Fond memories of 2012
Many tales of CPAC 2013 tell of the consequences of its finely distilled fanaticism. Potential speakers like governors Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell got
snubbed in favor of Donald Trump and Sarah Palin. Seriously,
Governor Ultrasound's not conservative enough but they let Mitt Romney in. You're kidding me, right?
But Wayne LaPierre and the NRA, on the other hand...they fit right in. Wayne's still peddling conspiracy theories about federal gun registries and confiscation, while his partner David Keene gets on the record defending heartless comments about the "Connecticut effect". In fact, the NRA is on the CPAC schedule for tomorrow, giving away more free memberships to pad their numbers.
Of course, I would guess that most CPAC attendees have already paid their dues, so it could be just a token gesture. But this sort of behavior is to be expected from the NRA, which takes its members' money, sure, but rakes in plenty more from gun manufacturers. They fit right in on the fringe of the far right wing -- they have to ignore their membership at times to do it, but so far that hasn't been a problem. If anything, this left me wondering where even more extreme gun advocates are, if not at CPAC. I did come up with one answer that I wish was surprising, but really it's not.
Right Wing Watch provided a video snippet of Wayne LaPierre's speech today at CPAC, with sort of an ironic intro.
The NRA's Wayne LaPierre spoke at CPAC today, where he was introduced by a video full of clips of people in the media calling him a radical lunatic before launching into a speech where he repeatedly called everyone else crazy for thinking that his positions and views are crazy.
That's what they're after. The names of good, decent people all over this great country who happen to own a firearm. To go into a federal database for universal registration of every lawful gun owner in America. That's their answer to criminal violence? Criminalize 100 million law abiding gun owners in a private transfer? Build a list of all the good people? As if that would somehow make us safer from violent criminals and homicidal maniacs? That's their answer? Are they insane? What's the point of registering lawful gun owners anyway? So newspapers can print those names and addresses for gangs and criminals to access? I mean, you know that's happened before! So that a list can be hacked by foreign entities like the Chinese, who recently hacked Pentagon computers? So a list can be handed over to the Mexican government? That -- oh, by the way, they've already requested that list from our government? In the end, there are only two reasons for government to create that federal registry of gun owners -- to tax them, or to take them.
I thought it worth the time to transcribe Wayne's stump speechful of lies. Wish I'd found the
Mother Jones transcript first! They are likewise incredulous about whatever Chinese hackers could do with the locations of registered guns, anyway. But the essential problem with his rant is
one I've covered before; federal law that his organization helped to push through forbids the creation of such a federal registry.
The Firearms Protection Act of 1986 forbids it. When Senators in the Judiciary committee were trying to negotiate about record-keeping for background checks, they sought out alternatives to federal agencies because of this.
Obviously, little stumbling blocks like the truth don't get in the way of the likes of Wayne LaPierre, especially not at a forum like CPAC. Nor is there any pause for concern as he lashes out at "homicidal maniacs" again, part of the NRA's campaign to demonize the mentally ill. No, at CPAC the NRA is in good company, and their lies go unchallenged, and are instead lapped up with cheers and applause.
I also mentioned David Keene, the president of the NRA. He's at CPAC, too. In this case, I think the video really is worth watching if possible; it captures David's crew of assistants trying valiantly, but failing to protect him from saying something stupid on camera. In the clip below, the NRA president is on record defending comments about the "Connecticut effect," in that the NRA will go right on working to weaken gun laws as soon as that irksome sense of grief over the tragedy would just wear off already. His crew has him almost completely surrounded, one of them repeatedly tries to shut down ThinkProgress. They even try holding up papers to block David's face, or perhaps as a blinder, so he'll just shut up and keep walking. I expect "KEYES" is the ThinkProgress writer, Scott Keyes.
KEYES: I know Sen. Blumenthal and some others had called on the NRA to apologize for the “Connecticut effect” comment made by the Wisconsin lobbyist.
KEENE: You only apologize for the things that you did.
KEYES: Do you think that he ought to apologize?
KEENE: No.
KEYES: No? Do you think it’s insensitive to the families of Newtown?
KEENE: I think uh…
KEYES: Do you think that it’s insensitive, sir? This isn’t a trick question, I’m honestly asking you.
And if you dare to visit the
CPAC 2013 website, as I have, you can find this on the schedule for tomorrow at 1 PM.
Tools for effective activism!
