From Politico.com :
1/15/13 7:12 PM EST
Wayne LaPierre can’t say we didn’t warn him.
Several weeks ago, I spoke on “Morning Joe” about how the tragedy at Newtown changed everything. On the set that morning and on many occasions since Dec. 14, we have warned that the extreme faction of the NRA will either face political reality or face political disaster.
As a longtime supporter of the Second Amendment, I had hoped their executives and lobbyists would not take an absolutist position on the issue since that would ultimately set back the cause of gun rights. Unfortunately, Mr. LaPierre chose to respond as if it were 1994.
As we predicted, his extreme position has now cost NRA leaders political support. A new ABC News/Washington Post shows that for the first time in years, a majority of Americans now support a ban on certain types of assault weapons. An overwhelming majority back universal background checks, a national database to track gun sales, and the banning of high-capacity magazines.
More to the point of our earlier warning, the NRA’s own approval rating has plummeted since LaPierre’s tone-deaf news conference. It is hard to imagine how the NRA’s worst enemy could have done more damage to the organization than the out-of-touch leader is doing himself.
The NRA needs to self-correct before they do more damage to their cause.
The NRA will argue that is now has 200,000 more new members and gun sales are up hugely. However, the damage they are doing to set back their own cause is extreme. They have damaged their own brand to the point of no return from the stand-point of having a positive image with middle America.
You don’t mark the month anniversary of one of the worst massacres in the history of the United States with a phone app where children can do target practice. You don’t mark that same anniversary with an ad saying the President’s children are getting protection yours aren’t. The NRA is losing its grip and Morning Joe called them out. The very idea of involving the President’s children is just unconscionable.
let me preface my visceral reaction with a disclaimer that I have been on massive amounts of IV steroids.
The level to which the NRA is sinking into madness is almost unfathomable. Get a grip NRA, take your Haldol and have relevant conversation.
Poor little Noah Pozner, the youngest victim of Sandy Hook, with half his lower face blown away deserved a rational conversation DAMNIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We continued to do nothing. Remember all the promises that were made after VA Tech? Nothing was done to improve how mental health situations are handled. It was just all bs and blather. We have congress women shot, theaters of people, mall shoppers, and finally a bunch of first graders. I mean what is it going to take?
Obviously something is wrong with a society where 30,000 people are killed by guns annually. There need to be changes. I was even willing to look at the problem holistically and discuss mental health and video games and spatter films.
This is not just a matter of arming the “good guys.” We don’t know who the good guys are. Everyone is going to claim to be a good guy.
Something that I haven’t seen or heard publicly discussed much is just when this militia is supposed to come into play. The second amendment enthusiasts keep referencing this “militia” but just what is it? Who makes it legitimate? Who decides when it will form and who will comprise this body? There are a whole lot of loud supporters but few details. I’d like some answers from those supporters.
If those supporters haven’t thought about the details, they sound like a bunch of dumb a$$e$ who loudly mouth what they’ve been told to hype in some email or soundbite. After all, they want to be able to carry “effective” weapons to support this militia. Just what the hell is it? Is it Joe Six-Pack and his drinking buddies, Connie Conspiracy-theorist and her knitting klatch, Bobbie the Bigot, Big-government-is-out-to-get-you Barbara? Who are these peeps?
I’m beginning to wonder if the NRA leaders are fit to own guns.
However, the damage they are doing to set back their own cause is extreme. They have damaged their own brand to the point of no return from the stand-point of having a positive image with middle America.
The NRA is STILL more popular than Congress. AND the President has, basically, endorsed the NRA’s idea about more guards in schools. Where were they wrong?
“..still more popular than congress”. Thanks Cargo! I really got a kick out of that.
“I’m beginning to wonder if the NRA leaders are fit to own guns.”
I really am glad that the right is protected by the 2nd, if there are people actually in power that would think like this…oh. Wait. There are.
