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« NBC Nightly on AR-15s | Main | Baltimore proposes public registry for gun offenders »

Presidential debates

Posted by David Hardy · 24 July 2007 09:36 AM

I rather liked what I watched of the ones last night, if only because it made the candidates' pandering to people so obvious. I mean -- the lesbian couple who asked, if you were president, would you let us get married, and every candidate saying yes. How about "No, because the president of the US doesn't issue marriage licenses. And marriage is not a federal issue, talk to your state legislature. And if you want a constitutional amendment, or to be protected against one, the president doesn't even have a veto power over those. So I can't do a blamed thing in the area, talk to someone else."

Joe Biden, as would be expected, came down hard on a guy who asked about gun control (and referred to his rifle as his baby):

QUESTION: Good evening, America. My name is Jered Townsend from Clio, Michigan.

To all the candidates, tell me your position on gun control, as myself and other Americans really want to know if our babies are safe.

(MM : Mr. Townsend shows the audience a black rifle - looks to be an AR but not totally sure. Some on AR15.com think it was an AK)

This is my baby, purchased under the 1994 gun ban. Please tell me your views.

Thank you.

COOPER: Governor Richardson, you have one of the highest NRA ratings.

RICHARDSON: The issue here, I believe, is instant background checks.

RICHARDSON: Nobody who has a criminal background or is mentally ill should be able to get a weapon. That is the key, and that includes gun sales. That includes gun sales at gun shows.

The key is going to be also attacking poverty, bringing people together, dealing with those kids in the ghettos that are heavy users of gun violence and they are victims of gun violence, to make sure that this country attacks the core problems of poverty, having child care, bringing parents together.

COOPER: Senator Biden, are you going to be able to keep his baby safe?

BIDEN: I'll tell you what, if that is his baby, he needs help.

(APPLAUSE)

I think he just made an admission against self-interest. I don't know that he is mentally qualified to own that gun. I'm being serious. Look, just like me, we go around talking about people who own guns. I am the guy who originally wrote the assault weapons ban, that became law, and then we got defeated and then Dianne Feinstein went to town on it and did a great job.

BIDEN: Look, we should be working with law enforcement, right now, to make sure that we protect people against people who don't -- are not capable of knowing what to do with a gun because they're either mentally imbalanced and/or because they have a criminal record, and...

COOPER: Time.

BIDEN: Anyway...

(APPLAUSE)

COOPER: We got one more question. Before...

BIDEN: ... I hope he doesn't come looking for me.

BTW, the Influence Peddler says that Biden's claim to have filed the first AW bill is a bit of ... plagiarism?

· Politics

11 Comments | Leave a comment

Bill | July 24, 2007 10:05 AM | Reply

Further proof of what a tremendous schmuck Joe Biden is. If he keeps going on that track, maybe he'll reach "Schumer" status on the grand scale of total and utter schmuckdom.

Letalis | July 24, 2007 11:18 AM | Reply

The question I would have liked all to answer:

"Answer the following question with two words or less - Does the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution protect an individual right or a collective right?"

MichaelG | July 24, 2007 11:24 AM | Reply

Richardson was just about the only Dem candidate that I could stomach. But not after last night.
First because he wants to spend my money "improving" the living conditions of people in crime infested areas by means other than tossing the criminals in jail. Second is because Biden's comments about that fellow may not be considered mentally qualified shows that we must have a full legal process defined in any law that defines how one is judged mentally unqualifed, with legal appeals available, and a process that defines how one is rejudged to be mentally qualified once again. With the burdon of proof on the party that wants to deny the right of arms posession.
BTW: did anyone else cringe at the image the gun owner presented. As if CNN wanted to find the Left's ideal stereotype of a "gun nut". (rolling my eyes.)

Bill | July 24, 2007 1:33 PM | Reply

Maybe the guy in the audience was a plant just for that purpose. I wouldn't put it past some of those groups out there.

The Mechanic | July 24, 2007 1:34 PM | Reply

I don't want to be 'brought together' with anyone.That sounds too much like being sequestered or imprisonment. None of those idiots said a word about the government would just back off and leave people alone under their administration.

thirdpower | July 24, 2007 2:31 PM | Reply

Paul of the Brady Bunch figured out how to use UTube:

http://www.bradycampaign.org/blog/2007/07/24/keeping-babies-safe/#comments

Jonas Salk | July 24, 2007 3:25 PM | Reply

Maybe someone needs to follow Joe Biden around telling him how he's not mentally qualified to be president.

Brad | July 24, 2007 8:14 PM | Reply

I watched the segment in question during a rerun of the debate on CNN.

The rifle displayed was an AR type with a plain muzzle and of the variety sometimes referred to as a 'post-ban rifle'. In other words the rifle in question was fully compliant with the 1994 federal "assault weapon" ban.

Savor the irony of Senator Biden having a fit over a gunnie who owns a 'Biden law' rifle! That incident speaks volumes about the ignorance and hostility of Biden, who lusts for the power to rule over us.

Anonymous Coward | July 25, 2007 7:48 AM | Reply

did anyone else cringe at the image the gun owner presented. As if CNN wanted to find the Left's ideal stereotype of a "gun nut".

The guy appears on national television and asks "if our babies are safe"?!?! What a fool. Not in the legal sense, obviously. But definitely lacking tact for equating tools to babies.

Biden was wrong to go off on him like that, but Jared Townsend is not the face I want representing gun owners.


Maybe the guy in the audience was a plant just for that purpose. I wouldn't put it past some of those groups out there.

Has anyone done a check on Jared Townsend. Maybe he's a "staunch" NRA member gun owner. Get Jennifer Hunter on the case!

Anonymous Coward | July 25, 2007 10:09 AM | Reply

http://reason.com/blog/show/121563.html

Who is Jered Townsend? He's a guy from Michigan who voted for the state's affirmative action rollback and slammed cops for busting the wife of Chrysler's CEO on the grounds of "encouraging underage drinking." In other words, he's a libertarian-leaning voter who wants the government off his back. And Biden trashed him. If you're wondering why the gun owners in tank tops are marching for Ron Paul, here's why.

Bill | July 25, 2007 11:49 AM | Reply

A little story on Jered - guess he brought some attention to himself:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070725/NEWS06/707250308&imw=Y

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