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Dems abandon gun issue in 2002 races
Josey1
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Dems abandon gun issue in 2002 races
By Allison Stevens
Mindful that Vice President Al Gore lost the states of West Virginia, Arkansas and Tennessee in 2000 partly because of his support for gun control, Democrats are backing away from the politically sensitive issue as they head into this year's midterm elections.
Democratic staffers, consultants and candidates agree that calling for gun control in all but a few isolated races could jeopardize their efforts to take back control of the House and retain their narrow majority in the Senate in November.
Pollsters say the issue has receded in the public consciousness partly because tragedies like high school shootings in Columbine, Colo., and suburban Michigan and events like the Million Mom March have been overshadowed by the more recent war on terrorism and the sagging economy.
PATRICK G. RYAN
Former Vice President Al Gore
Having failed to pass gun control legislation in recent years, many Democrats in Southern and rural states are also looking to a new brand of liberalism personified by Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D), a fiscal conservative who successfully melded progressive social values with a pro-gun rights stance.
Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg said he has urged his clients to de-emphasize the issue of gun control in this year's midterm elections because surveys conducted after the 2000 elections revealed that gun control positions hurt Democratic candidates from the top of the ticket down in rural and small towns and among white, non-college-educated voters.
More recent data show that this year's crop of swing voters tend to have a more favorable opinion of the National Rifle Association (NRA) than does the electorate at large, according to a Democracy Corps poll conducted last week.
"I think people felt burned by 2000 on the gun issue," Greenberg said. "I don't see any pressure to get the gun issue on the national agenda. . I don't even see a discussion of it. It's not even that they're debating it and deciding against it. I think it's just taken for granted that it's not going to be emphasized."
Democratic strategist James Carville echoed the sentiment. "I don't think there's a Second Amendment right to own a gun," he said. "But I think it's a loser political issue. . I think the issue has not been good for us. On top of that, I like guns."
NRA chief lobbyist Chris Cox said Democrats are backtracking on the gun issue more than ever this year and are increasingly courting the gun lobby.
"The Democratic leadership has recognized that supporting a gun control agenda is not politically feasible," he said. "Electoral college losses in West Virginia, Tennessee and Arkansas and the subsequent analysis by political commentators and even Bill Clinton point to the significance of Second Amendment issues throughout the country."
But Amy Stilwell, a spokeswoman for the Brady Campaign - formerly known as Handgun Control Inc. - dismissed the notion that the gun control issue was responsible for Gore's defeat in the drawn-out 2000 presidential election and said a shift in strategy would be foolish.
"Anybody who's thinking of backing off really shouldn't," she said. "They should take a look at 2000, where, despite recent reports, the gun issue has done very well."
She noted that despite being outspent by a ratio of five to one, the gun control movement had a far more successful year in 2000 than did the gun lobby.
The NRA, she said, lost five of seven targeted races in Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Washington state and Florida. The group also lost seven of its top nine House candidates.
The Brady Campaign, however, succeeded in defeating nine of 12 targeted candidates and shepherded to victory ballot initiatives to overturn the gun show loophole in Oregon and Colorado.
Bob Spitzer, a professor of political science at the State University of New York and author of a book called The Politics of Gun Control, agreed.
"I don't quite see why they are so leery about the issue," he said, noting that in addition to losing a number of Senate and House races, the NRA failed to deliver large pro-gun states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Iowa and New Mexico.
Nonetheless, Democrats insist they will downplay the gun issue this year.
The Democratic Party "is definitely backing away from guns," one Democratic insider said on the condition of anonymity. "Frankly, it costs us far more than it gets us. The people who vote for us vote for us without it."
Robert Gibbs, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said the retreat of the gun issue has a lot to do with the individual candidates' profiles and the geography of the battleground.
Indeed, this year's most competitive Senate races are taking place in rural states such as South Dakota, Colorado, Arkansas and New Hampshire where residents virtually worship the Second Amendment and hunters jealously guard their right to own guns. There are only a few contested Senate races taking place in states with major metropolitan areas - where gun control plays well - but those races are in Southern, pro-gun states like Texas and Georgia.
Similarly, the battle for control of the House will be played out in a large number of rural districts in states like Maine, Arizona, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia and others, where even the scent of gun control can send candidates to defeat.
"Nothing has come down from on high," Gibbs said. "The best advice that we would give anybody is, `You know your own state better than any of us do.' We have a lot of candidates who, as hunters and sportsmen, are comfortable talking about how hunting and fishing have played an important role" in their live
http://www.thehill.com/052202/gun.shtm
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
By Allison Stevens
Mindful that Vice President Al Gore lost the states of West Virginia, Arkansas and Tennessee in 2000 partly because of his support for gun control, Democrats are backing away from the politically sensitive issue as they head into this year's midterm elections.
