Romney to Woo Conservatives at NRA Event

Time ^ | April 13, 2012 | CHARLES BABINGTON

[Cincinatus' Wife]

ST. LOUIS) — Mitt Romney's speech to the National Rifle Association is a high-profile chance for the Republican presidential candidate to woo conservatives who have viewed him warily for years.

The address on Friday in St. Louis also comes at a moment of heightened national concern about gun use because of the explosive Florida case in which a neighborhood watch volunteer fatally shot an unarmed teenager. The NRA strongly backed Florida's "stand your ground" law, which is at the heart of the unfolding legal matter.

It won't be the first time Romney has had to walk a careful line between appealing to conservatives, who form his party's base, and trying not to alarm independents, who will be crucial in the fall campaign against President Barack Obama.

Few conservative groups have a bigger name or broader network than the NRA. Thousands of members are filling St. Louis hotels and sidewalks this weekend for an annual convention that offers "over seven acres of guns, gear and outfitters."

The NRA is so vital to Republican politicians that Rick Santorum, who suspended his presidential candidacy Tuesday, is keeping his appointment to speak just after Romney on Friday. Others scheduled to speak at the "leadership forum" include presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.

Romney has an uneasy relationship with gun owners. "I don't line up with the NRA," he said when he tried to oust Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in Massachusetts in 1994.....

[GenXteacher]

“Romney has an uneasy relationship with gun owners.”

Signing assault weapons bans into law generally has that effect.

[Mozilla]

Gun grabber Mitt Romney exposed. - Romney investigation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHcPhOSHOy4

Mitt “Willard” Romney - The Anti-Gun Rat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apl75FDzb9o

Romney on Guns: In His Own Words
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYWDWRmz-_o

[JaguarXKE]

Romney to WFooL Conservatives at NRA Event.

Fixed.

[Marguerite]

I wanted to add this to Romney's record: Romney 2004 press release signing off on an assault weapons ban in Massachusetts:

[duffee]

“Now, if it were Sarah, Newt or one of the Ricks......”

Both Ricks and Newt will also speak today.

[mkjessup]

"After THIS, for my next act?"

I will part the Red Sea as soon as my beard grows in!"

[Marguerite]

““Romney has an uneasy relationship with gun owners.”

Signing assault weapons bans into law generally has that effect.”

The Second Amendment doesn’t say which kind of arms are allowed but only: “THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS will NOT be infringed”.

So when Romney says he supports it, while he put a ban on arms, he’s lying through his teeth!

[Marguerite]

LIVE National Rifle Association (NRA)
2p Annual Meeting
Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum

Speakers:

Chris Cox, NRA Institute for Legislative Action executive director Mitt Romney Rick Santorum Newt Gingrich Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) John Bolton, Former US Ambassador to UN Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-La) Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va), Majority Leader Wayne LaPierre, NRA Vice President Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Oversight & Government Reform Cmte. Chairman Oliver North Ken Blackwell, former Ohio Secretary of State Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Judiciary Cmte. Ranking Member Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX)

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/305367-1

[COBOL2Java]

"You don't have to pack a gun to support the Second Amendment," Wagner said. "You have to be who you are. The key to actually connecting to people is not trying to be something you're not."

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing.. if you can fake that, you've got it made."
~ Groucho Marx

[DoughtyOne]

It’s over. And it’s over in no small part to the man you are now pondering supporting to stop Romney.

I don’t disrespect your motives, trying to stop Romney, but I’m less than enthusiastic to fall in behind a guy who knew he couldn’t win, and refused to help someone else do so at Romney’s expense.

We’re now stuck with Romney, but at least Newt’s followers can admire him for staying in, and being ‘the man’...

LOL, what passes for manhood these days.

[redinIllinois]

The primaries aren’t even over yet.

I’m still supporting Newt, because Romney is as bad as Obama.

[gusty]

Gingrich has as much chance of fixing Romney’s wagon as the Astros do of winning the World Series.

[Only Sane Man]

Is he going to read his speech from a teleprompter or from an Etch A Sketch?

[TexasRepublic]

Mutt is a phony. I will never trust him.

[Marcella]

ROMNEY ON C-SPAN AT NRA RIGHT NOW.

[Axeslinger]

Oh, would that there were one person (or more)with the courage of conservative convictions to stand during Mittens speech, say, "You sir, are no conservative" and then turn their back on him and just stand there.

Either he'd be joined by others or escorted out on his a$$, but either way, it'd make a helluva statement on the evening news.

[DoughtyOne]

The primaries aren’t even over yet. I’m still supporting Newt, because Romney is as bad as Obama.

I don't disagree with your desires and opinion of Romney/Obama, but the damage has already been done.

Santorum couldn't get funding at his level. Newt hasn't been able to at his.

It sticks in my craw as much as it does yours, but we're stuck with Romney.

Now lets see if the RNC, and the darlings Carl Rove and Andrew Card can get him elected.

[DoughtyOne]

Damn right!

[johnthebaptistmoore]

More like, “I’m Mitt Romney, and I’m reporting for duty!”

[EternalVigilance]

Romney signs off on permanent assault weapons ban

"Deadly assault weapons have no place in Massachusetts," Romney said, at a bill signing ceremony on July 1..."These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people."

"A well regulated Militia, being NECESSARY to the security of a free State, the RIGHT of the people to keep and bear Arms, SHALL NOT be infringed."

-- The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution