Prayers and $$$
Rafi Schwartz at Splinternews lists some Congressional people who offered thoughtsandprayers on the Las Vegas slaughter and have taken money from the NRA.
So who is sending their NRA-sponsored well wishes to the victims of the Las Vegas massacre today? Let’s take a look, with a little help from the campaign contribution database at opensecrets.org.
Missouri Republican Senator Roy Blunt received $11,900 from the NRA during the 2016 election cycle.
Saddened by the tragic loss of life in #LasVegas. My thoughts are with all of the families affected by this horrific attack.
— Senator Roy Blunt (@RoyBlunt) October 2, 2017
Virginia Congresswoman Barbara Comstock received $10,400 from the NRA during the 2016 election cycle.
I am heartbroken by the mass murder that took place last night in Las Vegas and I am praying for the victims, families, and first responders. The heroic actions taken by the SWAT team and many off duty police, no doubt saved many lives. To locate loved ones call 1-866-535-5654.
— Barbara Comstock (@RepComstock) October 2, 2017
North Carolina Senator Richard Burr; Colorado Congressman Mike Coffman; Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley; Texas Congressman Will Hurd…and a lot more. It’s a long inglorious list.
The sums are so small, too. Surely not worth the corruption.
“The sums are so small, too. Surely not worth the corruption.”
Ah, but the seductive desire for more in the future. Musn’t piss off potential donors. It all adds up.
That’s what amazes me. Why would it be so cheap to buy a Congress critter? Instead of doing one big bit of corruption in their careers, do they go the low margin route and just do it the entire time on all issues?
Anyone know how much money the gun manufacturers donate to congressional members? ‘Cause their stock just went up.
“Our unity cannot be shattered by evil, BANG our bonds cannot be broken by violence and though we feel such great anger at the senseless BANG murder of our fellow RATATATATAT citizens, it is our love that defines us today and always PEEEOWWWW will forever,” US President Donald KABOOM Trump said.
The direct donations are actually only a small part of it. The manufacturers (through the NRA) can also deliver a massive protest campaign against anyone who speaks up for gun control, and doubly so against any Republican who appears to be wavering on the issue.
In an era of single-digit electoral margins, a focused voting bloc turning on you is terrifying to most pols. If one of those blocs even just threatens to stay home, it can be sufficient to cow them back into line. The right uses similar tactics on abortion. (I’m watching the events here in Illinois carefully on that front, actually–Bruce Rauner, amazingly, did the compassionate thing for once (signing a bill allowing for expansion of abortion funding). Already, the pro-slavery faction has been ginning up threats of a primary challenge.
@Freemage: Good point.