English: Official portrait of Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate failed to pass a comprehensive Assault Weapons Ban crafted by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Sen. John Manchin (D-WV). The bill failed to receive 60 votes of support. Sen. Toomey and Sen. Manchin had been working for quite some time to reach a bipartisan solution to gun control, after Sen. Diane Feinstein’s (D-CA) bill failed to even reach the Senate floor. At the time Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) didn’t believe he had “enough votes” to pass the legislation.
Sen. Reid has since changed his position. On Wednesday, he voted in favor of the bill. Unfortunately, the U.S. Senate is filled with utter cowards. ONLY 4 Republican Senators voted in favor of the bill, including my state senator Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL). Others included Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). There were some Democratic Senators who opposed the bill most notably: Sens. Max Baucus (MT), Mark Begich (AK), Heidi Heitkamp (ND) and Mark Pryor (AK). I don’t think it is a coincidence these four senators faced close reelections in rural states with strong gun cultures.
Frankly, I think they should be ashamed. President Obama said: “All in all, this was a pretty shameful day for Washington.” I whole-heartedly agree with our president. There is ABSOLUTELY no reason that this bill, if not a more stringent version, did not easily pass the senate. The details of the bill were quite logical. Maybe I missed something since I didn’t read the bill in its entirety. Although I have a suspicion nor did many of our senators.
I will list every senator who voted “no.” I would like you to write to your senator and share your displeasure in his/her vote. Only then will they get the hint that we are FAR more important than what Wayne LaPierre thinks. You have to ask your senator this simple question:
“Do you plan on LEADING or do you plan on being a PUPPET for the NRA?”
Republicans:
Lamar Alexander (TN); Kelly Ayotte (NH); John Barrasso (WY); Roy Blunt (MO); John Boozman (AR); Richard M. Burr (NC); Saxby Chambliss (GA); Daniel Coats (IN); Tom Coburn (OK); Thad Cochran (MS); Bob Corker (TN); John Cornyn (TX); Michael Crapo (ID); Ted Cruz (TX); Michael B. Enzi (WY); Deb Fischer (NE); Jeff Flake (AZ); Lindsey Graham (SC); Chuck Grassley (IA); Orrin G. Hatch (UT); Dean Heller (NV); John Hoeven (ND); James M. Inhofe (OK); Johnny Isakson (GA); Mike Johanns (NE); Ron Johnson (WI); Mike Lee (UT); Mitch McConnell (KY); Jerry Moran (KS); Lisa Murkowski (AK); Rand Paul (KY); Rob Portman (OH); Jim Risch (ID); Pat Roberts (KS); Marco Rubio (FL); Tim Scott (SC); Jeff Sessions (AL); Richard Shelby (AL); John Thune (SD); David Vitter (LA); Roger Wicker (MS);
Max Baucus (MT); Mark Begich (AK); Heidi Heitkamp (ND); Mark Pryor (AR); Harry Reid (NV).
*Reid voted against the bill on the second vote to ensure a revote later if he could garner enough votes.
I think comedian host Stephen Colbert brilliantly explains what happened on Wednesday. Here is a link to his segment the other day:
What do you think?
Email: realtalkdebate2012@gmail.com
Twitter: @adrakontaidis & @talkrealdebate