Baucus Explains Opposition To Background Checks: ‘Montana’

[budkin]

Source: Talking Points Memo

One of four red state Democrats to vote against a measure that would have expanded background checks for gun buyers, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) provided a pithy and geographical explanation for his opposition to the proposal that failed in the Senate on Wednesday.

"Montana," Baucus said in explaining his vote, as quoted by the Los Angeles Times.

Along with Baucus, Democratic Sens. Mark Begich (AK), Mark Pryor (AR) and Heidi Heitkamp (ND) also cast votes against the measure. In explaining his vote, Begich argued that it's "dangerous to do any type of policy in an emotional moment."

Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/baucus-explains-opposition-to-background-checks-montana

[SunSeeker]

1. Stupid coward. nt

[lark]

2. Baucus is a boil on the butt of the Democratic party

F*ing traitor! I will gladly donate to any Dem brave enough to primary this jerk. Don't have a lot of money, but can't let this pass. Soooooooooo stupid when the vast majority of Americans, and I'd bet it's the same in his state, are pro background checks.

(referencing his total surrender to the gun mfg. lobby)

[Montana redneck]

8. You've never been to Montana I see...

And you're wrong about the support of the bill

[lark]

18. So when polls say 90% of people support background checks,

there should be an asterisk for *except Mt? Do you have specific poll #'s for just this fact from Mt? I'm sure they might be against the assault weapons or larger magazine (clips?) ban, but they are strongly against background checks that keep violent felons and people with mental disorders from buying guns? Really?

I'm from redneck No. FL. and background checks are supported here.

[bobclark86]

24. Montana makes northern Florida look like New Jersey.

ANY gun control bills are a non-starter there for many independents and pretty much all Republicans.

He likes his job, so he keeps the people who voted for him happy.

[Montana redneck]

34. He is a representave of the people of Montana

If he intends on keeping his job he'll vote the way his constituents want. I agree Max is a puke and I hoped he'd vote for this so we can get rid of him. He is the poster boy for term limits. No I don't have a poll I live here I know of no family that doesn't have at least one gun. Many many men and women carry. People intend to pass their guns to there kids or sell them if they need money. This bill made both a lot harder. Many provisions in the bill were left to the justice dept. to decide how to implement and nobody trusts Holder. This bill would have been very costly to both govt and gun owners. I guess I do have a poll, went to 3 stores that sell guns ammo etc. The shelves are very bare...

[LiberalLoner]

20. Yeah, Montana is a big hunting state, hates any gun control at all. He would lose the next

Election if he had voted for it, and then we would have been stuck with a Repuke for a Senator. Hopefully our state will evolve in time. I'm from zoo town which is as liberal as it gets. I love my hometown.

[ladjf]

22. But, you are already stuck with a Repuke,dressed in a Demsuit. nt

[Tom Rinaldo]

31. I suspect it's an Olympia Snowe vs Ted Cruz kinda comparison

Baucus could get replaced by a "Second Amendment Remedy supporter" rather than a mere "Second Amendment supporter" like himself. I think that's the argument being made anyway.

[ladjf]

33. All this reminds me of Tom Jefferson's warning that "in order for Democracy to succeed,

there must be an informed and enlightened voting constituency." (paraphrase)

[we can do it]

42. I've been to Montana and he's still a jerk.

[aquart]

3. I would be truly sorry if Max was eaten by hungry dogs.

[AAO]

25. You wouldn't be happy for the dogs?

[aquart]

27. I prefer them to have meat that's been properly inspected.

[AAO]

28. Yeah, I love dogs too.

[earthside]

4. Oh, really, Mark?

In explaining his vote, Begich argued that it's "dangerous to do any type of policy in an emotional moment."

So Begich is telling us that had he been in the Senate in 2001 he would have voted against the Patriot Act and against authorizing the war in Afghanistan because the "emotional moment" of 9/11 would have made such decisions "dangerous"?

I hate it when these guys dissemble ... just tell the truth: voting for background checks would have been politically difficult for my reelection campaign.

[BeyondGeography]

5. That's what happens when you give a state with 1 million people

a disproportionate amount of power. You go, Founders.

[jaysunb]

29. +1 n/t

[Tom Ripley]

44. + 1,000,000

[WoodyD]

6. "Montana"?

We finally got rid of Conrad Burns but we're stuck with this joker.

[Blue_In_AK]

7. Mark Begich has always been crazy supportive of the Second Amendment

unfortunately. Many of us are not happy with his stance, but not surprised. I am actually kind of hoping he gets primaried, but that seems unlikely. People do like their guns here, so I think he's probably just being pragmatic considering that he has an election coming up next year.

[Bandit]

11. It will be between him and Joe Miller and I think Miller might have voted for background checks.

I will not vote for him....If Miller gets his spot so be it....I am starting to believe Government is not the friend it claims to be...

[Blue_In_AK]

15. My guess is it will more likely be Mead Treadwell,

but either one would be pretty bad. I may just leave that vote blank or write someone in. Mark is so frustrating -- just when I think I can forgive him for his most recent pander, he goes and does something really stupid like this.

[valerief]

9. I wipe things from my ass with more integrity than he has. nt

[AAO]

26. I was tempted, but caught myself. Nice dig.

[DJ13]

36. "Wipes ass"

"Nice dig!"

[AAO]

38. Aw, shit!

[liberal N proud]

10. Gutless excuse!

[Cleita]

12. The man needs to be primaried. Montanans, are you up to the task? n/t

[L0oniX]

13. Baucus ...the quintessential health care CEO ass kisser ...selected by Obama.

[otohara]

14. When Will Death By Gun Not Be Emotional

Fuck you Mark Begich -

[bmbmd]

16. The correct reply to the gentleman from Montana is

"America".

[ISW]

17. Cowards, all four of them!

[Alamuti Lotus]

19. So that's why they all voted against the so-called PATRIOT Act, as well?

"dangerous to do any type of policy in an emotional moment." -- utter horseshit hypocrisy, emotional manipulation in times of crisis is the bloody bread and butter for these two parties in legislature.

[perdita9]

21. If Montanans don't care about my child...

...don't expect me to care about theirs.

Are the people in other states somehow less human or less American?

Baucus makes me sick.

[BlueStater]

23. Doing the right thing is more important than your fucking job, Max. N/T

[Orsino]

30. He's lying. Montanans support expanded background checks, too. n/t

[Rob H.]

46. I know my parents do, and they live there

They moved to Great Falls about five years ago when my dad finally retired--that's where he was born and raised.

[leveymg]

32. Ok - from now on, no more Commitee Chairs from Red states. Not an excuse, Max.

[hedgehog]

41. ^^^^^THIS!

Senator Reid needs to toss these four out of the caucus!

[hack89]

45. Harry Reid represents a conservative state.

He is not going to punish other Dems from conservative states.

[JDPriestly]

35. Is Begich trying to say that the Patriot Act was maybe a bit hasty?

How about the Resolution that led to the Iraq War? Also very emotional.

And then, some of the surveillance legislation? Overly emotional Congress acting without real deliberation?

[Blue Idaho]

37. Time to shuffle the congressional offices

Send Max to the custodians closet in the third sub-basement.

[Daniel537]

39. Begich is spot on.

Passing emotion-based laws is dangerous. Just like at our response to 9/11. We need to do things that actually work, but that are also constitutional.

[PADemD]

40. He could have voted for the bill by using his brain.

[LiberalElite]

43. "Montana"??? is that

like "Rosebud"???

[Orsino]

48. Translates as "Chinatown," I'm afraid. n/t