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Obama Camp Disavows Last Year's 'Inartful' Statement on D.C. Gun Law

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June 26, 2008 7:35 AM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Alexa Ainsworth Report: With the Supreme Court poised to rule on Washington, D.C.'s, gun ban, the Obama campaign is disavowing what it calls an "inartful" statement to the Chicago Tribune last year in which an unnamed aide characterized Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., as believing that the DC ban was constitutional.

"That statement was obviously an inartful attempt to explain the Senator's consistent position," Obama spokesman Bill Burton tells ABC News.

The statement which Burton describes as an inaccurate representation of the senator's views was made to the Chicago Tribune on Nov. 20, 2007.

In a story entitled, "Court to Hear Gun Case," the Chicago Tribune's James Oliphant and Michael J. Higgins wrote ". . . the campaign of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said that he '...believes that we can recognize and respect the rights of law-abiding gun owners and the right of local communities to enact common sense laws to combat violence and save lives. Obama believes the D.C. handgun law is constitutional.'"

http://www.topix.com/content/trb/2007/11/court-to-hear-gun-case

The Chicago Tribune clip from Nov. 20, 2007, is an inaccurate representation of Obama's views, according to Burton, because the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has refrained from developing a position on whether the D.C. gun law runs afoul of the Second Amendment.

When Obama has been asked on multiple occasions to weigh in on the D.C. gun case he has regularly maintained that the Second Amendment provides an individual right while at the same time saying that right is not absolute and that the Constitution does not prevent local governments from enacting what Obama calls "common sense laws."

Although he has been willing to describe his general views on this topic, Obama has sidestepped the question of whether the ban in the nation's capital runs afoul of the Second Amendment.

Asked by ABC News' Charlie Gibson if he considers the D.C. law to be consistent with an individual's right to bear arms at ABC's April 16, 2008, debate in Philadelphia, Obama said, "Well, Charlie, I confess I obviously haven't listened to the briefs and looked at all the evidence."

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., by contrast, has been forthcoming when it comes to the D.C. gun law. 
He signed an amicus brief in the District of Columbia v. Heller case, signaling not only his belief in the Second Amendment but also his view that the DC gun ban is incompatible with it.

The D.C. ban prohibits residents from keeping handguns inside their homes and requires that lawfully registered guns, such as shotguns, be locked and unloaded when kept at home.

June 26, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (144)

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sonia trevino: I believe everyone should read the Constitution, paying special attention to the various Articles and Amendments which the current administration has abused and discarded like so much White Cloud.

Posted by: Champ | Jun 26, 2008 9:26:37 AM

Obama: Change you can believe in. Change after change after change.

Posted by: Soetoro No! | Jun 26, 2008 9:26:46 AM

Obama is just a Liar....liar liar your Pastel Versace Pants on fire.....


Thought it was worth repeating....

Posted by: carpenter.nyc | Jun 26, 2008 9:28:29 AM

obama is more than a flip-flopper. He is a manipulative liar attemping to cover all sides of an issue without actually taking a position or casting a real vote. He tries to portray himself as being on the right side of an issue depending on his audience. He is hollow to the core.There is an evil arrogance to him that surpasses anything we've seen before.

Posted by: geevill | Jun 26, 2008 9:31:32 AM

Too many to list here... and since you can't spell... I doubt that you could read it either. Glad I'm voting with a clear conscience... at least my vote will cancel out yours.

Posted by: Champ | Jun 26, 2008 9:32:01 AM

So what's new in this discussion? Every politician "flip flops!" You can find at least one issue for every one of them where they've changed positions. I'd even venture to say most of the people responding here have, at some time in their lives, changed their minds about something! It's called "learning!" The more information you gather, the more likely you can make a more informed decision. Sometimes what you learn causes you to rethink previous positions. Anyway, I don't care what anyone says, the world is flat!

Posted by: Lucy | Jun 26, 2008 9:34:42 AM

Criminals dont bother to purchase arms from a store, they buy them on the street. Yet everyone in favor of this "ban" wants to continue or increase limitations of law abiding citizens whom are willing to register the firearms they purchase for legal use and protection. I am telling you now and you can quote me on this: We will not limit the sale of firearms to criminals from criminals no matter how many laws we pass, all we can do is level the playing field for those whom wish to protect their families in their own homes from the criminals by allowing them to own a firearm for personal protection.

Posted by: Garrick | Jun 26, 2008 9:36:03 AM

Vinny does have a point. However, I do not wish to be labled immature for pointing out Obama's changing his opinion every 5,10, or 20.....minutes!

Posted by: gumby | Jun 26, 2008 9:36:47 AM

Charlie35: "Just more BS from the left in their attempts at social engineering to make the USA just like any other 3rd world country. Where the ruling elite live up on high with the rest of us are down here begging for their scraps."

