The WH is mobilizing to gut shoot the NRA.

Troke

On TB every waking moment
http://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...7be0-5a8c-11e2-9fa9-5fbdc9530eb9_story_1.html

The White House is working with its allies on a well-financed campaign in Washington and around the country to shift public opinion toward stricter gun laws and provide political cover to lawmakers who end up voting for an assault-weapons ban or other restrictions on firearms.

With President Obama preparing to push a legislative agenda aimed at curbing the nation’s gun violence, pillars of his political network, along with independent groups, are raising millions of dollars and mapping out strategies in an attempt to shepherd new regulations through Congress.

But the efforts, designed in large part to counter opposition from the National Rifle Association, face serious political obstacles on Capitol Hill. The NRA spent more than $20 million on federal election campaigns last year, and its lobbying muscle extends from Washington to state capitals around the country.

Most Republicans in the GOP-controlled House also oppose additional gun regulations, as do some key Democrats in the Senate — meaning that the groups aligned with Obama will have to persuade dozens of skeptical lawmakers to vote for the president’s eventual proposals.

The groups, whose leaders are in regular contact with the White House, are working to enlist religious leaders, mayors, police chiefs and other influential constituents to lobby their local lawmakers in their home districts. The organizations also plan to stage rallies at congressional town hall meetings across the country in much the same way tea party activists mounted opposition in 2009 to Obama’s health-care overhaul.

A trial run for the burgeoning campaign came this week when the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence ran hard-hitting ads in North Dakota and Capitol Hill newspapers against Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), who said Sunday that some of the gun measures Obama is considering are “extreme.” After the ads — which told Heitkamp “Shame on you” — the freshman senator’s office issued a statement opening the door to supporting some gun-control measures.

“You have to get those members of Congress who think the easiest position is to be with the NRA to think that someone will walk up to them in the supermarket and say, ‘Why can’t we just have background checks?’ ” said Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank helping to coordinate the effort. “They have to think of these as mainstream issues.”

Other organizations active in the effort include liberal interest groups, labor unions and Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which is led and financed by New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (I).

A political action committee, Americans for Responsible Solutions, was launched this week by former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and has picked up seven-figure donations from major Democratic benefactors.

Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple founder Steve Jobs, and Ron Conway, a leading Silicon Valley angel investor, are helping finance the Giffords group and will co-host a fundraiser in San Francisco this week, an organizer said. Two wealthy Texas lawyers, Steve and Amber Mostyn, told news outlets Wednesday that they had given $1 million to the organization. Giffords was shot in the head two years ago in a mass shooting outside a supermarket in Tucson.

“The real challenge that these organizations will have is how much money will they be able to raise in order to effectively communicate their side of the story,” said Ron Bonjean, a Republican strategist and former top congressional aide. “Those who are in favor of keeping the status quo have massive resources that can do the same thing.”

While groups such as the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence have long lobbied for stricter gun laws, last month’s massacre at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., has spurred many progressive organizations, millionaire donors and other activists to begin focusing on the issue.

White House working group

An administration working group led by Vice President Biden is preparing a set of gun-control proposals that could be announced by the end of this month, perhaps as part of Obama’s State of the Union address. Lawmakers say Congress could begin considering gun bills in two weeks.

Biden, after a meeting Wednesday with victims of gun violence and leaders of gun-safety organizations, vowed that the administration will take swift action.

“This is a problem that requires immediate attention,” Biden said. “I want to make clear that we’re not going to get caught up in the notion that, unless we can do everything, we’re going to do nothing.”

The White House is considering a wide range of legislative proposals, including a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, as well as universal background checks on gun buyers. Biden also said Wednesday that Obama may take executive actions that sidestep Congress, although he did not provide details.

Biden’s comments sparked an immediate and sharp backlash from Republicans. “The Founding Fathers never envisioned Executive Orders being used to restrict our Constitutional rights,” Rep. Jeff Duncan (S.C.) said in a statement. “We live in a republic, not a dictatorship.”

Biden’s meetings with interest groups to build consensus will continue Thursday, when he will meet with representatives of the NRA and other gun-owner groups as well as a representative from Wal-Mart, one of the nation’s leading gun retailers. The NRA, which has signaled its opposition to any new gun regulations, has suggested placing armed guards at all of the nation’s schools in reaction to the Connecticut shootings.

‘Gun-violence prevention’

Earlier this week, senior White House aides organized a conference call with a roster of private foundations, some of which are funding polls, public ed*ucation campaigns and other anti-gun-violence* initiatives.

One of the groups was the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation, a major funder of gun-control programs that counted Obama as a board member from 1994 to 2002. Nina Vinik, director of the foundation’s anti-gun-violence initiative, said research suggests that the public is poorly informed about current gun laws.

“Most people assume that our gun laws are in fact much more expansive and stronger than in fact they are,” Vinik said.

