Obama trails Clinton among surveyed PA households with guns.

[SteveM]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5515400

A Rasmussen poll referenced in the above shows a widening Clinton gap over Obama, and specifically shows a significant gap in surveyed households with guns. Hard to say how much "Bittergate" will hurt Obama, but it does show how he fell for the implied stereotype that white folks are "clinging" to guns as a result of some kind of bitterness about their lives. We read this stuff in these threads, and it seems that Obama went for it as well. Hopefully, he will continue the discussion of race to the benefit of all.

But wait! Guns aren't an issue in this campaign. Aren't an issue (tick) Aren't an issue (tick) Aren't an issue (tick) Aren't an issue....

[AlinPA]

1. RNC issues, Guns, God, Gays, Flags.

[death to the DLC]

2. and, no, they're not narrow minded at all. eom

[virginia mountainman]

3. RNC Issues??

easy way to "blow off" something as insignificant, that costs us election after election

Be aware, their are more than a 1/4 of a million NRA Members in Pennsylvania.

Go ahead, tell them their "issue" does not matter.

[AlinPA]

4. I'm not blowing them off. Those are RNC issues that hurt us in every election.

[virginia mountainman]

5. A great start, would be to defuse these issues...

Take "gun control" off the table, and we would see a resurgence.

This is fact, look how Pro Gun democrats have been taking over Virginia, and other states...Like the Democratic governor of Montana.

Gun Control is not an RNC issue, it is political suicide in most of the nation, look at how the 1994 gun ban, eviscerated our congressional power.

The will of the people is clear on this, we ignore it at our peril.

[AlinPA]

7. Virginia is a good example, but republicans keep beating us on it. Flags, God & Gays

are used every election like clockwork. Pretty had to fight these things. Even if the Democrats dropped the gun issue, we'd still get beat on Flag waving & my country right or wrong, etc., God issues and hatred for Gay people. I can't stand the back and forth on guns - I've heard it all here in W. PA and am tired of it- one extreme vs the other all the time. I go to the Sportsmen's Club and can't even relax they are at it all the time.

[virginia mountainman]

9. The thing about it is...Guns is the BIGGIE..

I know lots of people who don't give a squat about "god" and "gays" but DOES about politicians "rummaging thru their gun cabinets"

These people VOTE,

Their is no LARGE organized "anti-gay" group

Their is no LARGE organized "god" group, just largely unorganized groups of fundies, who argue amongst themselves..

BUT, when it comes to the pro gun groups, they are HIGHLY motivated, HIGHLY organized, HIGHLY connected to each other, and in near lock-step in agreement. Remember, their are well over 250,000 NRA members in Pennsylvania alone...

How many "Million Mom Marchers" and "Brady campaigners"are in the state of Pennsylvania??

I bet there is under 500.

Why should we Democrats try to win THEIR votes?!?!

[AlinPA]

10. Yes, gun issue is big, but in the last presidential election we were done in by

the gay marriage thing(amendments in states all over the country), "values voters=religious voters" and patriotism around Iraq.

I know gun owners vote I have lived here for 50 years and hear it every election where politicians have signs that say "sportsmen's friend". Hunting is huge here, so guns relate directly to the most popular sport next to fishing.

Just before November I would not be surprised if they put "boots on the ground" near Iran and scream that if you are against it you are for the new "enemy". Then Walmart will start with the flags and they will be everywhere again and Fox "News" and others will have their imbedded reporters.

[virginia mountainman]

11. Yep

the gay marriage thing(amendments in states all over the country), "values voters=religious voters" and patriotism around Iraq.

I know gun owners vote I have lived here for 50 years and hear it every election where politicians have signs that say "sportsmen's friend". Hunting is huge here, so guns relate directly to the most popular sport next to fishing.

Those gun owners, how do you think they would react, if they realized Obama has supported a complete and total ban on ALL Semi-Auto's????? Especially in light of his "cling" comments?? It would be like the "fundies" going nuts over gay marriage, they WILL vote, even if they loose their jobs, but they WILL vote.

But when it comes to gun rights, the trends are undeniable, as time goes on, the electorate is becoming more and more, pro gun.


With the Heller case to be decided in a month or so, and a few other political things going on in the 2nd Amendment front..

This could be a disaster for us in the General Election.

[apocalypsehow]

6. Pretty much sums it up.

I understand the political realities, but it's still sad to see our candidates pander to the worst in Americans - religious fanaticism, homophobia, jingoism, and violence-worship (guns) - and it's doubly sad that they need to in order to win an election.

It says something about a large slice of our nation's population that they are so immersed in "Guns, God, Gays, Flags" and similar bogus issues, and what it says isn't very flattering.

[slackmaster]

8. This just proves that gun owners are a bunch of racists

:rofl: