Obama: My wife sees need for rural gun ownership

The swamp ^ | November 25, 2007 | John McCormick

[neverdem]

HARLAN, Iowa -- From his days of campaigning in Downstate Illinois, Sen. Barack Obama has been asked plenty of times about his views on gun ownership.

But the Illinois Democrat and presidential candidate added a new wrinkle Saturday night while campaigning in conservative-leaning western Iowa, when he said his Chicago-native wife, Michelle, recently commented that she could see why rural folks might want to own guns.

Here was Obama's discussion of gun ownership and his wife's thoughts during a campaign stop at a middle school:

--snip--

"And by the way, Michelle, my wife, she was traveling up, I think, in eastern Iowa, she was driving through this nice, beautiful area, going through all this farmland and hills and rivers and she said 'Boy, it's really pretty up here,' but she said, 'But you know, I can see why if I was living out here, I'd want a gun. Because, you know, 911 is going to take some time before somebody responds. You know what I mean? You know, it's like five miles between every house.'

"So the point is, though, we should be able to do that, and we should be able to enforce laws that keep guns off the streets in inner cities because some unscrupulous gun dealer is, you know, letting somebody load up a van with a bunch of cheap handguns or sawed-off shotguns and dumping them and selling them for a profit in the streets."

[neverdem]

Would it be OK if they sold them for a loss? BTW, that's mighty white of Michelle.

[domenad]

Who the hell asked you, Michelle? Hows about you take your opinion on what I need and park it sideways up left?

[PeterPrinciple]

sawed-off shotguns

---

Playing off images from old movies.......................

[ArrogantBustard]

Seems to me urban gun ownership (by honest folk) is even more necessary. Especially in a hellhole like Baltimore.

[ElkGroveDan]

commented that she could see why rural folks might want to own guns.

It's the urban folks who need them sweetie.

[IMissPresidentReagan]

"BTW, that's mighty white of Michelle" My granny used to say that's mighty "wide" of you ...and when I got older I asked what that was supposed to mean. She said Granny didn't want to offend anyone so she changed white to wide. I haven't heard that in a long time. And I'm relieved that Michelle can see the need for gun ownership in rural America. Perhaps now I can see the need for the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment.

[PeterFinn]

Obama: "I'm not going to screw up the Tennessee and West Virginia votes the same way Gore and Kerry did by preaching gun control."

Sure, but if elected he'll impose a gun ban if the USSC doesn't uphold the 2nd Amdt.

[robomatik]

a lot can happen in 2.5 minutes (average police response time) in the city too, michelle.

[ConorMacNessa]

Yeah, but it will be a cold day in Hell before we get concealed carry in the People’s Republic of Maryland.

[Vision]

How big of her.

[Tijeras_Slim]

You still have that 10 day foolishness with the State Police.

It was annoying when I left, and I’m twice as glad I moved now.

[tumblindice]

“Sporting use—mmmmm—hunting/target-practice, OK. Out in the sticks, alright.
We just have to get a chisel in somewhere . . . urban homeowners are a good start. By urban we mean anyone with neighbors.

[Osage Orange]

"And by the way, Michelle, my wife, she was traveling up, I think, in eastern Iowa, she was driving through this nice, beautiful area, going through all this farmland and hills and rivers and she said 'Boy, it's really pretty up here,' but she said, 'But you know, I can see why if I was living out here, I'd want a gun. Because, you know, 911 is going to take some time before somebody responds. You know what I mean? You know, it's like five miles between every house.'

Like 911 is fast anywhere????

[johnny7]

Soooo... I guess it’s “hide-under-the-table” for all city/suburb dwellers

[Osage Orange]

Where did that number come from...?

And how was it obtained?

Source?

[Badeye]

’ I can see why if I was living out here, I’d want a gun. Because, you know, 911 is going to take some time before somebody responds. You know what I mean? You know, it’s like five miles between every house.’ ‘

The fact of the matter is calling 911 when somebody is trying to kill you isn’t a call for the police to save you.

Its a notification for the CSI team to bring chalk for your outline....

And it doesn’t matter where you live.

[Teacher317]

Carry a gun since you cannot carry a cop

[ozzymandus]

This guy is so stupid that he thinks this insulting comment is going to help him?? He’s not ready for prime time.

[Kieri]

Nice of her to say so, but Michelle misses the point. Those of us who love our rural life understand that police repsonse times can be very long, and gun ownership is a wise precaution. Just like having a generator for extended power outages (ours fails all the time), making sure your propane tank gets filled and keeping an eye out for deer wanting to play chicken with your vehicle.

[Political Junkie Too]

Maybe his wife should run for president, just like Mrs. Edwards.

-PJ