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* State Sen. Toi Hutchinson has refused to release her NRA questionnaires, undoubtedly because she used to be pretty solidly pro gun rights and is now running as a mostly gun control candidate who supports a ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines.
The Tribune, however, got ahold of her 2010 NRA questionnaire…
The questionnaire shows Hutchinson was asked if she would support “state legislation restricting the private possession, ownership, purchase, sale and/or transfer of any semi-automatic firearms.” She responded, “No, I would oppose such legislation.” The question also included the issue of large-capacity ammunition magazines.
Additionally, when asked by the NRA if Hutchinson would support “legislation making it a crime to fail to report the loss or theft of a firearm,” she replied: “No, I would oppose such legislation because it has no demonstrated affect on crime and creates an unwarranted legal presumption that gun owners should answer to the police for their own victimization or misfortune.”
But last week at a forum in Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields, Hutchinson announced she supports a state bill requiring the reporting of lost firearms. […]
Hutchinson maintained that [Robin Kelly] was running “a single-issue campaign” and trying to score “more political points” marketing the state senator’s gun-rights positions “as though they’re the positions that I have right now. And, I’m saying very clearly I’m moderating my positions.”
If that gun issue is resonating with special primary voters, Hutchinson could be in trouble. You gotta figure it’s polling well since the Kelly campaign has so completely latched onto the issue. We’ll see soon enough.
*** UPDATE *** Robin Kelly has issued a response…
“After refusing to release her NRA questionnaire for weeks, we know what Senator Hutchinson was hiding. She didn’t want voters in Chicago and the Southland to know that she promised the NRA that she would oppose an assault weapons ban. That she would oppose outlawing high capacity magazine clips.
“Toi Hutchinson says that Newtown, CT changed her perspective, but she agreed with the NRA’s extreme positions despite the killing happening on our own streets. The only thing that ‘changed’ for Toi Hutchinson is that she entered a race for Congress where her past support of the NRA’s agenda was no longer politically convenient.
“It’s clear now that we can’t trust Toi Hutchinson or Debbie Halvorson to protect our communities against gun violence because both were willing to stand with the NRA when we needed them most. I am the only candidate in the race ready to stand with President Obama to stop the NRA and their pro-gun agenda.”
* Meanwhile, in other CD2 news, complaints have surfaced that Anthony Beale may be requiring political help from those who want to be contractors on the new Walmart construction project…
[Contractor Reginald Rooks] said Beale’s congressional campaign has asked him to distribute flyers.
Rooks and leaders of the African-American Contractors Association suspect a connection between the hiring consultant and Beale’s political organization.
“I’m handing out your literature,” Rooks said. “Yes, I should get a job.”
Critics blame it on the culture of corruption that Chicago politics is infamous for.
“Its’ just a culture of corruption going on,” the Save Our Community Coalition’s Bob Israel said. “You know how long I’ve been fighting that. It’s just a culture of corruption.”
Beale denied any connection between his political organization and Maurice Williams.
“There’s no connection between my office and Mr. Williams other than he has a company and we direct people to his particular company,” Beale said.
* And here’s an Internet promo video by Republican candidate Paul McKinley…
* Related…
* Feds investigating finances of former Ald. Sandi Jackson: sources
* Washington: Leave race out of 2nd District race
* Anthony Beale filing new federal financial disclosure after Sun-Times points out error
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 9:27 am
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Good reporting on Trib’s part.
(Have to remind myself to distinguish the reporters from the editorial board.)
If this issue is hurting Hutchinson, it’s hurting Halvorsen more.
About time for Toi to come out with a strong “plan to end gun deaths”, since more gun control seems to be the first thought for many voters.
Comment by walkinfool Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 9:41 am
Sorry “Halvorson”
Comment by walkinfool Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 9:43 am
The Hutchinson campaign seems to be backpedaling an awful lot lately. They had to know this information would find the light of day at some point, I’m surprised they let themselves get blindsided by it on the day all the realistic candidates went before the Tribune ed board.
Earned media, paid media, the Kelly campaign keeps having good days one after another.
Comment by The Captain Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 10:22 am
The thing I’m curious about is why Toni Preckwinkle endorsed Hutchinson.
