If the NRA is so bad why did Kerry accept the endorsment of John Dingel

[dsc]

For the uninitiated Dingel is a Congressman from Michigan who is a board member of the NRA. He voted against Brady, against assult weapons ban, and against every gun control measure in Congress since he got to Congress. Why is it OK for Kerry to be endorsed by a NRA board member but not OK for Dean to get endorsed by NRA board members?

[kixot]

1. The NRA isn't "so bad".

But like all advocacy groups they can cross the line sometimes.

[mitchum]

2. I have no problem with either of these

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. If being a Washington insider is so bad why did Dean hire Roy Neel and

accept the endorsement of Al Gore?


The answer is that running for President is about building a broad coalition. When someone offers their support, you almost always say simply 'thank you'.

[JohnKleeb]

4. My problem with Dean and the NRA is this

I am very much a pro gun control dem. I dont use this not to support Dean, its a reason why I prefer others to him though. I welcome Dingell's endorsement of Kerry but strongly disagree with him on guns.

[bluestateguy]

5. it's a spurious connection

NRA is a single issue interest group that endorses candidates on the basis of that issue alone. John Dingell is a congressman who endorses on the basis of many issues, some of which are more important than others.

For the record, I do not like Kerry's gun control stance, but there are too many other issues in this campaign for me to withhold my support of him on just that issue.

[dsc]

7. Not when a goodly number of people

criticise the tactics of the NRA when the criticise Dean's endorsement by them.

[BeatleBoot]

6. John Dingell is a great man!!!

John Dingell has contributed more to this country than anyone.

He is a great man!

[ShaneGR]

8. I thought Dean was pro-gun

No?

[dsc]

9. No he isn't

He is in favor of everything Clinton passed and then some. But my point was that many were complaining about the NRA's tactics and Dingell evidently doesn't mind.

[oasis]

10. Kerry is a hunter. He said that you don't need to go hunting w/ an AK-47.

Because Kerry's not afraid to take on the NRA doesn't mean that he's anti-NRA.