1:00 NRA University: Learn more about NRA, Second Amendment, gun control debate. Chesapeake D-F
NRA-ILA staff will provide tools for effective activism.
Colton Kerrigan, Grassroots Coordinator, NRA Institute for Legislative Action
Miranda Bond, Grassroots Coordinator, NRA Institute for Legislative Action
Sponsored by NRA. Participants will receive a FREE one-year NRA Membership.
* Open to all registered CPAC 2013 attendees.
Wouldn't be the first time they
gave it away, as I've noted before. More discounts and freebies than you can shake a rifle at. And why not? They've got millions in kickbacks from the gun industry, might as well do something with it. Plus,
tools for effective activism. What are the chances it's free guns? At one time, guns were the go-to accessory for conservatives at political rallies and protests...
So, for the punchline I have the GOA, the Gun Owners of America, which considers the NRA too compromising and a sellout on gun rights, I kid you not. Often their spokesmen end up ranting on places like World Net Daily, and Right Wing Watch cites a recent appearance from GOA on the VCY America (Voice of Christian Youth) radio network. In this case, they did so because of the slippery slope argument of background checks, leading to confiscation and genocide. Here is the GOA’s legislative counsel, Michael Hammond.
GOA, for when the NRA's not fanatical enough
And let me say that 40 years before in the Warsaw ghetto uprising, the Nazis, who the first thing they did when they came into power was ban firearms, they exterminated the Jews in Warsaw and they did so because the government was the only one who was armed. And, if you watch documentaries of that period, the people facing mass slaughter and saying, ‘We just, what do we do? We have no firearms.” And so ultimately, registration, confiscation, tyrannization has the real danger of leading to extermination.
I realize that this rhetoric is no different from that of the NRA, I've done the research and
written about that, too. Honestly the whole GOA-NRA relationship woes seem a bit farcical to me. The antagonism looks fake. But I suppose some gun enthusiasts need an outlet, for when the NRA's just not fanatical enough. And so, they have the GOA.
The GOA, which has managed to insinuate itself lately on far more mainstream outlets than World Nut Daily or some xian radio network...
Gun Owners of America has been enjoying its moment in the media spotlight recently, placing spokespeople on Fox News, CNN and MSNBC, drawing attention for its Capitol Hill lobbying efforts, and even being cited in official Senate Republican talking points about a filibustered judicial nominee.
It’s important to keep noting, then, that Gun Owners for America is an unhinged, conspiracy-theory promoting, extremist fringe group.
Right Wing Watch packed 11 links into that little bit of text, mind you. Might look like just a few at first glance. And while I may not consider Fox to be very mainstream in its politics, it is ubiquitous. And MSNBC? For shame, Andrea Mitchell. Well, maybe I shouldn't be so harsh. It's surprising what little tidbits you can catch amidst the lies and propaganda and question-dodging. Watch Erich Pratt of the GOA throw Ronald Reagan, patron saint of conservatism, under the bus.
MITCHELL: What's the problem with registering a gun? If you have a Bushmaster, what is the problem -- I mean, first of all, why would you have a Bushmaster, what is the use...
PRATT: President Reagan owned an AR-15. Senator Jay Rockefeller...
MITCHELL: And he also -- and he supported gun control, and he advocated for it.
PRATT: In his later years, I think we have to keep that in account. Senator...
MITCHELL: In his later years, he was almost killed by John Hinckley.
PRATT: All through his presidency, he opposed gun control, that's my point.
"In his later years". Sure, Erich, no one's going to catch that. Judging from the look she gave him, I daresay Andrea Mitchell got the point.
Reagan's diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in 1994 just happens to be right around the time that gun control policies Reagan supported were passed. Never mind that, screw Ronald Reagan; the GOA will call him senile and dismiss him,
tout suite, because
gunz.
Anyway, I'm just puzzled why the GOA wouldn't have a seat at the table at CPAC. Maybe they do and I couldn't find it, or perhaps the GOA's executive director Larry Pratt (related to Erich, perhaps?) and Wayne LaPierre arm wrestled for the privilege. I suppose they could always have a duel with pistols for supremacy over the right wing fringe of gun enthusiasts. C'mon, Wayne, make some room for those Pratts.
6:32 PM PT: Thanks for the spotlight! While you're here, you may want to check out comments below by Glen the Plumber and denton310, who explain (with links) how the NRA and CPAC have a close relationship through the NRA's current president, David Keene. Tip of the hat dudes, in my research I did not find that.