NRA Plans $40M Campaign Blitz

Politico: National Rifle Association Will Seek To Portray Obama As Threat To Second Amendment

(The Politico)  This story was written by Jonathan Martin.

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The National Rifle Association plans to spend about $40 million on this year’s presidential campaign, with $15 million of that devoted to portraying Barack Obama as a threat to the Second Amendment rights upheld last week by the Supreme Court.

“Our members understand that if Barack Obama is elected president, and he has support in the Senate to confirm anti-gun Supreme Court nominees, [the District of Columbia v. Heller decision] could be taken away from us in the future,” Chris Cox, head of the NRA’s political arm, told Politico.

The politically powerful gun rights group will split its message efforts between communicating with its 4 million members and the tens of millions more firearms owners across the country.

This fall, NRA members will get automated phone calls, mail pieces and pre-election editions of the group’s three magazines making the case against Obama. More broadly, the group will use an independent expenditure effort to hammer the Democratic nominee via TV, radio and newspaper ads in some of about 15 battleground states in the Midwest and Mountain West.

“We look forward to showing him ‘bitter,’” Cox said, referring to Obama’s statement this spring that some in rural America “cling” to guns and religion out of bitterness.

Since 2000, Democrats have made a conscious decision to avoid alienating gun owners and Second Amendment enthusiasts, as many in the party believe a NRA-stoked backlash cost Al Gore his home state of Tennessee, as well as West Virginia and Arkansas, in the 2000 presidential election. In the days leading up to Election Day four years ago, Democratic nominee Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.) even went so far as to symbolically court gun owners, donning camouflage and hoisting a 12-gauge in what turned out to be a goose hunt in more ways than one.

And Obama is now charting a similar course, never raising the gun issue on the stump except, when asked, to say that he respects Second Amendment rights. Indeed, the day Heller came down, he issued a carefully worded statement that indicated neither support nor opposition to the decision but clarity on a broader point meant to assure gun owners that he’s not a threat. McCain voiced enthusiastic support for the Heller decision. 

“Sen. Obama has always believed that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to bear arms and will uphold the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners, hunters and sportsmen as president,” said spokesman Tommy Vietor. “Sen. Obama also believes that we can work together to enact common-sense laws, like closing the gun show loophole and improving our background check system, so that guns do not fall into the hands of terrorists or criminals.”

One pro-gun Democrat in the House said the decision would actually help Obama by clarifying that gun ownership is an individual right and further dissuading Democrats from pursuing what has proved to be a political loser at the national level.

“It’s a nonissue,” said Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan, who represents a blue-collar Youngstown, Ohio-area district and has won the backing of the NRA. “Democrats have learned a lesson to not campaign on it.” And, he said, “the reality is that there is not going to be any gun legislation to get through Congress.”

But Cox said the 5-4 decision had galvanized sportsmen and Second Amendment enthusiasts and would thrust the issue back into the political arena.“This is the first salvo in a step-by-step restoration of this right,” Cox said calling Heller “only the end of the beginning.”

And the next step in that cause could be a politically awkward one for Obama.

The NRA filed suit on Friday to overturn handgun laws in Chicago, Obama’s hometown, and three Windy City suburbs

“You put a microphone to hs face and ask: ‘Do you support the Chicago gun control laws?’” said Grover Norquist, an NRA board member, envisioning how to prolong the story and make the Illinois senator squirm.

It’s a quandary that the NRA and the McCain campaign hope will haunt Obama in battleground states with a deep attachment to the hunting culture that crosses party lines.

“We’ve probably still got 800,000 going afield opening day of deer season,” said Mike Bouchard, a former Michigan state Senate leader and gun rights advocate in a state where some schools on the Upper Peninsula still close on the first day of deer season. “And we’re very suspicious of people that pretend to be supportive of Second Amendment rights and hunting.”

“We can create a wedge in unions by highlighting his anti-gun background,” Paul Erhardt, a GOP strategist who works closely with members of the gun rights community, said of Obama.