OMG! do you really think "the left" has a lock on this? Can you say "neo-con?"

Posted by: Lucy | Jun 26, 2008 9:37:11 AM

Lucy

One of the fundamental differences between the two parties is their emphasis on individual vs. collective rights. GOP supporters tend to put more stock in individuals. The libs want, by definition, to have decisions made by an elite few.

You see, there is a difference.

Posted by: A | Jun 26, 2008 9:39:46 AM

Ah, yes... S.N. That must be it. I'm so busy trying to recognize the original document -- with all of Cheney's footprints and Rove's Post-It notes blocking my view. But then, that doesn't seem so important to extremists like you who enjoy avoiding the facts and clouding the truth. 'Bout time you got back to your Dobsoniac Council Meeting, isn't it?

Posted by: Champ | Jun 26, 2008 9:46:23 AM

YIP
Primaries over, time to look more like Bush.
Too bad the first African American with a real shot at the white house has little back bone and less conviction.

Posted by: hhkeller | Jun 26, 2008 9:48:33 AM

I can not understand how or why so many American People can't see what is really going on (Scare Tactics and lies). We have been mislead by the Republican Party for so long and lied to about everything that has happen in our country since 2001 concerning our safety that either some of you can not see the change for the better coming through the leadership of Barrack Obama or you are stuck in the old ways of thinking (Hate based on the color of someones skin instead of the content of their character),if that is the case the you deserve to pay $4 or $5 dollars a gallon for gas to a man and his business partners (Bush and Co.)and to lose everything you have worked to obtain in life. If what Obama is doing is flip flopping and lying to you ask your self this question. What did Bush do to you for his own personal gain or his families? and you swallowed it hook line and sinker!!! and you took it with no lube or a kiss; either way you want to look at it. Now McCain wants to finish what Bush started. WAKE UP PEOPLE.

Posted by: William | Jun 26, 2008 9:48:56 AM

carpenter.nyc: Wow! Still stuck in thrd grade, huh? No wonder the cool kids beat you up on the playground every day.

Posted by: Champ | Jun 26, 2008 9:52:51 AM

Obama will bring the gas price to 200 Dollars to a barrel.

Obama's big cash donors are the bulk of the Speculators on Wall Street....( Goldman Sachs etc etc...)

Obama is just a Liar....liar liar your ELITIST Wall Street Pastel Versace Pants on fire.....

Posted by: carpenter.nyc | Jun 26, 2008 9:55:08 AM

A, Yes there are differences in the parties. However, not all Democrats are Liberals and not all Republicans are Conservatives. Yes, many Liberals subscribe to the same Aristotelian views as the Straussian neo-cons (elite few ruling the blissfully ignorant masses.) However, don't make the mistake of thinking that all Democrats are Liberals or that all Republicans are Conservatives. Read what the parties platforms are and you will see that, as you point out, there is big a difference in the approach each takes. However, the ideologies of Liberals and neo-Conservatives are not unique to the parties!

Posted by: Lucy | Jun 26, 2008 9:55:46 AM

Obama believes the D.C. handgun law is constitutional. In 2007.

Now his camp saids......DRUM ROLL PLEASE......


Obama Camp Disavows Last Year's 'Inartful' Statement on D.C. Gun Law

Even an uncool kid like me can see a LIAR.

Obama is just a Liar....liar liar your Elitist Wall Street COOL Versace Pants on fire.....

"Obama has sidestepped the question of whether the ban in the nation's capital runs afoul of the Second Amendment."

SideStepped?...move to the side? Which Side? ... up down to the left to the right--- It's THE HUSTLE.....!


Posted by: carpenter.nyc | Jun 26, 2008 10:09:43 AM

If only flip-flopping could be harnessed as a form of energy.

Posted by: MarkW | Jun 26, 2008 10:11:47 AM

I think it's great that all of act as thougt you take a side on most things in life and stick to it.
Some of us tend to look at things differently when we are privledged enough to get all the facts.
Most of us just like to take what little facts we have and form an opinion that we will blindly defend, due to our own stubbornness.
Don't you think that someone in the press daily would think hard about giving conflicting views unless they may have truely changed thier minds? Don't they have advisors that keep track of all these statements and stances?
I don't know... I don't have all the facts either.. So I think for now I'll keep my mouth shut.
But....
For those of you that voted for Hillary, but are not ready to back McCain.. Help me.. Help to understand who is the real Flip Flop here...
You favorite team player didn't get the MVP, so you decide to route for the Opponents? Help me..

Posted by: Tony M. | Jun 26, 2008 10:13:03 AM

john,

Statistics show that having a gun is the best way to protect your life. Even in a city. Unless you want the criminals to run free?

Posted by: MarkW | Jun 26, 2008 10:16:35 AM

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