I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people missed this one. Here in the Mountain time zone, it came on at 5:30pm.
I thought LaPierre did very well. Paul Begala, the liberal host and former Clinton aid, spent most of the 1/2 hour trying to shout down Wayne and not let him get a word in edgewise, but Wayne, generally, kept his cool and kept hammering on the point that the Administration has not been enforcing existing gun laws. Particularly effective was the point he made that H. Rap Brown should have already been behind bars except that the Justice Department refused to prosecute him over a weapons charge and as a result a police officer was shot and killed. Before LaPierre could even finish the sentence, Begala immediately started, literally, screaming that he was politicizing the death of a "heroic police officer". The truth hurts, doesn't it Paul?
During the viewer call-in segment, there were four calls taken, if I remember correctly, only one of which was negative to the NRA's position. Assuming these reflected the balance of the total calls received, the NRA's message is being heard.
I think the NRA's attack is being effective if for no other reason than the irrational, out-of-control, abusive, reaction of someone like Begala when faced with the truth. I'm a bit biased, but it seemed clear to me who was in control of that discussion. In the same position, I'd have had my hands locked around Begala's throat about 5 minutes into the segment, that's how condescending and abusive he was. LaPierre kept his cool and his message was more effective because of it.
Now, we need the pro-gun forces in Congress to stop trying to duck the issue and to stand up with the NRA. The facts are irrefutable but no one will ever know them if someone, like LaPierre, isn't out there trying to cut through the blanket the media has thrown over the issue. Its clear the Media won't do its duty to inform the public. The NRA is taking a gamble but, as it was going, we were dying the Death of a Thousand Cuts.
After the initial media hysteria over the NRA's "Administration tolerates killing" comments, the message is starting to leak through.
I thought LaPierre did very well. Paul Begala, the liberal host and former Clinton aid, spent most of the 1/2 hour trying to shout down Wayne and not let him get a word in edgewise, but Wayne, generally, kept his cool and kept hammering on the point that the Administration has not been enforcing existing gun laws. Particularly effective was the point he made that H. Rap Brown should have already been behind bars except that the Justice Department refused to prosecute him over a weapons charge and as a result a police officer was shot and killed. Before LaPierre could even finish the sentence, Begala immediately started, literally, screaming that he was politicizing the death of a "heroic police officer". The truth hurts, doesn't it Paul?
During the viewer call-in segment, there were four calls taken, if I remember correctly, only one of which was negative to the NRA's position. Assuming these reflected the balance of the total calls received, the NRA's message is being heard.
I think the NRA's attack is being effective if for no other reason than the irrational, out-of-control, abusive, reaction of someone like Begala when faced with the truth. I'm a bit biased, but it seemed clear to me who was in control of that discussion. In the same position, I'd have had my hands locked around Begala's throat about 5 minutes into the segment, that's how condescending and abusive he was. LaPierre kept his cool and his message was more effective because of it.
Now, we need the pro-gun forces in Congress to stop trying to duck the issue and to stand up with the NRA. The facts are irrefutable but no one will ever know them if someone, like LaPierre, isn't out there trying to cut through the blanket the media has thrown over the issue. Its clear the Media won't do its duty to inform the public. The NRA is taking a gamble but, as it was going, we were dying the Death of a Thousand Cuts.
After the initial media hysteria over the NRA's "Administration tolerates killing" comments, the message is starting to leak through.