While the gun culture is typically associated with the South, it’s actually the industrial Midwest where hunting is most popular.

Pennsylvania has the most NRA members per capita of any state, and, after Texas, the next four states that sell the most hunting-related goods are Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Missouri, according to the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

And while Bill Clinton, Gore and Kerry could all handle a gun and had been hunting many times over the years, Obama has never hunted in his life and is the furthest thing from an outdoorsman.

Yet, as with so many issues on which Obama is vulnerable, McCain isn’t exactly a perfect alternative.

Aside from not being a hunter, he earned the enmity of some in the gun rights movement for his advocacy of campaign finance reform and background checks at gun shows.

“I don’t think they help the Republican Party at all, but I don’t think they should in any way play a major role in the Republican Party’s policy making,” McCain told CNN in 2000.

Reminded of the NRA’s past clashes with McCain, Cox acknowledged the “disagreements” but quickly cited the other option.

“Our members understand how bad Barack Obama is on the Second Amendment,” Cox said, noting that McCain had signed the amicus brief in support of Heller while Obama had not.

Still, the NRA hasn’t yet endorsed McCain and hasn’t even decided if it will make an endorsement in the race.

In the nation’s heartland, Democrats argue that the decision will not be a transcendent issue in the race.

Ryan said his Reagan Democrat constituents, most of whom backed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) in the primary, were open to Obama and that the key was to reassure them on cultural issues before shifting to safe terrain.

“It’s guys like [Gov.] Ted Strickland and Tim Ryan saying, ‘He’s cool; he’s all right; he’s not going to do anything on guns or abortion that you don’t like,’” said Ryan, who is also against abortion rights. “And he is with us rock-solid on economic issues, education and health care.” 

But if Cox and the NRA have anything to do with it, some of those traditional moderates will be stuck on “bitter” and Obama’s past support for strict gun-control measures.

“Apparently, he thinks gun owners are either fools or have short memories,” Cox said. “I can assure him he’s wrong on both.”

[megamanx1-2009]

the NRA against Obama??? IM SHOCKED!!!

[jack3213]

The NRA did endorse MCCAIN- And, good for them to tell it like it is : OBAMA IS WRONG FOR THIS COUNTRY ON SO MANY LEVELS!!

[cold777]

THE NRA IS GOING TO ATTACK OBAMA? I''M S-S-S-O SCARED......

[fstop100]

Too bad that money can''t go to helping our environment.
Maybe obama should just bow out now and admit he is inexperienced.

[red164]

Obama vs McCain

Does America really have a choice

Republican Vs Democrat

National Rifle Association another BS country club


More of the same it''s there fault no it''s there fault

More Shell Game BS from both parties

[samthetvcat]

Well, Barack never fully explained the rationale for his pivot, so it''ll be interesting to see how he does with these attacks . . .

It''ll be particularly interesting to see how this goes down in light of the fact that he just went conceded to McCain the upper hand on military experience.

Interesting strategy :/

[jack3213]

He is against *** being married, against guns, against freedom of choice- He will turn all the Churches into Reverend Wright sanctuaries- HE IS A LIAR AND FRAUD! and only a FOOL believes his good will nonsense. Yes, He can change things -into a NAZI camp.

[perceptions5]

"National Rifle Association Will Seek To Portray Obama As Threat To Second Amendment"

............Obama is a threat to American''s Second Amendment rights because he would appoint "flamming" liberals to the Supreme Court, folks like Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

The 5-4 vote last week should have been 9-0.

70% of Americans approved of the courts decision to strike down that thirty year old hand gun ban in DC

This was a "huge wakeup" call for the 70% of Americans who LOVE this court.

Sorry Obama your going to loose a lot of votes from this incident........

Just the facts folks .............just the facts.

[mbcsmith]

Barry leans so far left on all issues that he goes in circles when he walks. Hey, at least he can dribble and shoot. But that goes without saying.

