Mitt Romney: He's In Town, But Will He Attend NRA Convention?

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT

DNC Press

Washington, DC - Mitt Romney is in St. Louis today hunting for campaign cash, but Show Me State voters are wondering whether he plans to show his face at the National Rifle Association's 136th Annual Meetings & Exhibits while he's in town.

Last week, Romney tried to smooth talk gun owners into ignoring his record by telling a New Hampshire audience that he has "been a hunter pretty much all my life," even though he has never held a hunting license and his own staff acknowledged that he "had been on only two hunting trips." [Associated Press, 4/05/07; Associated Press, 04/06/07] Rather than explain why he tried to mislead the voters, Romney continues to joke about the situation, telling a Dallas crowd yesterday that, "Those small animals can be ferocious...There were some pretty sad faces around the Romney household on Easter. We had our grandkids there and they were disappointed the Easter bunny didn't come. He heard I was packing heat." [Associated Press, 4/12/07]

Whether or not Romney drops by the NRA meeting, his blatant pandering highlights a broader pattern that has plagued the Romney campaign. On issue after issue, Romney is trying to smooth talk Republican primary voters into ignoring his real record instead of offering a real agenda for America.

"Mitt Romney may think misleading the American people about his record is a joke, but his cynical attempts to tell the voters whatever he thinks they want to hear are no laughing matter," said Damien LaVera, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee. "What Romney still hasn't figured out is that voters want straight shooters who outline clear plans for America's future, not a smooth talking panderer who will say anything to hide his real record."

Mitt Romney: The Anatomy of A Pander Gone Bad

Romney in 1994: Gun Policies "Not Going to Make Me the Hero of the NRA." After signaling support for the assault rifle ban and the Brady gun control law, Romney said, "That's not going to make me the hero of the NRA." He added, "I don't line up with a lot of special interests groups." He echoed that theme in his gubernatorial campaign when he said, "We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts. I support them. I won't chip away at them. I believe they protect us and provide for our safety." [Boston Herald, 9/23/94]

Romney Today: I'm After the NRA's Endorsement. Romney told a Derry, New Hampshire audience, "I'm after the NRA's endorsement. I'm not sure they'll give it to me. I hope they will." [Associated Press, 4/4/07]

Romney Became "Lifetime" NRA Member...LAST AUGUST. "Mitt Romney, who has touted his support of gun owners since launching his presidential campaign, yesterday acknowledged he did not become a member of the National Rifle Association until last August, campaign officials said. A former advocate of gun control, Romney during his 1994 run for the US Senate backed measures the gun-rights group opposed, such as a five-day waiting period on gun sales and a ban on certain assault weapons. The former Massachusetts governor has been criticized for changing his positions to appeal to social conservatives voting in Republican primaries." [Boston Globe, 2/19/07]

Romney: I've Been a Hunter "Pretty Much All My Life." During an appearance in Keene, New Hampshire, Romney touted his hunting credentials to a man wearing a National Rifle Association cap. Romney said, "I support the Second Amendment. I purchased a gun when I was a young man. I've been a hunter pretty much all my life. I've never really shot anything terribly big. I used to hunt rabbits." Romney added, "Shooting a rabbit with a single-shot .22 is pretty hard, and after watching me try for a couple of weeks, my cousins said, ‘We'll slip you the semiautomatic. You'll do better with that.' And I sure did." [Associated Press, 4/4/07]

But Romney's Been Hunting TWICE. Romney has only been hunting twice: as a 15-year-old; and last year, when he attended an outing of major donors to the Republican Governors Association on a fenced gaming preserve in Georgia. [New York Times, 4/6/07; Associated Press, 4/4/07]

And Romney's Never Held a Hunting License. Romney asserts that he hunted as a teenager mainly in Utah where a license is not required to hunt small game and animals. However, a recently passed law prevents public access to Romney's hunting license. Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Michigan officials report that Romney was never issued a license to hunt. [Associated Press, 4/8/07]

Romney Misled Public About Gun Ownership. Romney also told the online The Glenn and Helen Show that "I have a gun of my own." Later, Romney was forced to admit to reporters in Orlando that he in fact did not personally own any guns. [Boston Globe, 1/14/06]

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT