Quick, call a waaaahmbulance
Seems that Paul Helmke, Keith Olbermann, and Kevin Drum are all butthurt because the NRA (which actually has members, resources, and stuff) engaged in a bit of deception.
Now, what is funny is that I’ve seen no evidence that Mary was actually working for NRA. But we’ll see.
PGP is equally nonplussed about the whole thing.
The other amusing bit is that this shows a serious weakness in the anti-gun groups. They simply will take whoever will join (including bigots, UFO nuts, and those prone to violence). If you have a pulse and time, they’ll take you. However, a group that actually has operating capital and actual members has a pretty developed election process to weed out that sort of stuff.
I find it amusing.
People say to me Hey, Uncle, don’t you find these dirty tricks to be, well, dishonest? Sure. But then the anti-gunners have staked all their political capital on being dishonest (assault weapons, blood in the streets, and a whole host of other pants shitting hysteria they peddle). So, don’t really mind so much. They are my enemy. I want them destroyed. And any lawful means will do. And I like seeing their tactics of deception used against them. It’s some fantastic irony.
I’d love to know what sort of inside dirt Mary has on these groups.
July 31st, 2008 at 8:46 am
Good intelligence on the enemy is very important.
July 31st, 2008 at 8:49 am
i’d say they’ve reason to be offended; it’s dishonest, deceptive tactics — they’ve been lied to and had their expectations of privacy violated. i’d be pissed off, too.
but like you’re saying — there’s (as yet) no reason to conclude the NRA was really involved much; she seems to have been a freelancer, perhaps hoping she could compile a dossier on these guys she could then go cold-calling for bids on. plus, as PGP says, what’s she likely to have found out that anybody with a half a clue couldn’t have guessed anyway? they might be anti-gunners, but it’s not like they’re holding crack-fuelled orgies in their back rooms. i really don’t think she’s got that much “dirt”, other than having learned which of their members can’t stand / have crushes on which other ones — and honestly, that sort of details don’t much matter.
oh, and i don’t want these guys destroyed, myself. completely defeated politically and legislatively, with their agendas utterly discredited in the view of the general public, will quite suffice.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:29 am
Perhaps there was an under-the-table relationship going on, that allowed various elements of the NRA’s leadership to accept “anonymous tips” about what the related anti-gun groups were about to attempt.
If any advantage was to be had from a mole in the organization, it would be “advance info” on legislative attempts, lobbying attempts, and public-relations pushes.
Whatever was actually happening, it was underhanded and dishonest for the woman to pass herself off under another name. However, I wouldn’t charge guilt upon any other organization until I know the full extent of the involvement.
(I also wonder how many other public-advocacy groups have such problems…and how they would attempt to filter out moles…)
July 31st, 2008 at 9:37 am
Of course, if it was found that the NRA had a Brady Bunch “mole”, they would be hailing that person as a hero.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:46 am
they’ve been lied to
I actually disagree with this to a large extent. As I said in an email conversation about this topic yesterday:
“She just asked to be on mailing lists, and they would add her. If you look at the story, it’s got a section on this:
So it looks like their willingness to accept any warm body, especially one that fit a demographic they want to reach, paved the way for her to stroll in.”
July 31st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Here in Washington Cease Fire has been caught by gun club security with hidden camera’s in gun show parking lots trying to get somebody to illegally purchase a gun so they could show “film at eleven”…they wander around gun shows after joining and load weapons on tables or try to bring in loaded guns to be “found” later. They constantly try to illegaly purchase guns in shows so they can report it to ATF…Don’t cry to me about underhanded tactics!!
July 31st, 2008 at 6:10 pm
They think that all’s fair when trying to take a constitutional right away. Well, all’s fair in coming right back at ya, too.