[stevex47]

Exactly how much more experience did W have than Obama?

so, if he had more experience, you''d vote for him? I didn''t think so. the experience argument is really just a smokescreen for not voting Obama because of his race.

[credibility2]

The NRA''s intention will be one of truth-telling and revelation. Voters need to know what Obama is really about and currently, most voters don''t know that much about him and what has surfaced thus far, confirms his ultra-liberal, anti-everything platform. His twenty plus year relations with hate-filled, racist and bigoted entities, such as Wright, Pfleger, Ayers, Trinity UCC, including crooked Rezko, should give every voter pause in supporting someone like Obama. He lacks judgment, character, experience and qualification. He changes his tune when he gets tired of tapping out the rhythms of one constituency group and patronizes others.

[mudrose-2009]

Exactly how much more experience did W have than Obama?

so, if he had more experience, you''''d vote for him? I didn''''t think so. the experience argument is really just a smokescreen for not voting Obama because of his race.

Posted by stevex47

HE WAS GOVERNOR OF TEXAS. AN EXECUTIVE POSITION, I BELIEVE!

[mudrose-2009]

HIS CHICKENS ARE COMING HOME TO ROOST. THE ESSENCE OF "BITTER" IS UPON HIM.

[cold777]

Exactly how much more experience did W have than Obama?

so, if he had more experience, you''''''''d vote for him? I didn''''''''t think so. the experience argument is really just a smokescreen for not voting Obama because of his race.

Posted by stevex47

HE WAS GOVERNOR OF TEXAS. AN EXECUTIVE POSITION, I BELIEVE!


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Posted by mudrose
================================================
Don''t you know that the standards that have been set to run Texas are low........VERY LOW?

[mudrose-2009]

Don''''t you know that the standards that have been set to run Texas are low........VERY LOW?
Posted by cold777

NOT MUCH LOWER THAN THE STANDARDS THEY SET FOR DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN AND SENATORS. VERY LOW. LOOK AT FRANKEN, FRANK, KERRY, KENNEDY. VERY, VERY LOW!

[sdcjd1]

Aren''t there more important issues to focus on in this election? The Supreme Court has issued their ruling. Gun owners rights are more affirmed than they have been in a long long time. Lets re-focus on more pressing issues. Why doesn''t the NRA use it''s lawsuit and campaign money to help fix the healthcare system, or re-fill depleted food banks. They could donate it for cancer research! There are endless alternative options.

[football1152]

I''m pleased with the NRA and its plans. This guy will flip flop so fast as he has in many areas. This is because he is not experienced enough to do anything but chase votes. I am sending my NRA dues in as soon as possiable and encourageing my family to also.

[ioweign]

Sorry Obama your going to loose a lot of votes from this incident........

Just the facts folks .............just the facts.

Posted by perceptions5 at 02:14 PM : Jul 01, 2008

Obama was involved in what incident ?

[mudrose-2009]

A GUN IS A VERY SPECIAL FRIEND. I''M GLAD WE HAVE THE NRA. IT''LL PROTECT US FROM THOSE FORMS OF GOVERNMENT OBAMA THINKS MUST EARN OUR RESPECT.

[taddles3]

"%u201CWe look forward to showing him %u2018bitter,%u2019%u201D Cox said, referring to Obama%u2019s statement this spring that some in rural America %u201Ccling%u201D to guns and religion out of bitterness"


More like showing him stupid. The supreme courts decision is the first time in our history that the second amendment has been ratified by the Supreme court. This creates precedent and codifies the 2nd amendment more than it has ever been before. There is less than 0 likelyhood that the 2nd amendment will be affected in any way by any legislation in the future. This is a non issue and the NRA is blowing smoke trying to make themselves look relevant.

[taddles3]

"thank goodness SOMEONE has the gutts to expose this man to all the people still duped by him. of course a small amount will still hang in there licking their own wound instead of going to see a doctor and fix it. that''''s just life, i guess.

Posted by fenner at 02:26 PM : Jul 01, 2008"


Thank goodness you''re still a ******.

