I can tell you, Drew Cline, why Republicans are unloaded and silent about guns and speech - Granite Grok

I can tell you, Drew Cline, why Republicans are unloaded and silent about guns and speech

of the Constitution?From the Op-Ed that Drew Cline wrote over at the UL about the Republican reluctance to go after Dems lack of support on the Constutition:

…It is a little surprising that Democrats have dropped the issue, given that they are using so many other distractions to avoid talking about President Obama, and that certain gun control questions poll well when phrased the right way. What is more surprising is that Republicans have dropped it. With every major race expected to be close, it could help.

It could – but considering how much ill will Scott Brown has engendered amongst the Second Amendment groups and activists, it would not surprise me that Papa Smurf put out the word “icksnay on the unsgay”.  Folks know of his voting record in MA and his post 9/11 statements concerning bans – his protestations to the opposite, the Trust factor is just not there.  And on the First Amendment part you asked about:

Republicans have been handed an opportunity to show Democratic candidates as actively hostile to some of our most cherished and important constitutional rights, and they are not taking it. Jeanne Shaheen co-sponsored Sen. Mark Udall’s constitutional amendment to rewrite the First Amendment and allow government — including states — to suppress speech. Kuster and Shea-Porter both support it. These incumbents also want to pass laws that, at the very least, further restrict Second Amendment rights. Together, those encroachments upon the Bill of Rights would make a powerful Republican campaign ad.

Yeah – Drew, check out SB120 again – a NH State Senator Republican sponsored and passed bill that mimicked Kathy Sullivan’s Mini-DISCLOSE act – ring any bells?  Should be as we’ve been all over this.  So keeping that in the forefront of the Fed races ALSO puts the spotlight on the Rogue Republicans (Bradley, Morse, Odell, Stiles, and the rest of the cast of usual suspects).  So in general terms, you SHOULD be absolutely Right.  Problem is, the Rs haven’t been on the Right (and not Right-lite either).

There it is, sir, and happy to answer the question (just like the questions that never seem to have answers on a Friday afternoon from your media competition).

Another take on this: the word, this cycle, that cannot be applied to the Rs (Establishment variant) is “fearless”.  In fact, take off the “less” (which they’ve been) and the adjective is pretty much spot on.  No waves, no controversy, and let the sleeping dogs lie.  Tell me, Drew, that help?

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