POLLS: Electability, “That Particular Questionnaire” & The DC Gun Ban
By Un coup de des on June 27, 2008 at 8:50 AM in Barack Obama, Electability, Gun Control, John McCain
Does anyone remember “that particular questionnaire,” the 1996 questionnaire Charlie Gibson invoked during the ABC debate in Philadelphia, where he and Obama engaged in a lengthy and somewhat contentious exchange over 2nd Amendment rights?
According to a Gallup poll conducted in February 2008, 70% oppose the ban on handguns Barack Obama unequivocally supported in 1996 when he completed and personally amended in handwriting an IVI-IPO questionnaire before his first bid for the Illinois state Senate. Because that result is consistent with the 68% who voiced opposition to a handgun ban in a Gallup poll conducted in October 2007, one may assume Obama’s support for a complete ban on the “manufacture, sale and possession of handguns” will be explored by Republicans and by 2nd Amendment advocates during the general election cycle.
But this is only a scratch on the surface of Obama’s electability problems as a result of his controversial stances on 2nd Amendment rights.
Susan Hu already summarized Obama’s shifting stances on the DC Gun Ban:
- 20 NOV 2007: “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.’”
- 11 FEB 2008: Obama support the D.C. handgun ban.
- 16 APR 2008: “At the Philadelphia debate, ABC News’ Charlie Gibson asked Obama whether the ban was constitutional. ’Well, Charlie, I confess I obviously haven’t listened to the briefs and looked at all the evidence,’ he said.”
- 26 JUN 2008: “‘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.”
Obama, in other words, believed the DC gun ban was constitutional before he realized this stance was a political liability during the Pennsylvania primary in April.
Prevaricating and equivocating when asked about the constitutionality of the DC gun ban, the temporizing “constitutional law professor” cannot articulate an unambiguous position. The American people can, however. According to the Gallup poll conducted in February of this year, 73% of Americans believe the 2nd Amendment guarantees the rights of all Americans to possess guns.
Out of step, indeed out of touch, with 73% of the American people, Obama, the ostensible constitutional law professor, will have a difficult time justifying his radical stances during the general election cycle, especially as John McCain has been an advocate for overturning the DC for some time.
Be sure to thank Democratic superdelegates for television advertisements similar to the following during the months of August, September, October and November:
Barack Obama: the anti-Constitutional candidate.
, the basis for the Best Motion Picture Nominee (Golden Globes) starring Brad Pitt.
, the novel by John Le Carre, a new motion picture starring Gary Oldman and Colin Firth.
by 
* (Included in the 
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.by David Fredosso who wrote 2008's 
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