Isikoff: Obama tells Clinton and Holder to shut up about the AWB

[MikeWaters]

http://www.newsweek.com/id/191414

"These military-style weapons don't belong on anybody's street," Clinton told NBC. Within hours, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters that he was unaware of "any plans" to push for such a ban—even though Obama had backed one during last year's campaign.

Attorney General Eric Holder had a similar experience a few weeks earlier. After he endorsed a ban at a Feb. 25 press conference, Justice officials were instructed by White House aides to drop the issue, according to administration and congressional aides who asked not to be named due to political sensitivities. What's behind the shift? A budding relationship between the gun lobby and Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill. After Holder mentioned the ban, the National Rifle Association sent out action alerts to its members and bombarded Hill offices with calls. Sixty-five House Dems dashed off a letter to Holder opposing such a ban, while Speaker Nancy Pelosi—echoing the NRA's mantra on all gun-control issues—said she backed "enforcing the laws we have now."

NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre told NEWSWEEK that Hill Democrats have "learned their lesson" from 1994, when they enacted the ban and subsequently lost control of Congress. They've also learned that cozying up to the NRA can pay big dividends. Last year Democrats received 20 percent of the nearly $1.2 million that the NRA pumped into congressional campaign coffers—more than twice what it gave to Dems just six years earlier. The way things are going, this could be more than a shotgun wedding.

[il Padrino Ute]

Nothing more than political expediency.

When Obama actually proves he's pro-2nd Amendment, it would be a first.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

Nothing more than political expediency.

When Obama actually proves he's pro-2nd Amendment, it would be a first.

If we can make it politically expedient to back off of gun control, then so be it.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by Archaea

If we can make it politically expedient to back off of gun control, then so be it.

A fair point; however, we need treat Obama similar to the way the Reagan administration treated the Soviets, but with a necessary small change: Don't trust until verified.

If we drop our guard, Obama will go for the knockout.

[MikeWaters]

The place to put pressure is on Congress.

Obama doesn't care about political pressure from the NRA. He only cares to the extent he could lose his congressional power base. And Congress cares because they could lose their jobs, over an issue that many of them are not passionate about.

If you are going to fight over something and lose your career over it, better be something that is worthwhile (i.e. enriches yourself / family / friends / cronies).