Democratic staffers, consultants and candidates agree that calling for gun control in all but a few isolated races could jeopardize their efforts to take back control of the House and retain their narrow majority in the Senate in November.
Pollsters say the issue has receded in the public consciousness partly because tragedies like high school shootings in Columbine, Colo., and suburban Michigan and events like the Million Mom March have been overshadowed by the more recent war on terrorism and the sagging economy.
PATRICK G. RYAN
Former Vice President Al Gore
Having failed to pass gun control legislation in recent years, many Democrats in Southern and rural states are also looking to a new brand of liberalism personified by Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D), a fiscal conservative who successfully melded progressive social values with a pro-gun rights stance.
Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg said he has urged his clients to de-emphasize the issue of gun control in this year's midterm elections because surveys conducted after the 2000 elections revealed that gun control positions hurt Democratic candidates from the top of the ticket down in rural and small towns and among white, non-college-educated voters.
More recent data show that this year's crop of swing voters tend to have a more favorable opinion of the National Rifle Association (NRA) than does the electorate at large, according to a Democracy Corps poll conducted last week.
"I think people felt burned by 2000 on the gun issue," Greenberg said. "I don't see any pressure to get the gun issue on the national agenda. . I don't even see a discussion of it. It's not even that they're debating it and deciding against it. I think it's just taken for granted that it's not going to be emphasized."
Democratic strategist James Carville echoed the sentiment. "I don't think there's a Second Amendment right to own a gun," he said. "But I think it's a loser political issue. . I think the issue has not been good for us. On top of that, I like guns."
NRA chief lobbyist Chris Cox said Democrats are backtracking on the gun issue more than ever this year and are increasingly courting the gun lobby.
"The Democratic leadership has recognized that supporting a gun control agenda is not politically feasible," he said. "Electoral college losses in West Virginia, Tennessee and Arkansas and the subsequent analysis by political commentators and even Bill Clinton point to the significance of Second Amendment issues throughout the country."
But Amy Stilwell, a spokeswoman for the Brady Campaign - formerly known as Handgun Control Inc. - dismissed the notion that the gun control issue was responsible for Gore's defeat in the drawn-out 2000 presidential election and said a shift in strategy would be foolish.
"Anybody who's thinking of backing off really shouldn't," she said. "They should take a look at 2000, where, despite recent reports, the gun issue has done very well."
She noted that despite being outspent by a ratio of five to one, the gun control movement had a far more successful year in 2000 than did the gun lobby.
The NRA, she said, lost five of seven targeted races in Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Washington state and Florida. The group also lost seven of its top nine House candidates.
The Brady Campaign, however, succeeded in defeating nine of 12 targeted candidates and shepherded to victory ballot initiatives to overturn the gun show loophole in Oregon and Colorado.
Bob Spitzer, a professor of political science at the State University of New York and author of a book called The Politics of Gun Control, agreed.
"I don't quite see why they are so leery about the issue," he said, noting that in addition to losing a number of Senate and House races, the NRA failed to deliver large pro-gun states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Iowa and New Mexico.
Nonetheless, Democrats insist they will downplay the gun issue this year.
The Democratic Party "is definitely backing away from guns," one Democratic insider said on the condition of anonymity. "Frankly, it costs us far more than it gets us. The people who vote for us vote for us without it."
Robert Gibbs, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said the retreat of the gun issue has a lot to do with the individual candidates' profiles and the geography of the battleground.
Indeed, this year's most competitive Senate races are taking place in rural states such as South Dakota, Colorado, Arkansas and New Hampshire where residents virtually worship the Second Amendment and hunters jealously guard their right to own guns. There are only a few contested Senate races taking place in states with major metropolitan areas - where gun control plays well - but those races are in Southern, pro-gun states like Texas and Georgia.
Similarly, the battle for control of the House will be played out in a large number of rural districts in states like Maine, Arizona, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia and others, where even the scent of gun control can send candidates to defeat.
"Nothing has come down from on high," Gibbs said. "The best advice that we would give anybody is, `You know your own state better than any of us do.' We have a lot of candidates who, as hunters and sportsmen, are comfortable talking about how hunting and fishing have played an important role" in their live
http://www.thehill.com/052202/gun.shtm
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Comments
Brady Campaign Endorses California Gov. Gray Davis for Re-Election
To: City Desk, Political Reporter
Contact: Luis Tolley, 310-503-6783
Amy Stilwell, 202-289-5785
both of the Brady Campaign Voter Education Fund
WASHINGTON, May 21 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today, on behalf of the
Brady Campaign Voter Education Fund, Sarah Brady endorsed
California Gov. Gray Davis for re-election. In a video
endorsement, Mrs. Brady praised Gov. Davis for his unwavering
support for common sense gun laws and compared his strong record of
leadership on gun safety to the dubious one of his opponent, Bill
Simon. Michael D. Barnes, president of the Brady Campaign to
Prevent Gun Violence, represented the Bradys and the
organization in Sacramento.
