinois and I noticed one candidate that made a very powerful statement that is being overlooked
Kathleen Thomas, a historical researcher in Springfield, “opposes any restrictions”
Does anyone out there know what “opposes any restrictions” means.
I would say we gun owners in Illinois have a candidate.
The other 2 pro-gun candidates might be ok to but the words “opposes any restrictions” seems to do it for me.
What about you David?
Read today's follow-up post, madashell. I've sent them the questionnaire. Martin has responded and Thomas has partially responded--she has a lot of stuff to do and asked for a bit more time. I would prefer to wait until I have complete responses from all.
"Gun owners shouldn't support Republicans OR Democrats. Gun owners should support American citizens running for office who have the integrity to actually uphold the oath of that office to support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America."
I agree. Too bad that access to the ballots is almost totally controlled by Republicans and Democrats. :-(
Mark Kirk is not the front runner in downstate Illinois I can promise you. One Republician faction claims Kirk is the most electable but behind their smoke screen Mark Kirk is just another old line Chicago politician people. I and most other gun owners south of Cook are supporting Bill Brady for Governor. I could care less what his party lines are this election. We had better wake up & educate ourselves on the candidates (state & Federal)record before we go to the polls. "Henry Bowman has it right. Vote for a man with integrity & One that will uphold the Constitution." It is high time we swallow our party pride & elect competant legislators. Sometimes voting against a particular candidate is as important as voting for one.
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