Yeah, I don't see how calling non-NRA gun owners the enemy is doing much to help convince those gun owners to join the NRA.
It's probably an overly rough-shod way of making the point, but there's a kind of "down-home, rough-hewn, dirt-farmin', back-woods, plain-speakin', good-ol-boy" truth to it that I think he and Chris Cox are trying to capitalize on. Sort of a less "highfalutin" way of saying, "With friends like (those who don't join and/or do something to support the cause), who needs enemies?"
It certainly doesn't appeal much to those (relatively few) of us who have philosophical issues (or very pragmatic ones!) with the NRA's tactics or focus and who choose to support other organizations and fight the fight in other ways. But that isn't who an interview like this is designed to appeal to.
Ted Nugent the gonzo rock-n-roller isn't going to appeal to the old folks who can still remember when his music was "socially disruptive" and controversial. "Uncle" Ted isn't going to appeal to the younger set who never even heard of him except for once flipping past the oldies station. But he does tap into that "little-bit-country-and-a-little-bit-rock-n-roll," heading over the hill set who remember when he was cool, and are "sick and tired of the Politically Correct girly men who run this country these days" and want a REAL man's man in a buckskin jacket, a cowboy hat, and carrying an electric guitar, driving a pickup truck, and insulting the French to represent them.
Truth is, we do need that. Just like we need Marion Hammer and Suzanna Hupp (etc.) showing society that smart, powerful women also care about this issue. And Alan Gura, Gary Kleck and similar luminaries showing that academics and professionals can support RKBA and work effectively for positive changes. We need Kenn Blanchard. We need Nicki Stallard. We need MORE and more diverse public figures opening the eyes of folks who identify with them that RKBA is not just a plank in their political opponents' platforms, but should be of great interest to them as well.
Perhaps I can't identify (or don't want to be identified!) with everything "Uncle" Ted says or does. I can more-or-less say the same thing about Nicki Stallard, too. But I'm MIGHTY glad they're on our side bringing the folks they speak to and for out to the voting booths!
