Democrats....Bush Key on Assault Weapons

Associated Press - Las Vegas Sun.com ^ | May 14, 2003 | Jim Abrams

[Godebert]

By JIM ABRAMS

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) -

President Bush should take the lead in overcoming resistance within his own party to extending an assault weapons ban due to expire next year, Democrats said Wednesday.

"If the bill dies we will lay it at the president's doorstep," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said a day after House Majority Leader Tom DeLay told reporters that the 1994 law banning the manufacture of 19 types of common military-style assault weapons would not be renewed.

Schumer said the gun bill would be an issue in the 2004 election, a development that could pose problems for Democrats who represent districts with strong gun rights sentiment. The assault ban vote was also a campaign topic in 1994, the year Republicans recaptured the House after spending 40 years in the minority.

Bush, taking a position at odds with the National Rifle Association, has voiced support for extending the ban, and White House spokesman Ari Fleischer on Wednesday said that support would carry weight in Congress.

"This is a matter that the House has to work out, of course, by listening to the will of its members, but the president's position is clear on it," Fleischer said. "When the president states his position like that, it helps get the message to the Congress."

Fleischer would not say whether Bush would pressure DeLay to bring such a bill up for a vote. DeLay, R-Texas, on Tuesday indicated that there would be no effort to renew the current law before it expires on Sept. 13, 2004. "The votes in the House are not there to reauthorize it," he said.

"The real question is will the president weigh in and ask the leaders to schedule a vote," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., who as a senior adviser to President Clinton played a key role in guiding the 1994 legislation through Congress.

[Godebert]

Unless Bush reverses his un-Constitutional and un-American position on this issue, he will not receive my vote. I'll vote Constitution Party again.

[IronJack]

This is a firestorm issue, and one Bush needs to consider carefully before he commits. It can't hurt him politically to support it; he can't be trusted on gun issues as it is. But a White House rally behind Charles Schumer & Co. will end his appeal to the gun-owning Right. And it will force gun owners to choose their "conservatives" much more cautiously in the future.

[Paleo Conservative]

Unless Bush reverses his un-Constitutional and un-American position on this issue, he will not receive my vote. I'll vote Constitution Party again.

What an idiot. President Bush can't sign a bill that does not reach his desk. It won't pass the House. I would much rather have Bush in the White House than any of the alternatives.

Perhaps you like cutting off your nose to spite your face. In your case it might even be an improvement.

[SteveH]

The gun grabber quotes are not balanced with those
from any pro-2A organization. AP crapola *bang...

[jagrmeister]

The assualt weapons ban is popular amongst the mainstream. What we want here is a removal of the ban while Bush retains his approval ratings. Thus, Bush should voice support for removal of the ban and let Delay block the bill in the House. When Democrats cry for Bush to break the deadlock, Bush should fire back "Learn to respect the independence of the various branches of government." The net result: Assault weapon ban is removed, Bush remains popular with the people.

[GingisK]

This is a firestorm issue, and one Bush needs to consider carefully before he commits.

Bears repeating.

I can assure the Republican Party that my vote will go elsewhere based merely on this issue.

Take heed Party lurkers!

[jagrmeister]

correction: "voice support for continuation of the ban"

[Centurion2000]

"If the bill dies we will lay it at the president's doorstep," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y

So will I; I'll vote for him, donate to his campaign and get all my friends to vote for Bush :)

[Wonder Warthog]

"What an idiot. President Bush can't sign a bill that does not reach his desk. It won't pass the House. I would much rather have Bush in the White House than any of the alternatives."

Sorry, but if Bush puts ANY PRESSURE FOR PASSAGE AT ALL on the Congress on this issue, I WILL NOT support him in the next election. I would rather have someone I "know" is the enemy than someone who I think is an ally that then stabs me in the back (see France).

[TLBSHOW]

did Ari really say that? Keeping republicans feet to the fire is a 24 7 a day job if he did.

[TLBSHOW]

So will I; I'll vote for him, donate to his campaign and get all my friends to vote for Bush :)


BUMP

[backhoe]

Cross-link:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/911200/posts
The RKBA War-- 2 weeks of links ( AWB and more )
various FR links | 05-14-03 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

[jagrmeister]

It requires some sophistication to understand how the assault weapons ban can expire while Bush can support its continuation. It requires that you accept the fact that political dialogue is structured to meet an end and is used to mislead the public for its own benefit. Either you understand how the game is played or you don't.

[jagrmeister]

Bush should support the continuation of the ban.
Tom Delay should oppose the ban and let it expire.
That is how it will work and that will be a policy and political win.

[The Wizard]

I hope the ban dies

[deport]

Bush should support the continuation of the ban.
Tom Delay should oppose the ban and let it expire.
That is how it will work and that will be a policy and political win.

---

Note: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/911085/posts? Washington Post article...

The Republican-controlled House will not renew the federal ban on Uzis and other semiautomatic weapons, a key leader said yesterday, dealing a significant blow to the campaign to clamp down on gun sales nationwide.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) said most House members are willing to let the ban expire next year. "The votes in the House are not there" to continue the ban, he told reporters.

His spokesman, Stuart Roy, said, "We have no intention of bringing it up" for a vote.

[Ingtar]

They ought to start it in the Senate, at the bottom of the agenda. And force a real filibuster. Make the Dems decide between two sacred cows.

[discostu]

You can tell by the quote from Emanuel that the dems have figured out Bush is playing this to screw 'em and take another issue off the table. They're scrambling to find a way to hold him responsible when this thing fails to pass. That's why Ari's putting forth this falderal about what a "strong message" Bush has already sent. What's gonna happen is this thing will die in Congress, the Dems will try to blame Bush he'll respond by criticizing them for making the bill unpassable, he'll then be able to stick them with their favorite charge (rolling back 8 years of "Clinton progress") and not only is this issue taken off the table the GOP gets the last laugh on it.

It's good to have a President that grock's politics again, it's like watching Lombardi coach.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Bush should support the continuation of the ban. Tom Delay should oppose the ban and let it expire. That is how it will work and that will be a policy and political win."

Re-read what I said. There is a whole world of difference between Bush "saying" he supports extension, and actively pressuring the Congress to pass it. If your scenario plays out, then I have no problem--but if Bush does ANY "armtwisting" in favor of extension, then he has LOST MY VOTE.

[sinkspur]

It requires some sophistication to understand how the assault weapons ban can expire while Bush can support its continuation. It requires that you accept the fact that political dialogue is structured to meet an end and is used to mislead the public for its own benefit. Either you understand how the game is played or you don't.

This was very well said, and should be repeated.