Posted on 09/16/2016 5:44:20 AM PDT by marktwain
The NRA has been a bi-partisan group, at least since the formation of the NRA-ILA in 1975. The NRA-ILA is the lobbying arm of the NRA.
In the last few elections, few Democrats have been endorsed, because few Democrats supported the Second Amendment in any meaningful way.
As they say, the NRA did not leave the Democrat Party. The Democrat Party left the NRA. There are exceptions. A controversial pick was Harry Reid, Senator (D) from Nevada, who got an A rating from the NRA. Many have wanted the NRA-ILA to broaden their criteria to issues other than the right to keep and bear arms.
There are problems with that approach as well. How can you judge someone’s future actions? The best approach is to rely on past actions; but it is not a 100% predictor.
Democrat politicians who have actively supported Second Amendment rights are still being endorsed by the NRA.
The best of all worlds for the Second Amendment Supporter is to have all parties competing for the NRA endorsement.
That is what is happening in Missouri. Both the Republican and Democrat candidates for governor are strong supporters of the Second Amendment.
In this case, it is the Democrat who received the NRA endorsement. From governing.com:
The NRA Political Victory Fund said Koster’s commitment to the Second Amendment earned him an “A” rating.
“For over 17 years, he has fought to preserve the constitutional rights of law-abiding Missourians,” said Chris W. Cox, chairman, NRA-PVF. “The NRA is proud to endorse Chris Koster and we urge Missouri’s gun owners and sportsmen to get out this November and vote to elect a governor with a proven record of fighting to preserve the Second Amendment.”
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
I think Reid got an A because he converted federal land to NRA land and the endorsement was a payback. But that’s how harry became rich- converting fed land into private hands for cash, right?
2) NRA "A+" rated (twice) and NRA Endorsed (twice) Joe Manchin ...
The NRA has become part of the D.C. elitist establishment. Years ago I swore I would never send them another dollar.
Manchin has still pushed for gun control too.
Baloney. If you vote for a Democrat, they will support their Democratic brethren in Congress and in other levels of government, no matter their “private” beliefs.
And even if he does veto Democratic bills for gun control, how much support will Planned Parenthood, the EPA, NARAL, NAMBLA, etc. get from him?
When both sides support the Second Amendment, NRA should have been neutral.
Which is why I canceled my 20 year membership with the NRA and instead joined the Gun Owners Of America.
The NRA started to endorse flaming liberals when they elected Chris Cox to run the lobby wing of the organization.
I still respect Wayne LaPierre though.
One of the reasons why I let my NRA membership expire. Endorsing any ‘RAT whose party’s objective is to disarm all law abiding citizens is unconscionable. The Democrat-Communist Party is OK if criminals and government bureaucrats have unlimited access to firearms. The ultimate goal is Tyranny.
Koster's Republican opponent in the election, Eric Greitens, is a plant by the radical homosexual left. The man is poison, and the Repub voters in MO bought his stinking line of schtick hook, line, and sinker.
I am in my fifties and have never voted for a democrat in my entire life, but I will be this time.
My point exactly. Endorsing Manchin was a dumb move. I wonder what NRA rating he'll get in 2018.
When both candidates appear to deserve an "A" rating, the NRA should declare victory and step OUT of that contest.
From a strategic view it’s important to endorse a few Democrats. If the NRA only endorsed Republicans then both parties would cease to listen to the NRA.
An endorsement for a dem is an endorsement for DNC policy, which is disarmament. Bad job, NRA.
Do not fret about this. This is exactly what the NRA should do. So long as Democrats understand that the NRA will support them if they defend the second amendment, Democrats are more willing to defend the second amendment.
Getting both parties to regard gun control as completely off of the table is where we need to go with this.
The NRA’s endorsement is really no surprise.
What is surprising is the Koster endorsement by the Missouri Farm Bureau. It’s the first time FB has endorsed a Donk.
Yeah ... because that worked out just peachy 4 years ago in WV.
Lyin’ Joe Manchin thanks you for your support.
Ah, someone else who knows how to play "Chess" instead of "Checkers."
The NRA is doing exactly the right thing. This is a strategic move, and this strategy has been playing out very well for second amendment rights since 1994.
We now have both the Democrat & the Republican parties unwilling to go against gun owners. If we only supported Republicans, we would never be able to apply any pressure to Democrats.
Harry Reid’s NRA rating is ludicrous.
He has probably done more damage to the USA than any other living senator - and the competition for that distinction is very heavy.
A democrat will always put the democrat party above the constitution and the well being of the nation.
Their God is the democrat party.
When Hillary Clinton became Secretary of State she was replaced in the senate by Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand.
When Gillibrand was a congresswoman she claimed to be (and acted) pro-gun to appeal to her upstate New York constituency.
But as soon as she became a senator she jumped on the democrat anti-gun band-wagon and follows the party line.
And yes, I as well as you and many, many others VERY surprised over Missouri Farm Bureau's endorsement of Koster. First time for everything I guess.
For the purpose for which it was intended, it did indeed work out very well. You may not "get" this, but the NRA is a single issue organization, and that issue is "gun rights."
Yes, most of their membership is Republican, but the organization is more effective at blocking gun control legislation if they can get Democrats to support their position too.
I know that we as Republicans find this abhorrent, but it is a very effective method for insuring success on their core issue.
It also helps expand their membership with Democrat voters, many of which won't belong to an organization that is strictly Republican.
They are doing exactly what they need to be doing.
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