Vulnerable senators face lose-lose scenario on assault weapon vote

[Pullo]

The Senate’s upcoming vote on the assault weapons ban is going to put vulnerable Democrats in a difficult spot.

Democrats facing tough reelection races will either attract the ire of the National Rifle Association or prominent gun control activists such as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I). A vote against the ban could spark primary challenges that could weaken Democrats in the general election.

.....


“People are not going to say, ‘That’s a tough vote for them, let’s not do anything,’ ” said Josh Horwitz, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. “There is a feeling that to win this thing we need all the Democrats. That means people who are in tough races in 2014 don’t get passes. I would expect issue ads and advocacy for all senators.”

Link

Its almost like Bloomberg & Co. are on a mission to turn control of the Senate over to the GOP. That would be an absolute disaster.

[littlewolf]

1. bloomberg and co. are focused on a few issues

and as long as those pass. they do not care.
gun control is one of those issues.

[petronius]

2. It's certainly something that I will/do consider in the primary, although here

in CA I don't expect to see much variability on that point in the national races. Could become relevant in local and statewide races, in my area at least...

[hack89]

3. I don't think Bloomberg would have any heartburn with a Republican Congress

a pro-business Congress means more money for him.

[appal_jack]

4. Bloomberg is an authoritarian corporatist, not a Democrat.

Bloomberg is an authoritarian corporatist, not a Democrat. His authoritarianism does overlap considerably with nominally 'Democratic' authoritarian corporatists such as Feinstein and Lautenberg, but they too are all to willing to sell out our core principles in the names of corporate power, war, etc.

Gun bans have been and will continue to be a losing issue for Democrats. The sooner we divorce ourselves from these authoritarian corporatists, the better the Democratic Party will be.

-app

[Eleanors38]

5. Bloomers, never a Democrat, is going into this top heavy w $ and "leadership,"

He has little grass roots support and can only cause damage.

He can expect implicit cooperation from the GOP when they back the "liberal" thru the primary, then take him/her out more easily in the general.
They've done this before.

[gejohnston]

6. I can think of a couple of very good progressives that could face problems

Bernie Sanders and Peter DeFazio come to mind.