The NRA leadership surely hasn’t put their best foot forward as far as a majority of Americans are concerned. Yes, they have their base. However, there were a lot of people, mainly gun owners, who were fairly neutral about the organization that now have blood in their eye when they hear NRA. The NRA really doesn’t want to be marginalized like they are going to be. Again, its going to be a matter of arithmetic.
Morning Joe is beginning his move on Hollywood and video game makers. Keep up the good work, Joe. He has Quentin Tarantino in mind.
@Lyssa
Hollywood?
You mean, the celebrities that put out a youtube “demand a plan” video, that also make their money by glorifying violence? Tarantino is just one director. Lets see Joe go after the TV shows too.
I guess the ratings agencies are back.
And the NRA was successful in pointing out the hypocrisy in that many calling for bans and restrictions use armed guards to protect THEIR loved ones. David Gregory comes to mind. I wish that I could afford guards. I don’t think that I need them…just that I wish that I could afford them.
Why is it hypocritical to call for bans and restrictions if you can afford armed guards? Some people care what happens to others.
As for TV shows…most TV shows, unlike movies, don’t show violence happening. Usually the after effects are shown on showsd like Criminal Minds, CSI, Law and Order, and other crime shows. There is also a time contraint….10 oclock slots are more violent than 8 pm. TV isn’t perfect but its a far cry from Tarantino and video games where someone 10 can kill 10,000 humans in a couple hours.
@Cargosquid
I think he’s just getting started. Are you really so difficult to please or do you just find great pleasure finding fault everywhere you look?!
@Moon-howler
Because those that can afford armed guards are advocating that those too poor to afford such luxuries be denied those tools. If they are against guns…then they should also disarm their guards.
If you have cable…I just watched a TV show with gun battles. Quite exciting. On SyFy.
The point is that the same people decrying guns in the hands of lawful people make their living showing gun violence. The same people advocating that guns be outlawed have the money to afford their own guards.
@Lyssa
Difficult to please?
I’m not difficult to please. Just don’t pass any laws that infringe upon rights that are protected under the Constitution.
RE Cargosquid’s 1045 comment: I’ve never heard anyone in the Administration argue against guards in schools. The president’s proposals seem to encourage it. This isn’t a class warfare issue of the wealthy trying to keep the children of the poor from being protected. Where does that come from, CS?
@Cargosquid
I agree with Scout. No one has disagreed with armed guards in schools, especially the President.
To bring the President’s children in to the mix was trashy of the NRA and for them to defend their actions rather than apologize remains trashy.
It isn’t a rich/poor issue. Newtown wasn’t a rich/poor issue. It was a ‘should have never happened’ issue.
@Scout
It comes from the efforts of rich media people/celebrities/politicians that can afford guards, security, etc, telling “regular” people that they don’t need the guns. Too many of the hypocrites make their money by portraying violent characters and have security, but the fears of the average “joe” are discounted.
It’s not only the President that has children there. David Gregory, the gun criminal, has children there.
Its funny. LaPierre advocates guards in schools and gets lambasted in the press. Obama says the same thing and its “wisdom.”
I think you are beating a dead horse, Cargo. The rest of us don’t read right wing rags and really haven’t seen any of that.
There really isn’t covering up for the NRA really being out of line making comments about the President’s children.
Most of us aren’t rich media people or celebrities so the NRA just sounds stupid and mean.
@Moon-howler
I think that if the NRA’s ad had concentrated on the celebrities, etc…it would have worked better.
But do you see the hypocrisy in the rest of the stance?
By the way…the celebrity advocates aren’t on the “Right wing rags.” They are on youtube. And I was actually pointed to them by a leftist gun owner.
I guess I don’t see what celebrities really have to do with any of it. Who really cares what they think or say?
I don’t think most Americans do.
President’s kids are another matter. I think all of us feel protective of those girls, like we did the Bush girls.
When is that first grandchild due?