http://www.denverpost.com/news/election/pol1220.htm
Clinton pins Gore loss on NRA
By Bill McAllister
Denver Post Washington Bureau Chief
Dec. 20, 2000 - WASHINGTON - President Clinton said Tuesday that his administration's advocacy of gun control measures had cost Vice President Al Gore "at least" five states in the election and suggested that Colorado illustrated Gore's difficulty with the gun issue.
Speaking to CBS-TV's Dan Rather in his first interview since the election, the president credited the National Rifle Association for turning out antiGore voters because of the gun issue.
"I don't think there is any doubt that, in at least five states I can think of, the NRA has a decisive influence because they disagreed with our attempts to close the gun-show loophole and have child trigger locks, safety locks and ban large-scale ammunition clips," the president said.
"You know, presumably, some people voted for him (Gore) because we were for those things," he told Rather.
"But one of the sad things about all gun safety legislation is that people tend to vote for the issues, but, when they're voting for candidates, the "antis' tend to be more intense than the "pros."
"I mean, if you look at Colorado, which is basically a Republican state now, the vice president lost there, but closing the gun-show loophole passed 70-30 (percent)," he said.
Clinton did not name the five states, and White House spokesmen were not able to say whether the president believed Colorado was one of them.
Clinton said he was at peace with himself over the end of his presidency.
"Everything comes to an end; you have to do something else," he said.
Copyright 2000 The Denver Post. All rights reserved.
Clinton pins Gore loss on NRA
By Bill McAllister
Denver Post Washington Bureau Chief
Dec. 20, 2000 - WASHINGTON - President Clinton said Tuesday that his administration's advocacy of gun control measures had cost Vice President Al Gore "at least" five states in the election and suggested that Colorado illustrated Gore's difficulty with the gun issue.
Speaking to CBS-TV's Dan Rather in his first interview since the election, the president credited the National Rifle Association for turning out antiGore voters because of the gun issue.
"I don't think there is any doubt that, in at least five states I can think of, the NRA has a decisive influence because they disagreed with our attempts to close the gun-show loophole and have child trigger locks, safety locks and ban large-scale ammunition clips," the president said.
"You know, presumably, some people voted for him (Gore) because we were for those things," he told Rather.
"But one of the sad things about all gun safety legislation is that people tend to vote for the issues, but, when they're voting for candidates, the "antis' tend to be more intense than the "pros."
"I mean, if you look at Colorado, which is basically a Republican state now, the vice president lost there, but closing the gun-show loophole passed 70-30 (percent)," he said.
Clinton did not name the five states, and White House spokesmen were not able to say whether the president believed Colorado was one of them.
Clinton said he was at peace with himself over the end of his presidency.
"Everything comes to an end; you have to do something else," he said.
Copyright 2000 The Denver Post. All rights reserved.