Which Candidate Will Get the NRA Endorsement?

[HFishbine]

What do you think? Who will the National Rifle Association endorse? (For space limitations, selection limited to "top tier" candidates -- sorry couldn't fit them all otherwise.)

[slinkerwink]

1. It has to be Bush that the NRA's backing

because the NRA said that they didn't give Dean an A+ for his presidential campaign, just for his years as a governor.

[tsipple]

2. They Stay Officially Neutral

And that's a good thing.

[vi5]

3. Is anyone naive enough to think they won't back Bush?

I'm not familiar with the NRA beyond the rhetoric. But have they endorsed candidates in the past or do they just provide ratings? If they have endorsed candidates in the past does anyone really think it won't be bush? If they endorse candidates then the notion that they will endorse Dean over bush is a total pipe dream.

[tsipple]

5. I Am

It goes to the dynamics of how these interest groups work. If they think they can get the Democratic Party to stop attacking them, they'll jump at the chance. Which in the NRA's case means simply staying neutral.

That's the only way you wield influence, and that's what they want. You want to be that "swing voter."

Look at all the other effective interest groups and you'll see the same thing.

[vi5]

6. Have they endorsed in the past?

If they have what really makes you think they will stop now? And do you really think they will risk raising the ire of bushco by endorsing Dean or even not endorsing him? Why would they all of a sudden now care what democrats think?

Do you really think the ACLU or GLAAD or any liberal organization would endorse Bush? Or even stay neutral? What makes you think the NRA which is the most notriously republican backed and republican backing organization (remember the clip of them saying they would have an office in the white house if bush won? well in what way hasn't that come true?)?

[tsipple]

11. About the ACLU

The ACLU is assiduously nonpartisan. Didn't they recently hire a former Republican Texas Congressman, for example? They also fought for Oliver North's due process rights. I'd hardly call them a liberal organization.

If the NRA could get the Democratic Party to moderate its views on firearms, you bet they'd jump at the chance. Which in this election cycle means staying neutral, in my humble opinion. I'm not saying it's definitely going to happen, but I think it's quite possible.

The NRA certainly has supported Democrats at other levels of government. And not just Governor Dean. Virginia Governor Mark Warner is another example.

What's the harm to the NRA in remaining neutral? Would George W. Bush in a second term suddenly work to pass a law confiscating all firearms? (Not that he could get anything like that passed in Congress anyhow.)

These groups -- the effective ones, anyway, and the NRA is effective -- operate quite pragmatically. They'll run the same political calculus I just did, in greater detail, and they'll stay neutral I think. If they don't, they'll devalue their own rating system at the state level, and that's where the real action is anyway. Heck, the NRA even flirts with people they ordinarily don't like, like Senator Barbara Boxer (who championed allowing pilots to carry firearms).

[ieoeja]

16. Nonpartisan IS Liberal

That's what bugs me so much about "liberal news media". Well, don't we WANT our news media to be un-biased (i.e. Liberal)?

[mdmc]

24. back Bush

why ruin a good thing? Backing Dean or Clark would be a bad move for the NRA (it would be hard for them to justify). If an anti gun GOP candidate was running, perhaps they would act different.

[StuckinBuffalo]

4. I hate guns

And the way I see it is that if either shrub or Dean win, the NRA is in the white house. I really like Dean on just about ever issue but he loses my vote becuase of his stand on private gun ownership.

[tsipple]

9. Dean's Presidential Stand Identical to Kerry's

Enforce existing laws, close the gun show loophole, continue the assault weapons "ban." (I had to put that one in quotes because it's a symbolic piece of legislation at this point. Has absolutely no real effect, if it ever did. Congress can't define assault weapons any more than they can arrive at a workable definition of "truck." The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a truck?)

Kerry's argument is that Dean arrived at these positions only for his presidential run. That's arguable, but Dean says that state governors and presidents have different responsibilities. Gun laws make no sense in Vermont. (The state has virtually no crime, and hunting is phenomenally popular there.)

I used to be in favor of gun control. Now I'm not so sure given the Canadian example: awash in guns, low crime. If Dean gets the NRA to stay neutral this election, that's terrific. We should take it.

