GOA and NRA At Odds In PA Senate Primary Race

[Bartholomew Roberts]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/opinion/s_189577.html

NRA supports Sen. Specter (the incumbent), GOA supports Toomey (challenging Specter in the Republican primary for being a RINO).

GOA blames Specter for taking a pass on a vote during a 1989 attempt at a semi-auto ban, allowing Deconcini's bill to leave committee.

GOA also blames Specter for voting for the final version of H.R. 3355 (Omnibus Crime Bill) containing the semi-auto ban, which Specter did vote for along with a bunch of other Senators. He did however vote against the Feinstein amendment, which passed anyway.

In the latest S.1805 vote, Specter voted the strict pro-gun line.

So, what to do? Specter has stood a lot firmer on gun rights than 80% of the politicians out there have and better than 90% of the Senators. Should he be punished for the two incidents mentioned by GOA above? Is Toomey reliably better on the issue?

 

[Langenator]

Toomey's record in the House earned him an A- grade from GOA.

Specter's record in the Senate earned him a C-

For the record, PA's other Senator, Rick Santorum, earns a C.

Toomey is being heavily promoted by NRO, and has the backing of a lot of conservative organizations.

Specter has the backing of the RNC because he's the incumbent-which is probably why the NRA is backing him as well. Incumbency is a measurable advantage is most Senate races. Basically, the RNC and NRA are saying they value a GOP majority more than RKBA purity.

 

[LAR-15]

Who are these two going to face from the Dem side??

Any PA guys?

I can't blame either organization for who they endorsed.

The NRA generally endorses incumbents.

 

[LAR-15]

Specter ain't a conservative for the record.

 

[Diggler]

I don't like pork barrel politicians, even when they bring it back to my state.

What's right is right, and taking from other states to give to us isn't any more right than when they do it to us.

I think I'm voting Toomey in the primary, then for whoever wins in the general election.

 

[SodaPop]

Who are these two going to face from the Dem side??

Joseph Hoefel

 

[SodiumBenzoate]

Hoefel's probably the most anti-RKBA Pennsylvania representative.

I guess that's why he reps Philly, or at least part of Philly.

Not that Greenwood (Republican, 8th district - Bucks + Montgomery, I think) is a whole lot better on RKBA...

 

[Standing Wolf]

The N.R.A. is too quick to compromise.

 

[AZRickD]

Supporting a pro-RKBA candidate in a *GOP* primary against a RINO is probably the most cost-effective way to send a message, both to the RINO, and the GOP as a whole.

Win or lose, this will ripple.

We gunnies have to get much more aggressive if we are to regain our rights.

Santorum a "C"? Dang it.

Rick

 

[AnklePocket]

I saw the Spector/Toomey debate and was more impressed by Toomey than I ever was by any politician. He stayed the "conservative" course regardless of political correctness and it was a sight to see. He was very calm, cool and sensible and stayed on principle like I've never before seen. Makes me want to move to PA ASAP. Looking at a few homes tomorrow, by the way.

 

[TimRB]

I dream of the day I get to vote for a C- candidate.

Tim

 

[SodaPop]

Santorum a "C"? Dang it.

I have never heard of Santorum, supporting any anti-gun legislation.

 

[LAR-15]

Didn't Hoeffel author a ban on black powder pistols?

 

[alan]

In my view, re firearms, Arlen Spoecter is a whole lot less than trustworthy.

Another point of interest, Re Specter v. Toomey is the following. Specter's campaign has been running anti Toomey spots concentrating of what is alleged to be Rep. Toomey's LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS TO CONSTITUENTS, or people who are ALLEGED to be constituents.

Based on my experience in recent years, having phoned, and e-mailed Specters Pittsburgh and D. C. offices on many matters, firearms included, it is hard to visualize anyone being LESS RESPONSIVE than Senator Specter.

Also, regarding the passage of HR 3355 during the 103rd Congress, what came to be known as H.R. 3355 was simp;ly S. 1607, substituted for the original wording. S. 1607 contained The Feinstein Amendment, which Specter supposedly opp[osed, however he voted for passage of the substitute, when as a member of The Senate, he could have done other interesting things.

Re his allegedly having opposed Feinstein Ammendment, which came to be the Assault Weapons Ban, back when his D.C. office used to send our form letters, I had several over a period of time, all of which contained comment about how he SUPPORTED the wonderful legislation that was the Assault Weapons Ban. Possibly we here saw and example of the right hand not knowing what the left hand was doing, though it could have been something else entirely. Unfortunately, I no longer have any of the above mentioned form letters. One has only so much room for "rat packing".

As to Specter being a more reliable supported of gun rights than many other senators, one has to wonder which side of their several faces these people talk out of, at any given time. It was earlier noted, I thought, that gunnies need to tak a hard position, or words to that effect, which just might turn out to be all to true.

 

[ninenot]

I, too, dream of having ONE Senator who is a C- on RKBA--but nonetheless,

Spector is the moron who invoked Scottish Law to exonerate X42 in the impeachment trial.

Spector is a Big Gummint, Big-Spending, RINO

Spector is conservative ONLY near elections, and then ONLY on selected issues.

In short, Spector is an un-principled, self-aggrandizing, pension-seeking, ex-District Attorney who made it--but whose time is past.

Vote Toomey. Principles for a Change.

 

[rich2u]

Yeah Spectre is one of the dems best friends in the senate, personally I'm getting mighty sick of Luger as well.