Obama Campaign Threatens Legal Action Over NRA Ads
Campaign and DNC Launch Assault On First Amendment
By NRA News, 9/27/2008 11:58:38 AM


http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?c...7e-7987b2f147c1
Earlier this week, the National Rifle Association-PVF released a series of radio and television spots to educate gun owners and sportsmen about Barack Obama's longstanding anti-gun record. In response to the NRA-PVF ads, a clearly panicked Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) are doing everything they can to hide Obama's real record by mounting a coordinated assault on the First Amendment.

They have gone to desperate and outrageous lengths to try to silence your NRA by bullying media outlets with threats of lawsuits if they run NRA-PVF's ads. They have sent intimidating cease and desist letters to cable operators and television stations, threatening their FCC licenses if they run the ads.

Obama and the DNC have been using strong-arm tactics reminiscent of Chicago machine politics to try and cover up the truth and silence NRA by forcing the stations to assist them in hiding Obama's radical anti-gun record.

And now, Obama and the DNC have opened a new front in their assault on your First Amendment rights by calling on their followers to contact these station managers to demand that the stations not run NRA-PVF's ads.

NRA stands behind the accuracy of these ads, and NRA attorneys have responded to the Obama campaign's despicable and abusive attempt to trample on the First Amendment by sending a thorough rebuttal to station managers. This rebuttal clearly and conclusively refutes the Obama campaign's fallacious claims that the ads are inaccurate. For more information, and to see the letter, please click here. To learn the truth about Barack Obama's anti-gun record, please visit http://www.GunBanObama.com This website is loaded with features and information that you, as a gun owner, need to know. This is a must-see website that you will want to pass along to anyone you know who loves freedom and supports the Second Amendment. While you're there, don't forget to take the "OMatch," compatibility quiz to see if you and Barack are a match.

Backlash to Obama officials squelching political speech
Law enforcement threats, intimidation likened to 'police-state tactics,' by Missouri governor

Posted: September 27, 2008
7:25 pm Eastern

© 2008 WorldNetDaily </FONT>



Gov. Matt BluntFollowing legal threats by Missouri state law-enforcement officials supporting Barack Obama against presidential campaign ads that appeared to be false or misleading, Gov. Matt Blunt today likened the intimidation to "police state tactics."

"St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Bob McCulloch, St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer, and Obama and the leader of his Missouri campaign Senator Claire McCaskill have attached the stench of police state tactics to the Obama-Biden campaign," said Blunt in a statement released today. "What Senator Obama and his helpers are doing is scandalous beyond words, the party that claims to be the party of Thomas Jefferson is abusing the justice system and offices of public trust to silence political criticism with threats of prosecution and criminal punishment."

The statement came after the law enforcement officials pledged to form a "truth squad" to halt ads that, among other things, claimed Obama was not a Christian or that he was not planning to cut taxes on Americans other than the wealthy.

"If they're not going to tell the truth, somebody's got to step up and say, 'That's not the truth. This is the truth,'" McCullogh told KMOV-TV in St. Louis.

The effort appeared to be part of a move by the Obama campaign to block advertisements to which it objects. The campaign also sent "threatening" letters to several news agencies in Pennsylvania and Ohio demanding they stop airing ads exposing Obama's gun stance, according to the National Rifle Association.

"This abuse of the law for intimidation insults the most sacred principles and ideals of Jefferson," said Blunt. "I can think of nothing more offensive to Jefferson's thinking than using the power of the state to deprive Americans of their civil rights. The only conceivable purpose of Messrs. McCulloch, Obama and the others is to frighten people away from expressing themselves, to chill free and open debate, to suppress support and donations to conservative organizations targeted by this anti-civil rights, to strangle criticism of Mr. Obama, to suppress ads about his support of higher taxes, and to choke out criticism on television, radio, the Internet, blogs, e-mail and daily conversation about the election."

