AdWatch: Shooting At Bush
The CBS News Political Unit is tracking the latest campaign commercials. Jane Ruvelson analyzes a new ad from a leading gun control group.
The Ad: Handgun Control Inc. (HCI), the nations largest gun control lobbying organization, kicked off an information campaign on Governor Bushs record on gun issues on Thursday. In addition to a new Internet site, www.bushandguns.com, dedicated to highlighting Bushs impact on gun laws in Texas, HCI released Look at Texas, a 30-second ad which will run in seven states for the next week.
Audio: Male announcer: George Bush says if you want to know what he'll do as President, take a look at his record.
Female announcer: As Governor of Texas, Bush signed the law that allows carrying concealed handguns for the first time in 125 years.
Male announcer: And he signed the law that allows carrying those concealed handguns in churches, nursing homes, even amusement parks.
Female announcer: No wonder the NRA says...
Kayne Robinson, NRA official: If we win we'll have a President... where we work out of their office.
Female announcer: Tell Governor Bush: The White House is our house.
Male announcer: ...and it shouldn't belong to the NRA.
Visual: The ad opens with a photograph of George Bush and includes his signature being written over close-ups of guns being handled. Other images - of a church, a merry-go-round, and the White House - add visual to the HCIs explanation of Bushs record.
Fact Check: No inaccuracies, though the spot is a bit one-sided.
The Strategy: Look at Texas is an attempt by Handgun Control Inc to make George Bush look like the puppet of the NRA. It establishes Governor Bush as a proponent of broad gun rights and evidences the gun lobbys confidence in the Republican candidates expected cooperation.
HCIs ad presents the most radical elements of Bushs gun rights efforts. The candidate describes his views in a considerably less inflammatory fashion: "I support reasonable laws to keep the guns out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them. I believe we ought to enforce the law." As Governor, Bush has signed legislation precluding municipalities from suing gun manufacturers and opposed gun registration efforts. However, Bush also recently announced he would support legislation requiring guns be sold with trigger locks and believes the minimum age for firearm purchases should be raised from 18 to 21. And, as he has pointed out, even Democratic candidate Al Gore has supported gun rights measures in the past.