NRA's First Endorsement Goes To Dem Strickland
The National Rifle Association has endorsed OH Gov. Ted Strickland (D), bestowing its first official blessing of the '10 midterms on a Dem.
In a letter to Strickland's campaign, provided to Hotline OnCall and first reported by CNN, the NRA's political arm said it gave the incumbent an "A+" rating -- and its coveted backing.
"As Governor, you continue to be a vocal advocate in the fight to promote Second Amendment freedoms for law-abiding citizens," wrote Chris Cox, the chairman of the NRA's political wing and its chief lobbyist. "Our members will interpret your 'A+' rating and endorsement as an indication that you are a pro-Second Amendment, pro-hunting candidate who supports sportsmen and gun-owners on every issue. This rating and endorsement information will be communicated to NRA members prior to the November General Election."
Strickland is running a tough contest against ex-Rep. John Kasich (R), a consistent conservative but one who ran afoul of the NRA over the '94 Assault Weapons Ban. Strickland voted against the measure; Kasich voted for it.
The NRA's Political Victory Fund is credited, by some, with having helped the GOP take back the majority in '94, and the group looks poised to play a big role again this year. Gun issues have yet to make an appearance on the Dem legislative agenda, but many on the right have used the threat of new gun control measures as a rallying cry this year.
Still, thanks to Dem efforts to broaden their tent, the group is likely to back a significant number of Dems -- especially younger members whose seats are top GOP targets. In '08, the NRA endorsed Reps. Leonard Boswell (D-IA), Baron Hill (D-IN), Ike Skelton (D-MO), Travis Childers (D-MS), Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), Charlie Wilson (D-OH), Zack Space (D-OH), Jason Altmire (D-PA), Chris Carney (D-PA), Paul Kanjorski (D-PA), Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD), Chet Edwards (D-TX) and Rick Boucher (D-VA) -- all of whom are top NRCC targets.
If the NRA gets involved in many of the same races this year, their signature election guides -- distributed to their more than 4M members shortly before election day -- could save some members who might otherwise be on the chopping block.
I see no point in electing an official who supports my keeping a gun, but taking everything else. I suppose I at least have the weapon when the sh!% hits the fan.
May I ask what your source is for this being the first endorsement of a Democrat? It seems interesting since NRA already endorsed a slew of Democrats at the state and federal level in Pennsylvania earlier this year. Not only did I read about on their website, but I talked to gun owners who received their infamous orange card mailings if they lived in those districts.
I don't understand what all the controversy is about.
Kasich votes to ban guns. Strickland votes against banning guns. Gun rights group picks one that does not want to ban guns. Its so simple its stupid. The controversy would be if the NRA instead backed Kasich.
It's bad enough that you have decided to support all these liberal liars, like the Pelosi puppet from my district (Chet Edwards) but your endorsement of Dingy Harry, a major cog in the Obama wheel, put the icing on the cake. I, along with a major portion of faithful Ducks Unlimited members and NRA members are going to mount a drive to end our support of your organization. Like "J" said, so what if we have our guns, these liberal Democrats want to take everything else away.
The NRA has received it's last dime from me. While I support the NRA on it's long lasting stand for the 2nd admendment, I will no longer contribute to an organization that sells itself to the "radical liberals" who are trying to take away all of our freedoms. Yes, guns will be next after they get everything else. It also just came to my attention that the NRA cut a deal with the DEMs to be exempted from the Disclose Act. Just like the AARP, the NRA is willing to sell it's soul to "cut a deal". I said Goodbye to the AARP and am now saying Goodbye to the NRA.
You cannot equate the NRA to conservatism. They are decent (not great) in regards to the 2nd Amendment but not to the Bill of Rights or conservative values. Obama proposed SENATE BILL S. 2433 THE GLOBAL POVERTY ACT. This required the US to sign on the the US Small Weapons banning small and light weapons.
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/74649
This passed the Democrat-led house by a voice vote. The so called pro-gun Democrats could have called for a voice vote. The so called pro-gun Democrats paid no price for this.
The 2nd Amendment does not guarantee the right to hunt.
No-net-loss in hunting is not in the Constitution. It is big-government.
NRR's support of CARA was disguisting.
I wonder how many NRA-endorsed candidates voted for CAP-and-Trade and Socialized Medicine.
National Rifle Association:
Thank you very much for NOT endorsing John Kasich for Governor of Ohio.
I used to be a member of the NRA and I will be renewing my membership because the NRA has demonstrated that it also understands that John Kasich does NOT practice what he preaches and is NOT fit to be Governor of Ohio.
We learned that John has NO “courage” and does NOT “Stand For Something” even in regard to his very own children and thousands of others (including ours) who were deliberately put at “risk” with repeat child molesters by the administrators at a private “Christian” school while those administrators and their attorney deceived and defrauded we parents about it. John Kasich actually still sends his daughters to that private school where the administrators remain in power, remain as a serious threat to unsuspecting consumers, and remain as horrible examples to the students on how to treat your business customers and fellow man.
Please refer to the Internet Web Site www.NotKasich.com for the overwhelming and irrefutable evidence.
Thank you