USA: "Editorial: NRA hires a partisan"

[cuchulainn]

from the Capital Times (Madison Wisc.)

http://www.madison.com/captimes/opinion/editorial/48147.php

Editorial: NRA hires a partisan

An editorial
May 3, 2003

Gun owners have every right to argue for their interpretation of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution. And their largest advocacy organization, the National Rifle Association, certainly takes full advantage of that right.

But, in replacing actor Charlton Heston as the group's president with Republican Party operative Kayne Robinson, the NRA is straining its claim to be a nonpartisan organization.

Robinson is a former Iowa Republican Party chairman who recently served as the NRA's first vice president. In that capacity, he caused a major stir during the 2000 presidential campaign by claiming that, if George W. Bush won, "we'll have a president where we work out of their office."

Robinson's claim was troubling not merely because it suggested that Bush planned to collude inappropriately with a special interest group, but also because it suggested that the NRA was no longer a legitimate advocate for its members. Rather, in Robinson's twisted political world, the NRA was little more than a subsidiary of a Republican campaign and, by extension, the Republican Party.

That may be what Robinson, a veteran Republican Party leader, wants. But it is not the result that NRA members should seek. If the NRA is just another cog in the Republican political machine, then the legitimate interests of gun owners will be sacrificed in the pursuit of political points.

The abortion debate has been increasingly complicated by the inaccurate assumption that all Democrats are pro-choice and that all Republicans are anti-choice. Unlike in Britain and Canada, where abortion is a matter of conscience, it has in America become a matter of perceived political necessity - as was evidenced when former Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, R-Brookfield, changed his position on the issue in an obvious move to position himself for a statewide race.

The debate over gun control, while increasingly partisan, has been different. Suburban Republicans have often sided with gun control advocates. Rural Democrats have often lined up with gun control foes. In Wisconsin, Democratic U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold and U.S. Rep. David Obey, D-Wausau, have long been defenders of 2nd Amendment rights, as have a number of Democratic legislators. On the national scene, groups such as Handgun Control USA have historically been led by Americans with Republican roots.

Putting a partisan Republican like Robinson at the head of the NRA will make it harder to maintain bipartisanship on both sides of the gun debate. And that's not just bad for the two sides of that debate; it's bad for the quality of the American discourse.

Published: 6:50 AM 5/03/03
Copyright 2002 The Capital Times

 

[Standing Wolf]

Putting a partisan Republican like Robinson at the head of the NRA will make it harder to maintain bipartisanship on both sides of the gun debate.

I'm sure the leftist extremists would much rather see Sarah Brady elected to the presidency of the N.R.A.: it'd be so bipartisan!

 

[Shooter 2.5]

I was wondering when the attacks would start.

It's nice to see such a poorly written article trying to tie the Republican Pary to our side. I'm glad they noticed. That will help the democratic party disappear.

The main opponent in the Minnesota CCW fight blamed the NRA, Concealed Carry Reform Now and the Republican Party.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Guess Tom Selleck or Ted Nugent didn't want the job. Maybe Moses is a tough act to follow. Guess it's politics as usual.

 

[answerguy]

To be perfectly honest...

...I'd have rather seen a less partisan individual named for the position.

 

[Monkeyleg]

This from a newspaper in Madison, WI, where an NRA-backed Demcrat senate candidate will soon be sworn into office. The NRA had a lot of influence in her victory over her Republican opponent.

What's more remarkable about this article is that it mentions US Senator Russ Feingold as a defender of the 2nd Amendment. Feingold has never met a gun-control law that he didn't like.

One should bear in mind, though, that this article is from the Berkeley of the midwest, so the author may actually believe what he/she is saying.

 

[atek3]

<rant>
NO ONE ELSE SEES THIS AS A "Really Bad Idea(tm)"?

I know so many Democrats who are pro-gun, own guns, and are firebrands on gun rights, but won't join the NRA. You know why? They have this idea that the NRA is a front group for republicans. And based upon the distribution of campaign finance contributions, you can understand why they they think this way.
Now putting a republican on one of the top posts, what were they thinking?
Call up tom selleck, or mel gibson, or kurt russel, or reba mckintire (spelling is wrong i know) put them as the new figurehead. Anyone but this kayne fellow.

atek3

 

[Rembrandt]

This article is so riddled with errors, it's hard to know where to start....(must have been written by a mental midget). First of all the NRA didn't "Hire" Kayne Robinson....he was elected by NRA members to the board of directors position years ago. He has been behind the scenes running and doing the Presidents job for the last 4 years while Chuck Heston has graciously lent his celebrity status as a figurehead. His current position as NRA President was determined by vote.

It is possible to wear multiple hats while holding different positions in different organizations. I saw Kayne once in a 1/2 hour TV interview concerning Republican candidates and elections....the reporter asked about his links to the NRA. He declined to answer any NRA questions, and replied he would be glad to return to answer questions concerning his NRA role for another TV show...clearly keeping the two positions he serves seperate....as it should be.

I have also seen him work with gun supporters on both sides of the political fence to defeat anti gun legislation. Like many people who are actively involved in their community, it is not uncommon to be part of half a dozen organizations. I serve on the boards of 5 different organizations, officer in three...you learn to wear the hat that is appropriate for the job you are doing.

Having done numerous newspaper interviews, I can tell you that I have never, never, never...had a reporter get every detail of the interview straight when it finally got printed. An article like this is best used to line bird cages with....

 

[Shooter 2.5]

Well, duh.

I only saw a few dems voting for the Minnesota CCW law and only a few Republicans voted against it.

If we lose the Republican Senate and House, we also lose the committees.

As long as the official stance of the dems is gun control, they shouldn't get a dime.

If anyone wants to know about the NRA, they should read one of the four magazines. They shouldn't get their facts from the lib media.

 

[F4GIB]

In Minnesota, every time a gun owners votes FOR a pro-gun Democrat Senator, he or she helps to keep the Democrat Metrocrats in control of the Senate and gun right in jeapordy.
If 2 of them would switch parties, we wouldn't have to worry about the Metrocrats bill (announced at press conference on Friday) to repeal the new right to carry law.

 

[Waitone]

I am always suspicious of advice to advocacy groups coming from organs which historically demonstrate a hope the advocacy group would simply go away.

Robinson is a former Iowa Republican Party chairman who recently served as the NRA's first vice president. In that capacity, he caused a major stir during the 2000 presidential campaign by claiming that, if George W. Bush won, "we'll have a president where we work out of their office."

I suggest Mr Robinson adopt the first rule of gun safety and modify it for use with the media. "All microphones are live". All stupid comments should remain private.

 

[DFBonnett]

answerguy wrote...

To be perfectly honest...
...I'd have rather seen a less partisan individual named for the position.


Certainly a valid opinion, but I would more agree with Barry Goldwater who stated that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. It's about time someone went toe to toe and bare knuckled with the anti-freedom crowd.