Gun Votes Carry Big Risks For Dems In Rural States

[Purveyor]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- There is little mystery, from a campaign viewpoint, at least, about the eight senators who crossed party lines in Wednesday's showdown vote on background checks for gun buyers.

The four Democrats who voted against broader background checks are from largely rural states that voted heavily against President Barack Obama last fall.

Three of the four Republicans who voted in favor of the measure are from states Obama carried easily. The exception is John McCain of Arizona, the GOP's 2008 presidential nominee.

The four Democrats - Max Baucus of Montana, Mark Begich of Alaska, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Mark Pryor of Arkansas - could cite a stack of pragmatic reasons for opposing the gun measure. The four Democrats' states have deep traditions of hunting and gun ownership. They lack large cities, where persistent shootings can build momentum for gun control.

None of that saved the four Democrats from Obama's wrath after the measure fell five votes short of the 60 needed to overcome a filibuster, a crushing defeat for Obama and others who want stronger measures to detect ineligible gun buyers.

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[Arkana]

1. Too damn bad. They're still cowards.

If they were so afraid of the NRA that they decided to vote against something the vast majority of their constituents want, then they are craven bootlickers not fit for office.

[firenewt]

2. You are being too kind in your assessment.

[Cosmocat]

4. Look

I am not a huge fan of these guys, either.

On this issue, I said this was going to be the case when Newtown happened and everyone was so cocksure there was going to be some major gun legislation. There was no way to get every democrat on board, much less even the first republican. AND, that is senate, not even the House.

All I am saying is, the choice basically comes down to do you want Begich or Joe Miller as the second senator from Alaska.

It is mind boggling that we can't get common sense fire arm legislation because you have to have the Begich of the world in your tent, but not having the likes of Wilson at least gives control of the senate to the Ds.

The House has passed dozens of abortion and gay marriage bills the last two and a half years, those bills and every other bad fricken idea the republicans come up with make it to POTUS's desk if you don't have Begich in the Senate.

You aren't getting a Barabara Boxer out of Alaska .... the choice is Begich or Wilson.

[Ter]

3. It's a two way street

Kirsten Gillibrand was as pro-gun as they came when she was a House member upstate...until she was selected to the US Senate, and she quickly changed all her gun views to the establishment's liking. To me that's far worse.

[otohara]

5. ND Population is Less Than The Million Murdered

since 1980.

It takes courage to keep this kind of carnage up.

[Robb]

6. More interested in keeping your job than doing it.

"Public service," my ass.