Some of the groups plan to use television and newspaper advertisements to paint laws restricting guns as a mainstream, common-sense idea. Some advocates have also stopped calling their efforts “gun control,” preferring “gun-violence prevention” instead.

One objective is to drive a wedge between the NRA’s policy agenda and the views of a majority of its members, activists said. Mayors Against Illegal Guns commissioned a study last year by Republican pollster Frank Luntz that found that 74 percent of NRA members support requiring criminal background checks for anyone purchasing a gun.

“This isn’t a battle about going dollar for dollar with the NRA,” said Winnie Stachelberg, executive vice president at the Center for American Progress. “It’s about drawing attention to the fact that the NRA officials and lobbyists and the NRA membership are in completely different places. Exposing that gap is a critical component of that effort.”

"...One objective is to drive a wedge between the NRA’s policy agenda and the views of a majority of its members, activists said. Mayors Against Illegal Guns commissioned a study last year by Republican pollster Frank Luntz that found that 74 percent of NRA members support requiring criminal background checks for anyone purchasing a gun...."

I had wondered how long it would take to them to get to this. This is an item that will have the support of a strong majority of the Lesser Classes and of course, 100% of the Ruling Class. And that would eliminate the famous 'gun show loophole'. So what should the gutless, limpweeny, sellout NRA do? Remember, in politics, it is fatal to pick a fight that you might lose. Once you have lost, the next one is a whole lot easier to lose. It is great for the ego to stay pure and go down flags flying but that gave us Obama. We don't need anymore of that.

The only hope is for the NRA to convince Congress that the Lesser Classes will not hold it against them in the next election if they trash the background check, But the NRA rating damned well will and that is what counts in an election.
 

Gercarson

Veteran Member
It is great for the ego to stay pure and go down flags flying but that gave us Obama. We don't need anymore of that.
Stay pure and take the high road and look what it has gotten Americans who believe in the constitution - communism pure and simple.
We always get to say "next time" but that gave us George Bush who then handed America Barack Hussein Abdullah Obama on a silver platter - I say you CAN stay "pure" but fight like the communists do but ramp it up.
 

Troke

On TB every waking moment
It is great for the ego to stay pure and go down flags flying but that gave us Obama. We don't need anymore of that.
Stay pure and take the high road and look what it has gotten Americans who believe in the constitution - communism pure and simple.
We always get to say "next time" but that gave us George Bush who then handed America Barack Hussein Abdullah Obama on a silver platter - I say you CAN stay "pure" but fight like the communists do but ramp it up.

That attitude got us Obama. Thanks alot.
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
Troke, you are absolutely full of shit. You need to stop spouting the bullshit that "being pure gave us Obama." What gave us Obama was running Romney as a candidate. The man was fatally flawed. Many of us said so from day one. You're just trolling now. BTW when you die and stand before God, you be sure to explain to Him why you compromised all your life, before He sends you to Hell.
 

homecanner1

Veteran Member
You would do well to excise the term "lesser classes" from all your posts.

Many people here have fallen or are about to fall into lower income status thanks to reduced paychecks, job loss or medical disability

We can't all be moguls, billionaires and "retired bankers"
 

SteveReloaded

Veteran Member
Also, as you top off preps and get that last brick of ammo, consider joining / contributing to the NRA. The Shicago bunch fights mean and the NRA is going to need all te help they can get. Also join/contribute to the GOA, if you are able. Not near the influence of the NRA, but they may be the next biggest.

Dennis, was there any candidate, besides Ron Paul who would not have been fatally flawed?
 

skip8

Membership Revoked
Troke, you are absolutely full of shit. You need to stop spouting the bullshit that "being pure gave us Obama." What gave us Obama was running Romney as a candidate. The man was fatally flawed. Many of us said so from day one. You're just trolling now. BTW when you die and stand before God, you be sure to explain to Him why you compromised all your life, before He sends you to Hell.

W-o-w Dennis. That's really harsh. Ouch.
 

Watchman2

Veteran Member
Good Post.

Watchman2

It is great for the ego to stay pure and go down flags flying but that gave us Obama. We don't need anymore of that.
Stay pure and take the high road and look what it has gotten Americans who believe in the constitution - communism pure and simple.
We always get to say "next time" but that gave us George Bush who then handed America Barack Hussein Abdullah Obama on a silver platter - I say you CAN stay "pure" but fight like the communists do but ramp it up.
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
Also, as you top off preps and get that last brick of ammo, consider joining / contributing to the NRA. The Shicago bunch fights mean and the NRA is going to need all te help they can get. Also join/contribute to the GOA, if you are able. Not near the influence of the NRA, but they may be the next biggest.

Dennis, was there any candidate, besides Ron Paul who would not have been fatally flawed?

