September 21, 2007
Rudy, Aim, Fire
Rudy Giuliani told the NRA much of what they wanted to hear 9/21 about his support for 2nd Amendment rights, writes NBC/National Journal's Berger, but he appeared to leave the DC conf with few converts.
“I think he is sincere; I just don’t know if he truly believes it down deep inside,” said Thomas Crum, a retired trucking exec. from Scottsdale, AZ. “I have a little difference with him just beginning to realize what his position really is.”
Members of the gun lobby who attended “A Celebration of American Values” conf. said they were encouraged by Giuliani’s appearance and what he said about support for gun rights. But many also said they were concerned about his track record supporting gun control as NYC mayor, and favored other cands in the WH GOP primary.
Bob Bell, a salesman from Clarkesville, MD, said he respected Giuliani’s leadership during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, but preferred Fred Thompson, a longtime supporter of 2nd Amendment rights. Bell said Giuliani’s mayoral record - including his advocacy for the assault weapons ban and lawsuits against gun manufacturers - weighed heavy on him.
“He was a mayor of New York City, and try and get a gun permit up there,” he said.
To garner his support, Bell said, Giuliani would have needed to espouse the right to carry weapons and make a retraction for his earlier views.
Instead, Giuliani acknowledged disagreements with much of the crowd, but stressed “there are a lot of things you and I have in common.” His message focused largely on enforcing current gun laws and prosecuting crimes committed with a gun, rather than new gun ownership restrictions.
“The bottom line is we need to step up enforcement of gun crimes and leave law-abiding citizens alone,” he said to tepid applause.
Sitting next to Bell at lunch Friday, Joe Rogers was keeping a scorecard for each of the WH candidates on the conf's brochure. While some speakers had check marks, Giuliani was the only one with a 0 next to his name. The Wilmington, N.C. salesman said even Bill Richardson scored better during his taped remarks.
“I don’t think there’s anything he could have said and been truthful about to win over the crowd,” Rogers said of Giuliani. “To his credit, he spoke the truth.”
Friday’s speech was considered an important bellwether for how the GOP front-runner would perform among some of the party’s niche groups that have opposed positions Giuliani has taken in the past. He's likely to face other potentially hostile crowds if and when he reaches out to pro-life voters and opponents of same sex marriage.
While the NRA has never endorsed in a WH GOP primary, officials have left that door open this year, and are planning more forums in early primary states.
NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre said he liked what he heard from Giuliani.
“He said a lot of things that if you’re a law-abiding American firearm owner, you’re nodding and you’re saying ‘I agree with that,’” he said.
Judy McQuitty, a bookkeeper from Virginia Beach, VA, said she felt Giuliani was one of the least effective speakers, which also featured John McCain and Mitt Romney on video.
“He spent more time campaigning than the others,” McQuitty said of Giuliani. “I think all of them said the proper things to get the backing of the crowd. They all know where this crowd stands.”
But others said they believed Giuliani has had a change of heart on gun control.
“Things change, politicians have to change,” said Vance Perry of Richmond, VA. “Politicians who don’t change can’t grow with the situation. 9/11 changed a lot of things, obviously it changed Rudy Giuliani.”
Supporters at the Capitol Hilton event said they were not casting their primary ballot solely on gun control issues, but said any candidate seeking their vote needed to say the right things about the right to bare arms to even be considered by them. Several attendees said they believed Giuliani had recently passed that litmus test, while others remained unconvinced.
“It’s a defining issue, not because it’s the only issue or the most important issue,” said Alan Riley, a lawyer from Romney, WV. “But I find supporters of the second amendment don’t differ with me on many other issues.”
But even Rogers said that despite Giuliani’s zero on his scorecard, he would support him if he garnered the Republican nomination.
“I don’t stay home,” Rogers said. “If he’s the nominee, I support him. But I don’t say that with any enthusiasm.” [MATTHEW E. BERGER].
Posted at 06:07 PM
Comments
Post a comment
The Watergate · 600 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-739-8400 · fax 202-833-8069
NationalJournal.com is an Atlantic Media publication.