[madddog]

13. You've hit the nail on the head

"canada..awash in guns, low crime". Guns aren't the problem here...it's years of not holding people responsible for their actions, and not enforcing existing laws...slap on the wrist sentences for violent crimes, etc. A majority of murderers in this country have a long history of violent crimes, to the point of absurdity. What are these people doing out on the streets to commit the murder in the first place?

[HFishbine]

12. Buffalo

You don't think people should be allowed to own guns?

[StuckinBuffalo]

27. HFishbine

No I do not! I don't think there is any place for them in private hands. Especially pistols and especially in urban areas.

[HFishbine]

29. Hmmm

So maybe rifles in rural areas?

But the real question is, what do you propose we do with that pesky ol' second amendment?

(Oh yeah, and welcome to DU!)

[newyawker99]

20. Hi StuckinBuffalo!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[StuckinBuffalo]

28. hello

And thank you for the warm welcome. I've known about this site for a while but I only recently could afford internet access.

[markus]

7. Bush, but it won't matter if Dean handles it right

He can nuetralize it in large part based on his own past positive ratings, but will have to decide to spend time and money to do so.

Just about anybody else loses the entire gun vote to Bush.

[madddog]

17. I agree

I think Dean is the ONLY candidate who *might* be able to wrestle some of those votes from Bush. The only problem is, all you have to do is show a gun owner a picture of Schumer or Feinstein, and it's guilt by association. You have NO idea how badly those 2 folks hurt the party in terms of 2nd amendment supporters who also happen to be Democrats, or WERE Democrats.

[ShaneGR]

8. Bush, because of NRA policy.... here's what it is

The NRA's longtime policy is that if there are two candidates, who both of strong A ratings from the NRA, the NRA always endorses the incumbent. BUT, there has been history that when this happens the NRA tends to take a hands off approach in that election.

We'll see.

[Punkingal]

10. I don't know if they endorse or not.....

but I do know they poured tons of money into Tennessee and West Virginia to campaign against Gore in 2000.

[madddog]

15. Well

the unions poured tons of money into those states for Gore, too...and I think the AFL-CIO has a bigger membership list than the NRA.

It's probably gonna come as a shock to you, but a lot of gun owners think the NRA is too LIBERAL lol.

[Renew Deal]

14. I heard somewhere

that the NRA is now loathsome towards Dean. I am guessing it is because of his evolving gun positions. He is now against stuff that he was for before.

[madddog]

18. Too bad for Dean

if he goes all wishy washy on guns...then he's no different from the other candidates. I was really hoping he'd stick to his guns (sorry, couldn't resist that cheapie).

Incidentally, Vermont is one of the places I'm thinking of retiring to in a few years...if they could just do something about all that SNOW hehe.

[Renew Deal]

19. NH is really nice to.

Live Free or Die. I heard that the Libertarians are trying to move 20,000 people there. I have been there. It is a nice state if you can find a job.

[Monte Carlo]

21. The NRA ignoring Bush and endorsing a Democrat? Not bloody likely...

Call me crazy, but I think we'll see Rapture before that happens.

[Ficus]

22. I watched an election

- that a immediate family member of mine was running for State Senate. She had an A from the NRA, as did the other person. Just because she was a Democrat, the NRA endorsed the other candidate.

Their reasoning is that they will have an easier time with a Republican controlled legislature. Sorry, Dr. Dean won't have a chance just because of the D after his name.

Edited to add: Oh, and she whooped her opponents ass 60-40 in a rural district. I don't think the NRA endorsement means jack to gun totin folks anyways.

[aldian159]

30. Congrats!

n/t

[karabekian]

23. not so sure about a bush endorsement

Bush has hardly been avidly pro gun. He is refraining from saying whether he will renew assault weapon ban hopeing it will just die in Congress. Would think the NRA doesn't look too kindly on this

[OpelGT]

25. Bush and the AW Ban

He's said publicly that he supports the ban, but lies are easy for him, and you can bet your bottom dollar that he has sent word to his Congressional pets that any bill renewing it is NOT to reach his desk.

The ban will die, and nothing will change.

[tritsofme]

26. Bush can afford to not support Assualt Weapons Ban,

Dean could not.

NRA backs Bush, who cares?