Comment by Angry Chicagoan Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 10:34 am
That Paul McKinley ad needs to be added to the political ad hall of fame. Strange ending.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 10:47 am
now we know why the head of the ISRA said that the NRA is comfortable with the election of either Halvorson or Hutchinson…
Comment by bored now Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 11:31 am
The fun just never stops in CD2.
Dig this. Four more candidates filed yesterday:
SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION - 4/9/2013
JONES, LeALAN M.
GREEN 2/4/2013 4:50:00 PM Active
PAHLKE, ELIZABETH “LIZ”
INDEPENDENT 2/4/2013 4:08:00 PM Active
LEWIS, MARCUS
INDEPENDENT 2/4/2013 2:14:00 PM Active
BEY, CURTISS LLONG
INDEPENDENT 2/4/2013 8:13:00 AM Active
Source: http://elections.il.gov/ElectionInformation/LatestFiled.aspx?ID=40 (edited to remove addresses)
For anyone who is handicapping this: I count 26 (yes, twenty-six) candidates at present.
Seventeen Democrats. Five Republicans. One Green. Three independents. (The newest four are still subject to challenge, of course.)
Whew. Seventeen Democrats.
My Fearless Forecast: whoever comes out on top in that primary will go on to win. (Oh, and I also forecast that the sun will rise in the east tomorrow morning.)
I also forecast that the Dem primary winner will have a plurality of ten percent or less.
Think about that. Ten percent or less in a primary goes on to take a Congressional seat.
Heckuva way to run an electoral system.
I’m outta here.
Comment by Third Reading Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 11:35 am
The thing about the NRA questionairre is that if Sandy Hook didn’t make people take a new look at gun control, then nothing will.
Did she change her mind? Maybe. 27 dead will do that. I just don’t think that an evolving position in light of changing circumstances is a bad thing. It beats the heck out of stubbornly holding positions no matter what the data says.
Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 11:40 am
–Additionally, when asked by the NRA if Hutchinson would support “legislation making it a crime to fail to report the loss or theft of a firearm,” she replied: “No, I would oppose such legislation because it has no demonstrated affect on crime and creates an unwarranted legal presumption that gun owners should answer to the police for their own victimization or misfortune.” –
Oh, well done, senator. I hope the straw buyers who are peddling guns to the murderous drug lords in your district reward you for supporting their actions. They couldn’t do it without you.
And why would this be a priority for the NRA, anyway? Are they defending freedom to not report a theft?
No, they’re carrying water for illegal gun traffickers.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 12:10 pm
Word,
Its ALREADY illegal to buy and re-sell a weapon in a straw fashion. There was a big bust just a few weeks ago here in Chicago. Anyone saying they “lost” or the weapon was “stolen” can still be prosecuted. Just saying that is not a get out of jail free card.
Why dont you ask why we dont prosecute almost anyone that lies on the federal and state forms for buying firearms? Something like 1.5 million in the last 10 years and like a couple hundred were ever prosecuted…
Comment by USMCJanitor Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 12:18 pm
Janitor, I didn’t write the NRAs questionnaire. Ask them why it is their priority when weighing candidates.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 12:29 pm
The Daily Kos fundraiser for Robin is at $30k.
Comment by wndycty Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 12:50 pm
Sounds to me like Hutchinson and Halvorson know how to cater to their old district voters and Kelly does too. It will be interesting which of each candidate’s voters are in the new 2nd District and will show up to vote.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 12:57 pm
word, AA wouldn’t vote for anyone who cannot use affect and effect correctly.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 3:42 pm
So called assault rifles are used in 1% of gun crimes. The assault weapon ban is DOA in Congress. This is just a complete failure to prioritize on the part of Democrats. I don’t understand the waste of their political capital on a de minimis issue that will have no impact on gun crime even if it were passed.
Comment by wishbone Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 5:05 pm
Pretty telling…and yet, things change…(e.g. more repulsive massacres–Rep. Giffords, NIU, Aurora, Co., Newtown, Ct., etc.)…people change. Where’s the crime in that?! This is America. Things evolve…
Comment by Just The Way It Is One Tuesday, Feb 5, 13 @ 8:25 pm