[taddles3]

"This guy will flip flop so fast as he has in many areas. This is because he is not experienced enough to do anything but chase votes. I am sending my NRA dues in as soon as possiable and encourageing my family to also.

Posted by Football1152 at 02:27 PM : Jul 01, 2008"


Really, what has he flip flopped on?


You might want to save your NRA dues and spend it on something useful, like a dictionary.

[mudrose-2009]

More like showing him stupid. The supreme courts decision is the first time in our history that the second amendment has been ratified by the Supreme court. This creates precedent and codifies the 2nd amendment more than it has ever been before. There is less than 0 likelyhood that the 2nd amendment will be affected in any way by any legislation in the future. This is a non issue and the NRA is blowing smoke trying to make themselves look relevant.
Posted by taddles3

YEAH, JUST LIKE CLINTOON DID WITH THE "DON''T ASK, DON''T TELL", JUST LIKE OBAMA INTENDS TO DO WITH DOMA?

GUNS ARE VERY SPECIAL FRIENDS. I''M GLAD WE HAVE THE NRA. IT''LL PROTECT US FROM THOSE FORMS OF GOVERNMENT OBAMA THINKS MUST EARN OUR RESPECT.

[taddles3]

"HIS PRIORITIES ARE "MAKING LIFE BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE IN CUBA." - - - "SITTING DOWN WITH IRAN."

he has LESS conditions to sit down with iran than meeting with our military personnel.

Posted by fenner at 02:32 PM : Jul 01, 2008"


Wow, are you uninformed.

[mudrose-2009]

"HIS PRIORITIES ARE "MAKING LIFE BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE IN CUBA." - - - "SITTING DOWN WITH IRAN."

he has LESS conditions to sit down with iran than meeting with our military personnel.

Posted by fenner at 02:32 PM : Jul 01, 2008"


Wow, are you uninformed.
Posted by taddles3

HE IS CHAIR OF THE AFGHAN COMMITTEE. AND AS CHAIR HE HAS YET TO HOLD A HEARING.

GUNS ARE VERY SPECIAL FRIENDS. I''''M GLAD WE HAVE THE NRA. IT''''LL PROTECT US FROM THOSE FORMS OF GOVERNMENT OBAMA THINKS MUST EARN OUR RESPECT.

[taddles3]

"GUNS ARE VERY SPECIAL FRIENDS. I''''M GLAD WE HAVE THE NRA. IT''''LL PROTECT US FROM THOSE FORMS OF GOVERNMENT OBAMA THINKS MUST EARN OUR RESPECT.


Posted by mudrose at 02:34 PM : Jul 01, 2008"


You don''t understand how the courts work do you. Once the Supreme court makes a decision that decision becomes precedent and is almost impossible to change. The Supreme court has said for the first time in over 250 years that the 2nd amendment explicitly confers the personal right to bear arms. This is not going to be changed by anyone in yours or anyones lifetime. Your 2nd amendment rights are more secure now than at any time in the history of this country.

[mudrose-2009]

40 Million?? N.R.A. is very UNAMERICAN!!!!

Lawsuits for wrongful deaths are 100 times that!!

Most voters know that Obama isn''''t going to give a criminal a gun, but a lobbyist will!!!
Posted by Pensacola88

NO, ACTUALLY CRIMINALS DON''T HAVE TO GO THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS TO PURCHASE FIREARMS. THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES IT SEEMS THAT ARE EXEMPT. THE REST OF US ARE PUNISHED BY RESTRICTIONS ON THE 2ND AMENDMENT.

[megamanx1-2009]

Let''s see, both candidates have said they are for protecting the rights of law abiding gun owners yet the NRA is only going after Obama.


Gee....I wonder why???

