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N.R.A. Targets 'Camouflage Candidates'

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September 25, 2007 3:42 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Nancy Flores Report: In an effort to sniff out "camouflage candidates," the National Rifle Association may break with tradition and make an endorsement before the presidential primaries get underway in early January.

"There are a lot of candidates who say that they are pro-gun and most of them are. There are some of them who say they are pro-gun but they are just doing so to try and get elected," said N.R.A. spokesman Andrew Arulandam. "Our concern with these candidates is that we need to make sure that our members know who these candidates are. You see a lot of this, especially in congressional races."

"We have coined a term for this," he added, "these are camouflage candidates."

The N.R.A.'s spokesman did not ascribe his description of "camouflage candidates" to Rudy Giuliani in particular. But the gun group's serious consideration of endorsing before the primaries could pose a headache for the GOP's national frontrunner.

As mayor of New York, Giuliani was an outspoken supporter of gun control and he likened the N.R.A. to extremists.

"I think it's fair to say that his work earning the trust of gun owners is on-going," the N.R.A.'s spokesman said of Giuliani.

Word that the N.R.A. might endorse in the primaries comes one day after New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg challenged Giuliani's assertion to the N.R.A. that a lawsuit he filed as mayor against gun manufacturers had undergone substantial change.

Bloomberg said Monday that the case had "not changed at all" since its inception, adding, "We believe that it's a good case, and we hope to win it."
While speaking to an N.R.A. convention on Friday, Giuliani said the ongoing lawsuit "has taken several turns and several twists I don't agree with."

Asked to explain the claim that the lawsuit has changed, Giuliani's campaign refused to do so.   
For now, Giuliani is hoping to appeal to gun owners by highlighting his crime-fighting record.

"As mayor, Rudy successfully worked to get guns out of the hands of criminals in order to transform a city out of control," said Giuliani spokeswoman Maria Comella. "As President, he will focus on the same thing by dealing with gun-related crime by prosecuting the criminals and enforcing the laws already on the books."

In the past, the N.R.A. has waited until the general election to make an endorsement. But this time an endorsement could come as early as this fall.

"Our standard operating procedure is that we do not issue any endorsements until after the nominations are made at the convention. That being said, everything is on a fast-track schedule this year," said Arulandam. "As far as '08 is concerned , we may very well decide to make an endorsement before the primary season begins or very close to it."

September 25, 2007 in Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (7)

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I'm a liberal who belives all citizens should own a handgun, a shotgun, a high power rifle and a submachine gun and learn how to use them. With our congress making more laws, for wars against their own citizens, and taking away our constitutional rights, we all need to be armed! If you claim to be a law abiding citizen, the congress will make a new law turning you into a criminal. It happens everyday, just ask cigarette smokers.

Posted by: steve | Sep 25, 2007 6:45:29 PM

It is important to recognize who will do the best thing for this country Liberals and Conservatives need to join forces on this presidential election and get RON PAUL INTO THE WHITE HOUSE!!! Everyone has the right to speak their mind and own a gun of any kind and defend themselves with it. Hitlers first act when he took power was GUN CONTROL!!! Thats right only in a society run by tyranny does the government fear you owning a gun. It has nothing to do with keeping us safe from criminals with guns it has to do with keeping you from protecting yourself and your private property from the establishment that wants to take it from you. This is our time!!! THIS IS OUR FIGHT!!! TAKE A STAND AND VOTE FOR RON PAUL!!!! TAKE THE POWER BACK!!!

Posted by: Jeremy | Sep 25, 2007 7:15:31 PM

Looks like the NRA may have a problem since the top three Republican candidates have favored gun control. Guiliani really earns the "camouflage" title. Here's his statement from a NYC government press release dated June 26, 2000. "On June 20 [2000], I was pleased that the city of New York filed a lawsuit against two dozen major gun manufacturers and distributors. This is an industry which profits from the suffering of innocent people. The lawsuit is intended to end the free pass that the gun industry has enjoyed for a very long time, which has resulted in too many avoidable deaths." End quote. Looks like Rudy's trying to row his boat backwards upstream.

Posted by: GC | Sep 25, 2007 8:09:49 PM

Yes Tumbleweedin we know Ron Paul would be a great president. In an election you have to choose among available candidates. If Ron Paul wins the nomination, great! What if he doesn’t? You have already told everyone that only Ron Paul should be president and all other candidates, both Democrat and Republican are worthless. Do you have a second choice or do you throw up your hands and refuse to vote? If you have a second choice don’t run him or her down too far. Narrow minded tunnel vision reeks of fanaticism. People don’t take fanatics seriously and your constant barrage of “ONLY RON PAUL” may actually be hurting his candidacy more than helping it.

Posted by: Royce | Sep 26, 2007 12:16:59 AM

Three candidates show support for the Second Amendment. Fred Thompson, Ron Paul and Mike Beebe. I personally don’t think any of them are perfect but I could support any of the three. So far Thompson seems to have the best chance of winning. Ron Paul doesn’t have a strong running and I’m not sure Beebe is still in the race at all. McCain lost my vote at the border. Other than those, the rest are pretty much left wing Democrats who support strict gun control. Giuliani and Romney included.

Posted by: Royce | Sep 26, 2007 12:30:40 AM

Ron Paul is the obvious endorsement for the NRA.
Former lobbyist Thompson, on the other hand is trying to force himself into that position:

Posted by: Jason | Sep 26, 2007 3:02:14 PM

Fred will work to speed up the SPP/NAU. He has voted to expand the powers of NAFTA (Google it). He also has spent more time in Washington as a lobbyist than as a congressman. Guns ownership is the most important Amendment to the Constitution because it protects all other rights and freedoms. The NRA needs to pick a candidate based on that, not who could win. That is a big problem with a lot of voters, only voting for someone because they can win, not because they have any clue about what that person actually stands for. The primaries are where we all can vote for who we want to represent us, not who the party activists have put in front of us. Participate in your state primaries.

Posted by: revotenow | Sep 27, 2007 1:04:07 AM

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