Blunt concluded: "Barack Obama needs to grow up. Leftist blogs and others in the press constantly say false things about me and my family. Usually, we ignore false and scurrilous accusations because the purveyors have no credibility. When necessary, we refute them. Enlisting Missouri law enforcement to intimidate people and kill free debate is reminiscent of the Sedition Acts – not a free society."

The NRA's Political Victory Fund also condemned the effort as censorship.

"Barack Obama and his campaign are terrified of the truth," said Chris W. Cox, chairman of organization. "Sen. Obama's statements and support for restricting access to firearms, raising taxes on guns and ammunition and voting against the use of firearms for self-defense in the home are a matter of public record. NRA-PVF will make sure that everyone knows of Obama's abysmal record on guns and hunting."

The Obama campaign declined to respond to a WND request for comment.

The NRA said Obama sent "cease and desist letters" to news outlets in the two states, "denouncing the ads and demanding their removal from the airwaves."

"Barack Obama would be the most anti-gun president in our nation's history. That's the truth," said Cox. "NRA-PVF has the facts on our side. No amount of running from or lying about his record and then intimidating news outlets in the hope of deceiving American gun owners and hunters is going to work. Those strong arm tactics may work in Chicago, but not in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and not as long as NRA-PVF has anything to say about it."

The warnings were from Obama lawyer Robert Bauer, who told station managers that in order to stay in the Federal Communication commission's good graces, they should not air the ads.

Josh Marquis, an Oregon prosecutor who serves as a spokesman for the NDAA, said the comments from Missouri don't sound like the McCulloch he knows.

"I'm really surprised. I know Bob," Marquis told WND.

The KMOV report said the Obama campaign asked members of Missouri's law enforcement to target anyone who "lies" or issues misleading television ads. Formation of the Obama "Truth Squad" was the result, the report said.

McCulloch declined to return a call from WND seeking comment.

The KMOV report said the campaign was being conducted by McCulloch and another prosecutor, Jennifer Joyce, along with a number of sheriffs throughout the state.

"They will be reminding voters that Barack Obama is a Christian who wants to cut taxes for anyone who makes less than $250,000 a year. They also say they plan to respond immediately to any ads and statements that violate Missouri's ethics laws," the report said.

"We want to keep this campaign focused on issues," Joyce told the station. "We don't want people to get distracted. Missourians don't want to be distracted by the divisive character attacks."

The campaign was assembled to "set the record straight," they said.

Officials with the Missouri Sheriff's Association declined to talk about any sheriffs who might be involved in the campaign.

At the blog Gateway Pundit, the reaction was immediate.

"St. Louis and Missouri Democrat sheriffs and top prosecutors are planning to go after anyone who makes false statements against Obama during his campaign. This is so one-sided I can't even [begin] to describe how wrong this agenda is," writes blogger Jim Hoft.

Hoft said Joyce and McCulloch "are threatening to bring libel charges against those who speak out falsely against Barack Obama."

Missouri blogger Doctor Bulldog commented: "Don't think they will stop with just the local radio and television stations. Oh, no. We bloggers are NEXT on the chopping block! It doesn't matter if it is the truth. It only matters if Obama deems it a lie (i.e. – something that can cause damage to his bid to be president). Basically, NO ONE is free to criticize Obama here in Missouri!!!"

In the St. Louis Examiner, a commentary said, "Look, politicians are all about lies. It may be annoying (I find it entertaining), but that's for their opponents and good-government groups to counter – not law enforcement. ... Even if the officeholders joining the 'truth squad' are nominally stepping out of their official roles in order to put on their (political) party hats and play politics, it's inappropriate. They wield too much power to use it to wag their fingers at people who say un-nice things about political hopefuls. Prosecutors and sheriffs are, after all, normally thought of as people with the clout to put their targets behind bars."