[mudrose-2009]

You don''''t understand how the courts work do you. Once the Supreme court makes a decision that decision becomes precedent and is almost impossible to change. The Supreme court has said for the first time in over 250 years that the 2nd amendment explicitly confers the personal right to bear arms. This is not going to be changed by anyone in yours or anyones lifetime. Your 2nd amendment rights are more secure now than at any time in the history of this country.
Posted by taddles3

YOU ARE THE ONE THAT LACKS UNDERSTANDING. TAKE FOR INSTANCE THE GITMO RULING. CONGRESS CAN SUPERSEDE NEW LEGISLATION. DUH!

[taddles3]

"HE IS CHAIR OF THE AFGHAN COMMITTEE. AND AS CHAIR HE HAS YET TO HOLD A HEARING.

GUNS ARE VERY SPECIAL FRIENDS. I''''''''M GLAD WE HAVE THE NRA. IT''''''''LL PROTECT US FROM THOSE FORMS OF GOVERNMENT OBAMA THINKS MUST EARN OUR RESPECT.



Posted by mudrose at 02:36 PM : Jul 01, 2008"




ROFLMAO there is NO such committee. LOL, you pin head, your taking a quote from a blog that was making stuff up. There is no "Afghanistan Committee" and Obama is not chair of any committee. If you take 2 minutes to look up Obama on the senate website you can see exactly which 4 committees he is on and none of them have anything to do with Afghanistan and he is not the chair of any of them.

[mbcsmith]

This is not going to be changed by anyone in yours or anyones lifetime. Your 2nd amendment rights are more secure now than at any time in the history of this country.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by taddles3 at 02:38 PM : Jul 01, 2008


No thanks to obama. he has already said the type of judges he would put on the bench would reject the current court''s finding.

[taddles3]

"NO, ACTUALLY CRIMINALS DON''''T HAVE TO GO THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS TO PURCHASE FIREARMS. THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES IT SEEMS THAT ARE EXEMPT. THE REST OF US ARE PUNISHED BY RESTRICTIONS ON THE 2ND AMENDMENT.

Posted by mudrose at 02:38 PM : Jul 01, 2008"


ROFLMAO criminals are exempt from proper channels?!? Please muddy tell me you are not so stupid that you just posted that.

[mbcsmith]

Exactly how much more experience did W have than Obama?

so, if he had more experience, you''''d vote for him? I didn''''t think so. the experience argument is really just a smokescreen for not voting Obama because of his race.


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Posted by stevex47 at 02:16 PM : Jul 01, 2008



Wellll, let''s see. GOVERNOR OF TEXAS for one.

[taddles3]

"Then, after the Supreme Court came down with their ruling last week, suddenly Obama is a supporter of the people''''s right to keep and bear arms.

Posted by tmcattack at 02:39 PM : Jul 01, 2008"


He was asked his opinion and he gave it. When the Supreme court made it''s decision he is abiding by it. Are you advocating that a presidential nominee should disregard the rule of law?

[megamanx1-2009]

ROFLMAO criminals are exempt from proper channels?!? Please muddy tell me you are not so stupid that you just posted that.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by taddles3 at 02:42 PM : Jul 01, 2008

Uh yeah, I think it''s safe to say:

He''s that stupid.

[mbcsmith]

The Constitution is not legislation fool. Congress can not disregard the Constitution or change it unless they pass an amendment which requires ratification from 2/3''''s of the states. There is no credible intention on anyones part anywhere to change the Constitution to remove the 2nd amendment, that''''s just stupid. Grow up muddy, you sound like a idiot kid.


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Posted by taddles3 at 02:46 PM : Jul 01, 2008


So why have handguns owned by law abiding citizens been against the law in D.C. for the past 35 years.

[taddles3]

"No thanks to obama. he has already said the type of judges he would put on the bench would reject the current court''''s finding.

Posted by mbcsmith at 02:41 PM : Jul 01, 2008"



Well then good thing the present 4 justice conservative block are all young and healthy huh.

you seem to forget the OBVIOUS part that the court has already made the decision on the 2nd amendment. Overturning that decision is next to impossible regardless of the makeup of the court. The court is bound by precedent, once a decision is made they are bound to it unless it can be shown that their original decision was unconstitutional. A decision of this magnitude will endure for eons. Your 2nd amendment rights are as secure as they will ever be.