"Gov. Davis has been a true friend of gun violence prevention
advocates," said Sarah Brady. "His proven commitment to
responsible gun laws in California has saved lives and protected
children from gun violence. Imagine the impact he could have with
four more years in office.
"Gray Davis knows that sensible gun laws save lives and he has
the courage to stand up to the gun lobby. He led the country by
signing America's strongest gun safety laws to protect children and
our communities. Governor Davis signed the toughest assault weapon
law in the country to get AK47 type weapons off the street and he
supported handgun safety standards and child-safety trigger locks
to protect kids from guns and he enacted new laws to get illegal
guns off the street and disarm dangerous felons. We need more
leaders like Gray Davis in America."
In her endorsement, Sarah Brady criticized Bill Simon as an
extreme candidate backed by the radical fringes of the gun lobby.
"Bill Simon would let the NRA gun lobby write California's gun
laws, putting the special interest of the extremists ahead of the
safety of police officers, children and our families," continued
Brady. "We must not allow Bill Simon and his backers to repeal the
assault weapon law and let criminals to once again have easy access
to AK47s. Nor can we allow them to repeal the child-safety trigger
lock law and put more children at risk of accidental shootings."
The Brady Campaign's endorsement of Gray Davis took place on the
steps of the California Capitol building in Sacramento.
http://www.usnewswire.com
-0-
/U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
05/21 17:40
Copyright 2002, U.S. Newswire
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Former Philadelphia Mayor Will Face Republican Fisher for Pennsylvania Governor
By Jonathan Allen
CQ Politics Reporter
Wednesday, May 22, 2002; 1:19 AM
Bolstered by strong support in his hometown, former Philadelphia Mayor Edward G. Rendell captured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Pennsylvania on Tuesday.
Rendell led state Auditor General Robert P. Casey Jr., the son of a former governor, 56 percent to 44 percent with 99 percent of precincts reporting.
The primary win moves Rendell on to a general election matchup with state Attorney General Mike Fisher, who was unopposed for the Republican nomination.
The winner will succeed Republican Mark Schweiker, who moved up to governor from lieutenant governor when the incumbent, Republican Tom Ridge, resigned last fall to become the nation's homeland security chief. Schweiker chose not to stand for election this year.
Rendell and Casey - who is a son of the late Democratic Gov. Robert P. Casey Sr. (1987-95) - spent about $30 million on the campaign, much of it on a lengthy television advertising campaign.
Casey attacked Rendell for his management of Philadelphia, including its school system.
But his strategy may have backfired. A poll conducted by Millersville University's Center for Opinion Research in early May showed that far more people viewed Casey's advertising as negative than Rendell's ads.
Casey claimed support from many organized labor groups, and hoped to galvanize backing from Pennsylvania's many socially conservative blue-collar Democrats. An advocate of gun owners' rights, he was the beneficiary of a radio blitz late in the campaign by the National Rifle Association. Following in the footsteps of his father, who strongly opposed abortion, Casey had the backing of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation.
Rendell, a former Democratic National Committee chairman who is often credited with turning around Philadelphia's economy, found supporters in the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, Planned Parenthood and the gun-control movement.
An ad countering the NRA spot was run in the final days of the campaign, according to Blaine J. Rummel, a spokesman for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence and The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence. And a Planned Parenthood official said his group made phone calls aimed at boosting Rendell.
Despite their differences on the lightning-rod issues of guns and abortion, the candidates spent most of their time talking about education, jobs and health care.
Rendell favors introducing slot machines at racetracks and doubling the state's tax on cigarettes as means of increasing the state's share of education funding to at least 50 percent. Casey favored a similar funding increase but over a longer period of time.
Both candidates said they wanted to target small- and mid-sized cities for economic revitalization.
Though Pennsylvanians favored Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore 51 percent to 46 percent over George W. Bush in 2000, Republicans generally have dominated recent statewide elections.
CQ currently ranks the general election has having "No Clear Favorite."
c 2002 Congressional Quarterly, Inc.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53904-2002May22.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
assault weapon law and let criminals to once again have easy access
to AK47s. Nor can we allow them to repeal the child-safety trigger
lock law and put more children at risk of accidental shootings."
just which criminals is she talking about? The real thugs get these weapons regardless of what the laws are...the law only restricts the citizen from having the same kind of firepower to protect themselves.
Happiness is a warm gun