Why Rudy Matters
People have asked me why I give a flying poop about Rudy Giuliani and his newfound love of gun rights that nobody is buying. And why I care that he spoke at the NRA event. It’s simple: It proves that he realizes he needs us gunnies if he wants to win.
The NRA represents a pretty substantial voting block. And it has political clout. And, as pointed out before, no candidates are begging the Brady Bunch/VPC for support? Rudy, McCain and Romney (neither of which have stellar gun records – and that’s an understatement) are sucking up to gun owners. They have to. They need the votes. The question is whether we’ll buy what they’re selling. So far, I’m guessing not.
President Bush’s ability to motivate Republicans was the most significant force among five conservative-leaning people or groups tested for their influence among GOP voters in a new poll. The survey showed that 55 percent of Republicans would be “more likely” to back a candidate if he had the endorsement of the president. Only 12 percent said “less likely,” but 31 percent did say that the preference of the incumbent president would have “no affect”
The data showing the impact of endorsements or opposition was provided to Politico.com by Fabrizio & McLaughlin, the GOP firm that conducted the poll. They surveyed 1,000 Republican voters between September 21-23.
Of the other entities tested — the NRA, Chamber of Commerce, James Dobson and Pat Robertson — the gun-rights organization rated the next most powerful among Republican voters. Forty-four percent of those polled said they would be more inclined to back a candidate who had the support of the NRA. Fifteen percent would be less so and 38 percent indicated it would have no impact. Notably for Rudy Giuliani, 40 percent of those surveyed said they would be “less likely” to vote for a candidate who was opposed by the NRA.
I’m rather amazed that Bush placed so high since he’s pretty much destroyed all of his conservative street cred. So, there’s why they’re sucking up and pontificating and suddenly all about gun rights.
Because gun owners vote. And NRA members vote.
And James Dobson? For real?
September 27th, 2007 at 8:41 am
They may be sucking up but they aren’t sucking up enough to suit me or sway me. I’ve been sucked by both Bushes, Clinton, lots of governors, senators, and various satraps, pottentates and police. It’s going to take some SERIOUS sucking this time around.
And I want to see some pole dancing first. The older I get the more sucking it seems to take.
September 27th, 2007 at 9:10 am
A LOT of people really admire and respect James Dobson.
September 27th, 2007 at 9:10 am
[…] I largely agree here. The antis love to engage in self-delusions about actually being the majority, about the NRA being the minority viewpoint, and about being able to overcome our might if they just rustle up the troops, gussy up some Internet support and motivate the netroots. […]
September 27th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Yea even though I don’t agree with his more extreme ideas, he has a lot of follows. and he basically owns Christian radio across the country. He’ll end up endorsing Ron Paul.
September 27th, 2007 at 10:21 am
Another reason to pay attention to Giuliani is that he’s the smart bet to be the GOP candidate. I like Fred Thompson, but it remains to be seen if he can put together a campaign machine that can win the nomination, much less the election against Hillary (who I have no doubt will be the Dem nominee).
September 27th, 2007 at 10:25 am
Good observation.
I hope that Rudy sees the light, but, if he does, he will be walking the same path as John Kerry.
I actually admire the guy greatly for successfully taking on the mob as the US Attorney for the Southern District of NY and for acting like a leader on 9-11.
Unfortunately, Rudy’s historical postitions on the 2A are identical to Hillary’s.
They have a history of opposing the 2A, and now they will say anything it takes to get elected, pretty much about anything.
When Harry Reid refuses to talk about guns, high cap mags, etc. on the evening of the Va Tech massacre, you can tell that the 2A is radioactive with the majority of Democrats who have historically opposed it.
September 27th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
James Dobson needs to Focus On The Family and leave politics to politicians.
September 27th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
I’ll be voting for someone who has RECORD of supporting the RKBA because they uphold their oath to the Constitution and Bill of Rights. I will NOT vote for anyone who doesn’t have that record and are just campaign conversions.
I will not “waste my vote” on the likes of Guiliani or Clinton to support the supposed “lesser of two evils”, either of whom after taking office may, on a reactionary political whim, send hired guns after my guns!
September 27th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
The problem with politicians who need to sell themselves to gun owners need to do so because they historically and factually aren’t on our side.
How long would it be under a Rudy Presidency before some national event “Virginia Tech Anyone” would prompt him to say something like “I still support the Second Amendment but the Constitution is not a suicide pact and in light of current events we need to place safety above hobbies like hunting and collecting guns…yada yada yada…”
We CANNOT trust Rudy, nor Romney, nor McCain no matter how many promises they make or how sincerely they swear fealty to the NRA.
Even if we COULD trust them never to stab us in the backs…why would I possibly want to vote for someone who has so little regard for their own personal convictions on ANY major issue that they would abandon those convictions at the drop of a hat to sway voters. This is the kind of person I want running the country? Why exactly? Where I come from, such cowardice is frowned upon pretty severely.
—unrelated—
As a fervent and active Christian, James Dobson does not represent Christianity as it is defined by the bible I read every day. He seems to me to be a statist first and a Christian second. He doesn’t have faith that God can prevail and win the hearts of mankind so he wants the government to take over that role. I don’t believe that Dobson is evil or wants to institute a theocracy or anything sinister like that…I just think that he is very misguided and I pray that he will someday open his eyes to the true role of Christians in society…not to convert people at the point of a government gun, but to influence and impact people through the example of Jesus Christ shining through our lives.
Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I’ll get out from behind the pulpit. We now return you to your regularly scheduled rant.
September 28th, 2007 at 9:28 am
[…] posts about the NRA being powerful in the Republican coalition, and we are. But he seems surprised Bush scored so highly, along with […]