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Gun Lobby Could Sink the Clinton Campaign
By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento
Ironic is the only term to use if Barack Obama squeaks out a win in Pennsylvania with the help of the “gun lobby”.
While both Obama and Clinton are firm advocates of state gun control laws, there are differences of nuance in their stands. Obama voted against the use of federal funds to collect firearms in the wake of the Katrina catastrophe. More importantly, while calling for gun regulation, Obama has also expressed his view that there is an “individual right to bear arms”.
The phrase, “individual right” puts Obama with the gunners in the case against the Washington, DC gun ban now pending before the US Supreme Court.. Most voters won’t pick up on this fact – but the gunners will.
As Obama creeps up on Clinton in the Pennsylvania polls, it must be tempting for the gun lobby. A late endorsement for Obama could not only help him win, it would also give them the credit for an Obama win and Clinton loss.
Such a victory would immeasurably increase the flagging prestige of the gunners in the National Capitol.
And it would presage a new era of influence as well. If the peckerwoods of central Pennsylvania can be persuaded to vote for a Black man by gunner endorsements, then the 11 states of the old Confederacy itself might be on the table. The “solid South”, solid for the G.O.P. for the last forty years – with an occasional exception for favorite son Democrats – might actually become competitive again.
Ironic indeed!
Bill Cavala was Deputy Director of the Assembly Speaker’s Office of Member Services where he worked for over 30 years.
He attended undergraduate and graduate school in the 1960’s and received a doctorate in political science at UC Berkeley. He taught political science at UC Berkeley during the 1970's while he worked part-time for the State Assembly.
Cavala left teaching at UC Berkeley and went to work for Assembly Speaker Willie Brown in 1981 until his tenure as Speaker ended in 1995, and he has worked for his five successors as Speaker up to and including Speaker Fabian Nunez.
Mr. Cavala manages election campaigns for Democratic candidates.
Comments
Comrade Cavala opines here:
"...then the 11 states of the old Confederacy itself might be on the table. The “solid South”, solid for the G.O.P. for the last forty years – with an occasional exception for favorite son Democrats".
Once again I must remind the "political science teacher" Comrade Cavala here that EVERY DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT SINCE TRUMAN, except JFK, was from the "solid GOP south"; Truman, Lyndon-Gulf of Tonkin-Johnson, Carter and Clinton.
An "occasional exception for favorite son democrats"? Over the past 60 years?
And just WHY do democrats nominate presidential candidates FROM THE FORMER CONFEDERACY Comrade Cavala?
Isn't today's presidential candidate Hillary Clinton from Arkansas too? The democratic trend continues...
Comrade Cavala, you are right, Hillary does fear the Gun Lobby...
She probably thought they were the "snipers" "shooting" at her in Bosnia!!! Recall she and Chelsea "ran for cover there in her 2008 memory of what actually happened there...which was nothing.
Comrade, she may need your help in her campaign. You can steer her towards victory in the "solid GOP south" as a candidate FROM the south!
Posted by: Jay Gould at April 2, 2008 09:19 AM
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