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* Gun control activist Jim Brady released a humorous statement today about the NRA’s endorsement of state Sen. Bill Brady for governor…
“Some years ago I had to parachute into Illinois and set the record straight when a candidate for the United States Senate said I was once in the business of selling machine guns. Now I’ve got to get involved in an Illinois political race again, because of some other guy named Brady.
“He’s probably a distant cousin of some kind, and if he is, he’s surely the black sheep of the family. Because no Brady in his right mind would be against keeping AK-47s off the streets and against restricting guns near schools. This ’shady Brady’ shouldn’t be in charge of Illinois gun laws, much less in charge of the great state of Illinois.
“If the voters in Illinois feel compelled to vote for an Irishman, then Pat Quinn’s the right candidate for them. I think he’s a cousin of mine, too.”
They’ve also set up a website documenting Bill Brady’s pro-gun voting record. The “anti-gunners” are pledging to push this story into the media bloodstream, but it’s so far been all but ignored. With everything else going on in Chicago, the news hole is pretty darned small these days. Editors want Rahmbo stories, not policy stories about a governor’s race that looks to be pretty darned lopsided.
* But another Democratic candidate is embracing the NRA…
The political arm of the National Rifle Association on Tuesday endorsed Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson in a hotly contested southwest suburban congressional race.
The gun rights group chose the freshman congresswoman over her Republican challenger, Adam Kinzinger, an Air Force captain.
The NRA’s Political Victory Fund touted Halvorson’s record, including a vote she took in favor of an amendment that would allow permit holders to carry concealed weapons in national parks and wildlife refuges.
For Halvorson, the endorsement was welcome news as she seeks re-election following a recent overhaul of her campaign team.
* Ironically, Halvorson’s recent TV ad got major props from liberal pro gun-control MSNBC host Rachel Maddow last night. Pretty unwatchable, but go ahead if you must. And her Republican opponent whacked her today for a fundraiser with Speaker Nancy Pelosi…
On Thursday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi will have breakfast with DC lobbyists at a Washington, DC bistro to raise money for Debbie Halvorson, a loyal Pelosi ally. Halvorson has supported every major facet of Pelosi’s agenda including votes in favor of the massive government healthcare bill, the jobless Stimulus bill, cap and trade energy tax and policies that have led to record deficits. It is not surprising that Pelosi would host an event for a loyal follower like Halvorson, but it serves as a reminder of with whom exactly Debbie Halvorson sides and where her loyalty lays.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 1:56 pm
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The NRA is not relevant in this particular election cycle.
Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 2:10 pm
When carrying an AK-47 near schools is outlawed,
only outlaws will carry AK-47s near schools.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 2:12 pm
Rich, why do you say last night’s Rachel Maddow show was “pretty unwatchable”?
Comment by surge voter Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 2:34 pm
Is this the new Quinn campaign theme? Brady supports machine guns for all.
Not sure that’s a winning strategy.
How about Brady supports machine guns to help child molesters acquire victims? They both make about as much sense.
Comment by jim Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 2:37 pm
jim,
Swing and a miss. This line of attack on Bill Brady was used all summer and improved Quinn’s number to minus 10%. Perhaps if he continues to concentrate on guns, abortions and puppies, he can drive his numbers down to minus 20%.
Keep up the good work Pat, only another month!
Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 2:45 pm
*Thanks*
Comment by Timber, Ho! Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 2:52 pm
The NRA endorsement of Debbie is intriguing. No matter where you are on the issues, you have to admit they’re a powerhouse that knows their business.
Maybe they figure Debbie’s a safe Dem hedge; it’s not like Kinzinger is going to be leading a GOP anti-NRA faction if he wins.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 2:55 pm
Can we have a “Pretty Unwatchable” Final Four?
Semifinal 1: Maddow vs. Olbermann
Semifinal 2: O’Reilly vs. Beck
Final: Winner 1 vs. Winner 2
They’re all pretty unwatchable as far as I’m concerned, but it’d be interesting to see what biases prevail.
Comment by Thoughts... Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 3:10 pm
its very interesting since the NRA lobbyest is primarily employed by a Labor organization whose NEW BOSS was publicly PO’d about her vote on health-care!! can’t help but wonder how many pro-gun/anti-labor GOPs he’s working for also??
Comment by railrat Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 3:18 pm
railrat, that NRA lobster you mentioned also works for a union that endorsed Pat Quinn. He wears many hats.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 3:39 pm
HCI — handgun control inc, now known as the Jim and Sara brady et al. is trying to sustain some relevancy this election.
they see their california of the midwest going down the drain on their issue. All they have been able to do is claim a bit of vicotry in keeping pro-gunners from passing RTC and preemption. Not much of a record.
Now their patrarch is leaving them and all hell is going to break loose.
It is interesting that this election more democrats than ever have been asking for NRA endorsements. Even those in suburnban areas.
NRA and the gun owners are fired up and have a base. the anti’s don’t. without the free medai they get from little press pops like todays, they have no membership.
Illinios council against hangun violence GOT merged with the Illinis campaign against gun violence. The Joyce foundation funds are drying up.
State’s united agaist gun violence got merged with Freedom states allaince.
the VPC is but 4 people cranking out propoganda. Karlin and Co. seem to have moved on from their cash cow and he is spending a lot of time on his buzzflash project.
so what do they do when anti-gunners get together? tlak about the gun they didn’t buy? the hunt they didn’t take? the gun show they didn’t go to? the match/competition they didn’t shoot?
they have no built in netweork other than some ideologues and those who only outlet for thir grief is to attack the instrament.
We have gun shops, gun shows and 1.3 million FOID card holders in the state. 400,000 plus deer hunting permits etc etc.
We have 2500 plus manufactoruing jobs NOT counting Olin.
so after loosing two US Supreme Court rulings, failing to get anything done in either congress or the Illinois GA, and losing public opinion 67% of Rassmussan says you have the right to own a gun, even Cubs fans understadn strike three and you’re out.
Comment by Todd Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 3:59 pm
Halvorson got endorsed b/c she has voted with the NRA regularly and they will always choose an incumbent that is OK on guns over a challenger who is good on guns. It’s that simple. They wouldn’t be able to keep legislators in line otherwise.
Comment by ric831 Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 4:10 pm
NRA endorsement policy. It’s pretty cut and dried, they favor incumbents over challengers, all things being equal:
http://www.nraila.org/legislation/read.aspx?id=5955
Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 4:26 pm
When I was a kid reporter, I got a chance to meet Bill Brady in the Carter/Reagan transition.
What a cool guy. Smart, funny and a real patriot from Peoria who understood that in this country you don’t have to agree with everyone all the time.
Then he took a bullet for Reagan. So did Tim McCarthy, the police chief in Orland. Because of that, I’ll respectfully have a listen to what either one of them have to say for the rest of my life.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 4:47 pm
wordslinger, I assume you mean “Jim” and not “Bill.” Right?
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 4:53 pm
Whoops. You are right. Cool guy.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 5:15 pm
Kudos for knowing how to use the word “ironically”. I so often hear it these days without anything the least bit ironic being said.
Comment by rman Wednesday, Sep 29, 10 @ 10:24 pm