How Much Does the NRA Influence Elections?

[SecularMotion]

The National Rifle Association will hand out hundreds of endorsements over the next two months to congressional and gubernatorial candidates, who—if history is any guide—will tout it proudly and loudly to their voters.

In tight races in battleground states such as Ohio and North Carolina, staying on the right side of the powerful pro-gun organization is often considered necessary for electoral success in both Republican and Democratic campaigns. The quest for the endorsement also helps explain the steady, bipartisan voting bloc in Washington on one of the most divisive issues in American politics.

But how much does the group actually matter in individual races? Possibly less than you think.

http://www.wnyc.org/articles/its-free-country/2012/sep/13/explainer-how-much-does-nra-influence-elections/

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

1. How much does...

...this OP belong in Politics 2012?


This much.

[SecularMotion]

2. Please don't disrupt threads

If you feel the OP is off-topic, please use the alert function and stop disrupting threads.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

15. no thanks

I'm just not the "teacher, teacher, mommie, mommie" type.
Besides, for being a well-rounded poster apparently interested in sharing even peripherally related information outside the group SOP, I'm surprised you prefer that I not share this information. After all, the SOP doesn't read "Discuss gun control laws, the Second Amendment, the use of firearms for self-defense, and the use of firearms to commit crime and violence except what the thread originator finds disruptive.

[Kolesar]

27. Whiner, like PP's follow on whining ... eom

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

28. I enjoy irony

It's entertaining to have the group, which whines about the need for more rules, characterize anyone referencing the forum SOP as a whiner.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. Google Dump

[SecularMotion]

4. Hi stalker

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. At least you are finally posting in your Google dump threads

[Tuesday Afternoon]

5. it couldn't be Less Than -I- think ... because Less Than Zero is not an option

and Sorry, SM but, this OP does not meet the SoP, imo.

on edit: Adding -
Statement of Purpose
Discuss gun control laws, the Second Amendment, the use of firearms for self-defense, and the use of firearms to commit crime and violence.

[SecularMotion]

6. Please refer to post #2

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. Please refer to posts 1 & 2

[Oneka]

10. So which is it?

“The NRA has virtually no impact on congressional elections. The NRA endorsement, so coveted by so many politicians, is almost meaningless. Nor does the money the organization spends have any demonstrable impact on the outcome of races,” Waldman wrote.

http://www.wnyc.org/articles/its-free-country/2012/sep/13/explainer-how-much-does-nra-influence-elections/

Or:

Thanks to the National Rifle Association (NRA) and its massive $200 million-plus war chest, politicians are forced to treat assault rifle ownership like it's as sacrosanct as the First Amendment.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/117270278


So really, which is it, does the NRA have , all the power? Or no power at all?
The divergent opinions in seperate articles that you posted, here in the RKBA forum, both ostensibly trying to bash the NRA, make me wonder if you even read the articles you post?

[SecularMotion]

11. There's a difference between lobbying for legislation and influencing elections.

I believe the NRA has been more successful getting legislation passed. The irony is that they use the threat of influencing elections to strong-arm legislators.

[Oneka]

19. Without electiral consequences

lobbying may as well be prayer. Lobbying
does not exist, outside of the framework of electoral consequence. An empty threat, of the ability to influence elections, would produce weak lobbying results. Recent NRA victories, indicate strong lobbying results. How can this be?

[shadowrider]

12. Ain't you got the memo? It's whatever fits the agenda at the time.

I've heard it referred to as, "Talking out of both sides of the mouth".

[DonP]

14. Oh the "mouth" I heard it came from a different orifice

We have to remember to bookmark this one to add to our stock of gun controllers quotes claiming that the NRA:

1. Really isn't a force influencing elections or legislation

2. Is a major threat to honest electoral politics

3. Doesn't really represent any real voting bloc

4. Is just a tool of the "Big Gun" industry

What did I miss?

[shadowrider]

16. 3A) Represents too many gun owners who are a one issue voting block n/t

[DonP]

17. Well, we don't need any of their stinking votes anyway

At least that's what I've been assured of up in Meta and GD.

[shadowrider]

18. I hear ya. n/t

[friendly_iconoclast]

20. Very Romneyish, isn't it?

And just like Mittens, the weak-minded either ignore (or never notice) the contradictions...

[shadowrider]

13. ONLY 29 OP'S on the front page. You're slipping n/t

[DWC]

21. I don't know the quantitative answer but

IMO, the correct answer is Not Nearly Enough.

Semper Fi,

[ileus]

22. None...

[Atypical Liberal]

23. Absolutely it does. Before each election I request a scorecard from the NRA

And I vote accordingly.

In the last election, all of my Democratic candidates except one had high marks from the NRA. 3 were the endorsed candidate. I voted for all of them except the guy with the F rating.

Of course, I am ignoring the NRA opinion on President Obama as I am trying to push our government away from a state of perpetual oil-driven warfare and corporate pandering. I feel safe in doing this because I don't think the president can move against the second amendment at this time.

I suspect he will do so given a second term, but I'm hopeful Congress will shut down such a move.

[Kolesar]

26. You would vote against the Democrats so that you can promote guns

President Obama .... I feel safe in doing this because I don't think the president can move against the second amendment at this time.

[Atypical Liberal]

29. Yes, I have voted against Democrats so that I can protect the second amendment.

You can see my ballot in my sig.

Fortunately for me, all of my Democratic candidates except one had high marks from the NRA, and 3 were the endorsed candidate.

My elected officials will respect the second amendment or they won't get my vote.

[aikoaiko]

24. Not nearly as much as RKBA supporters who vote.

Which is why Democrats, including the president, have been abandoning those who seek to restrict gun ownership even more.

[rl6214]

25. Yet you demonize them at every chance you get

Even though you never post a comment with your google dumps

[GreenStormCloud]

30. Easy answer to that question:

More than you wish, and less than I wish.