The National Rifle Association (NRA) seems undeterred by an ongoing investigation into allegations that they were laundering Russian money during the 2016 campaign to help Donald Trump.
According to The Hill, the powerful pro-gun lobbying group “has launched a seven-figure ad campaign that targets potential swing votes in the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.”
The report notes that the first ad in the NRA’s pro-Kavanaugh push highlights the Trump nominee as a key vote on gun rights.
“Four liberal justices oppose your right to self-defense,” the ad says, according to The Hill. “Four justices support your right to self-defense. President Trump chose Brett Kavanaugh to break the tie. Your right to self-defense depends on this vote.”
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According to USA TODAY, the NRA is going after red-state Senate Democrats, like Doug Jones (AL), Joe Donnelly (IN), Joe Manchin (WV) and Heidi Heitkamp (ND).
Trump and the NRA are both under investigation
The irony in all of this is that both Donald Trump and the NRA are pushing a Supreme Court nominee at the very same time they are under investigation for involvement with Russia during the campaign.
Let it sink in for a moment: The President and one of his most friendly lobbying groups are both accused of essentially working with a foreign adversary to influence the 2016 election – and they want to have a say in who sits on the United States Supreme Court.
Not only should red-state Democrats refuse to be bullied by the NRA, but they should stand with the rest of the Democratic Party in denying Trump’s Supreme Court nominee a vote.
Brett Kavanaugh should not be a United States Supreme Court justice, and Donald Trump and the National Rifle Association have no business helping pick one in the first place.
Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.