All of them (including Paul) were flawed to one extent of another. Paul was the least flawed, but his international policies were, well, not of this century shall we say? Gingrich would have given the HNIC the strongest challenge IMO. As to the rest, well, they were pretty much "also rans". I wish Gingrich could have gotten fundraising and campaign staffing problems resolved. I would have LOVED to see the debates had it been Obama vs. Gingrich.

And I can't stand Gingrich. Just sayin...
 

BL225128

Inactive
You would do well to excise the term "lesser classes" from all your posts.

Many people here have fallen or are about to fall into lower income status thanks to reduced paychecks, job loss or medical disability

We can't all be moguls, billionaires and "retired bankers"

In Troke's defense, I would think that his reference to the so-called "Lesser Classes" includes a significant political-cultural-ideological basis than just merely the economic one. A welfare bureaucrazy apparatchik pulling down 55k a year who believes in the superiority of marx, atheism and banning private ownership of firearms while regularly attending "diversity" services at the local Unitarian collective would not necessarily be a member of the Lesser Classes. Conversely, a straight-white guy pulling down 1,000k a year who likes to hunt and fish, attend NASCAR events, drink beer and barbecue large cuts of meat that he personally shot and regularly attends a Bible-believing church every Sunday would be likely be considered a member of the Lesser Classes.
 

Troke

On TB every waking moment
Troke, you are absolutely full of shit. You need to stop spouting the bullshit that "being pure gave us Obama." What gave us Obama was running Romney as a candidate. The man was fatally flawed. Many of us said so from day one. You're just trolling now. BTW when you die and stand before God, you be sure to explain to Him why you compromised all your life, before He sends you to Hell.

My goal was Obama out! I didn't give a damn who got in as long as O was out. A whole bunch of people seem to have preferred the real Obama to some supposed clone (Romney) which absolutely astounds me. Well, you got the real essence.
 

Troke

On TB every waking moment
In Troke's defense, I would think that his reference to the so-called "Lesser Classes" includes a significant political-cultural-ideological basis than just merely the economic one. A welfare bureaucrazy apparatchik pulling down 55k a year who believes in the superiority of marx, atheism and banning private ownership of firearms while regularly attending "diversity" services at the local Unitarian collective would not necessarily be a member of the Lesser Classes. Conversely, a straight-white guy pulling down 1,000k a year who likes to hunt and fish, attend NASCAR events, drink beer and barbecue large cuts of meat that he personally shot and regularly attends a Bible-believing church every Sunday would be likely be considered a member of the Lesser Classes.

You got it. There are actually three classes, those that aspire to be the Ruling Class, their Sycophants on the Dole, and the Lesser Classes which you have pretty well described. they are the ones we need to reach. Right now if I read the Tea Leaves (pun there) correctly, the LC's are very uneasy. But I am not too sure if they know what they are uneasy about. They look around and things look pretty good. But the college kid is in the basement with no job and a horrendous debt that Dad signed for, the value of the house that was going to underwrite their retirement is gone, and the kid down the street got killed in Afghanistan that is looking like another war we want to lose.. lots of uneasiness out there.
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
My goal was Obama out! I didn't give a damn who got in as long as O was out. A whole bunch of people seem to have preferred the real Obama to some supposed clone (Romney) which absolutely astounds me. Well, you got the real essence.

A clone is just that - A CLONE. The man had the exact same agenda and beliefs as the HNIC. There would have been NO CHANGE AT ALL.
 

Troke

On TB every waking moment
A clone is just that - A CLONE. The man had the exact same agenda and beliefs as the HNIC. There would have been NO CHANGE AT ALL.

The whole cabinet would have stayed in, ditto the CZARS, and Romney, the business technocrat would have spent his political capital right up front chasing gun owners ? Why do I doubt that. I think he would have gone after the deficit and Harry Reid for violating the federal law by not producing a budget.

But we will never know because instead of an insipid clone, we got the real thing.
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
I can see your point for sure (gag). But putting Satan2 in a leadership role because you hate Satan1 seems, well, counterintuitive. JMHO.
 

Troke

On TB every waking moment
I can see your point for sure (gag). But putting Satan2 in a leadership role because you hate Satan1 seems, well, counterintuitive. JMHO.

The problem is that we knew that Satan1 was very competent in what he was doing and also surrounded himself with the like. Might have taken Satan2 a little time to ramp up and by that time, an election.
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
The problem is that the only difference between Satan1 and Satan2 was the color of their tail. And too many people saw that. And that's why he lost the election.
 

gcsdls

Thread-killer...see?
Guys, I know this is a futile gesture on my part. But I started one of those petitions at the White House website. It has to get 150 signatures before it will even become searchable there or visible. But this link will get you there. If you are in agreement with it, please sign it and pass it on to like-minded folks. This un-Constitutional behavior has to stop.

http://wh.gov/PP0H

Best regards,

george
 
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