[hungry1968]

"I''m the NRA and I vote!!!"

For Obama!!!



We don''t need anymore inner city thugs getting their hands on "stolen", (allegedly stolen or actually stolen), hand guns.

[taddles3]

"Wellll, let''''s see. GOVERNOR OF TEXAS for one.

Posted by mbcsmith at 02:43 PM : Jul 01, 2008"


For 8 years, Obam has 11 years of elected office...

[hungry1968]

Wellll, let''''s see. GOVERNOR OF TEXAS for one.

Posted by mbcsmith at 02:43 PM : Jul 01, 2008




Bush was a governor and Obama is a senator - so what? They both make political decisions - what makes one better than the other?

[mudrose-2009]

THOSE CHICKENS ARE COMING HOME TO ROOST. IT''S THE ESSENCE OF "BITTER" THAT WILL COME UPON HIM.

[taddles3]

"So why have handguns owned by law abiding citizens been against the law in D.C. for the past 35 years.

Posted by mbcsmith at 02:47 PM : Jul 01, 2008"


Because laws were put in place that have now been shown to be unconstitutional. You don''t get it do you, the supreme court said you can have your guns and no one can take them away, why are now quivering and cr4ping yourselves over it. You were less secure in your rights a couple weeks ago than you are now. Good lord you people are blind.

[mbcsmith]

Bush was a governor and Obama is a senator - so what? They both make political decisions - what makes one better than the other?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by hungry1968 at 02:50 PM : Jul 01, 2008



A governor is responsible for the budget of the state, is the chief law enforcement officer of the state and is the haed of state of that state. As Obama has proven, you don''t even have to show up much less vote on anything to be a senator.

[mudrose-2009]

For 8 years, Obam has 11 years of elected office...
Posted by taddles3

Is that a fact? Doing what?

[beastof70]

"Wellll, let''s see. GOVERNOR OF TEXAS for one.
Posted by mbcsmith at 02:43 PM : Jul 01, 2008"


For 8 years, Obam has 11 years of elected office...

Posted by taddles3 at 02:50 PM : Jul 01, 2008
=====================

Whatcha trying to sell here Toodles....No doubt a lie.

G.W. Bush was the governor of Texas for six years and has been President for going on 8 years now.

John McCain has been in elected office since 1980....Almost as long as Sen. "OsamaObama" has been alive.

[mbcsmith]

For 8 years, Obam has 11 years of elected office...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by taddles3 at 02:50 PM : Jul 01, 2008



LOL...LOL again. 11 years of what? What has Obama done? An Obama supporter was completely stumped by this question on CNN.

[mudrose-2009]

"GUNS ARE VERY SPECIAL FRIENDS. I''M GLAD WE HAVE THE NRA. IT''LL PROTECT US FROM THOSE FORMS OF GOVERNMENT OBAMA THINKS MUST EARN OUR RESPECT.

[getrealobama]

What bills has Obama presented in Congress? None

Heck he can barely show up to vote in the sneate let alone do anything? Empty suit

[taddles3]

"A governor is responsible for the budget of the state, is the chief law enforcement officer of the state and is the haed of state of that state. As Obama has proven, you don''''t even have to show up much less vote on anything to be a senator.

Posted by mbcsmith at 02:52 PM : Jul 01, 2008"


The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer in the state, not the Governor. The state legislature is responsible for the budget, the Governor only ratifies it. Obama was a legislator, he crafted law. Bush was a Governor, he saw that the law was carried out. Both positions are suitable for the office of President. The only difference here is that Obama has more experience in office than did Bush or Clinton or Hillary and that''s simply a fact. I know, facts have a liberal bias but that''s just the way it is.

[taddles3]

"Is that a fact? Doing what?

Posted by mudrose at 02:53 PM : Jul 01, 2008"


Crafting law as a state and US senator while your king Bush was busy breaking the law.