Marquis told WND politicians keep their right to have a political opinion and express it, but the DA's organization strives hard not to be partisan.

http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE...mp;pageId=76438

The NRA is operating illegally in its political actions, since authorities are too cowardly to act on it a lawsuit is warranted. I say this being in agreement with their supposed purpose.

don't you love libertarians and conservatives who want all groups out of their lives (except in the bedroom where they like to monitor), and want all lobbying to desist and all the special interest groups to vanish

yet to a person, seems they all want the NRA in everybody's lives

Yap and carry a big piece

They are as big a hypocrites as the relgious people who yap where they don't belong too

I mean, I am just saying

ban this, ban that, burn this, burn that, but don't touch my piece, that thing in my holster

To 2/3 of the Republicans and 1/2 the Blue Dog Democrats, anyone who is not an obvious War
Monger is perceived/conceived as Anti-gun. This is a topic that Liberal/Progressive USAians,
of whatever political party affiliation should avoid getting sucked into. Gun enthusiasist should
be ignored.

1/2 blue dogs + gun enthusiasts = McCain Victory!

At least I will be able to say that I didn't vote for McCain....

The only good that can come out of this is the end of the uber-liberals IMO...

Maybe someday The Democrats will wake up and want to win an election!

It seems that the NRA doesn't like it when someone turns the tables on them. I guess they are the only ones who can play by their rules.

In Florida, Obama has run radio spots calling the NRA out on their distortion of his stance on the second amendment.

For the NRA, if you are not for them - you are against them.

I agree with this.

Obama's history and track record tells me all I need to know. What he says in the heat of an election process is rhetoric and has little validity, IMO.
A rat is a rat...and bigtom nailed it. Ignore us and we will defeat you.

Sell your gun, Beamer. It's meaning is little more than a toy for you.

My gun has meaning as an expression of our freedom and it's fun to shoot. That doesn't mean I think the NRA doesn't exaggerate or distort for effect.

My family owns guns. My husband and son are hunters. We have never felt that any particular party wanted to take away our guns. Just because a person has a right to own a gun doesn't mean they will use it responsibly.

I have been a member of the NRA for 55 years. and while I have never been in full agreement with some of their tactics, I fear where we might be today without their vigilance.
Most of you have been Democrats for a good part of your lives. Does that mean that you are in lock-step with everything they do, or is it more the core values they represent?
Today, neither party holds the Constitution in high esteem, thus it is important that organizations that do keep them in line.

With all due respect TammyJo, the Second Amendment has nothing to do with hunting.



As do most special interests groups, Beamer. It is one of the ways that the NRA and groups like them, maintain their strength.

I stand by my comments concerning Obama. McCain doesn't have such a stellar track record in this regard either. It is just one of the reasons I'll not support either of them.

I understand full well that the second amendment isn't about hunting. I say my family are hunters to illustrate that there is a difference between those who know and understand firearms, use them responsibly either to protect their self or their property, for hunting or other sport, etc., and those that own guns just for the sake of having a gun. Some who fit into that category have no respect for what it means if you don't use it responsibly, they only know they have a right to own one. There are gun owners that own weapons that you and I know even the framers of the Constitution would balk at. This issue is like a hydra and the many facets of it affect individuals and families in sometimes life shattering ways. The NRA could be part of the discussion that may lead to some solutions, but instead everything is always about generating fear about taking away people's guns, even when they know full well that is not the intention.

I would agree that there are those that should not own guns, as there are those that should not drive cars.
As for the issue of generating fear, the anti-gun Left takes a backseat to no one in this regard. However, I take little issue with most of what you have stated.



The NRA fully backed the laws concerning background checks, and the measures to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally disturbed. It also fathers the best gun safety programs in the country. Give kudos as well as admonishments.

ignore Obama and don't vote for him because you are worried he will take away your gun

leads to your gun actually being taken away when the Bushies come marching home again and install their own security forces and rid people of their guns
Wouldn't suprrise me if, along with the nauseua inducing guns the blackwater people have, they are working now on something to make a regular person's guns not work
-maybe something like the "limp noodle effect, the gun will just wilt with ultrahot heat or something

feel free to hope Obama loses at your own peril