Does The NRA Rule The GOP?

Special interest groups? It would be naive to believe that we live in a true democracy. Yes this is the “Land Of The Free”, the great “Red, White and Blue”, but in reality we live in a society where our government is easily and often influenced, not by the will of the people, but more by the power and money of corporations, big business and special interest groups such as the NRA, the National Rifle Association and the recent Presidential nominee, Judge Sonia Sotomayor, to the U.S. Supreme Court is proof of this contention.

Washington being Washington, the close relationship between the GOP and the NRA is a great example of a symbiotic relationship. The NRA feeds the Republican Party and in return the GOP does the biding of its master and for the most part those in Washington tend to do as the NRA instructs. So it was no surprise when the NRA issued a threat against those in Washington who considered voting “YES” on the Sotomayor confirmation, nor was it a surprise when certain Senators chose to vote against the Judge after the NRA made it opposition to Sotomayor known.

The NRA’s influence in Washington is well known, from their ratings system of politicians which is used to rate those that are easily influenced by their money and power to those that do not hold their fevered views on guns. So to see them use their power in an attempt to extort our elected officials to do their bidding is frighten, as is the thought that any official in Washington can so easily be swayed.

So once again, power and money supersede right and once again the Republican party has be shown to be the puppets of the rich and powerful.

Comments: 7

Mary Ann S. Aug 2, 2009, 3:33pm EDT

Any one who runs for office has to take money from special interests. This will continue until the people are wise enough to vote with their heads, instead of whatever they now use to make decisions.

reply to this comment

David N. Aug 2, 2009, 3:42pm EDT

Is the making of weapons a bussiness? Is war a bussiness? There is no doubt that big bussiness and special interests control what happens in government. For instance...just look at the textile industry. Now...who runs the Nuclear Regulatory Commision? Who builds these bombs? Who builds the aircrafts? Who builds the rockets? These big corps run everything. There are many to blame... so go figure that greed destroyed the economy...and as they sit suffering with profit losses...they are scheming to take any and every dollar you have got. Tell me ...who does run the GOP? The war on terror?The war on drugs? The war on the environment? The war on God?

reply to this comment

Juan J Martinez Aug 2, 2009, 3:46pm EDT

Big oil and gun manufactures tend to have their way in Washington and the GOP are their lackies to do their bidding.

David N. Aug 2, 2009, 4:35pm EDT

It has been this way for some time

reply to this comment

Larry M. Aug 2, 2009, 4:42pm EDT

The GOP is not ruled by the NRA. Their association is too close for the NRA to have any meaningful leverage since they really can't go to the Democrats. But the NRA does have good access to publicity and the Republican talking points have trapped the Party into voting against the nation's best interests on many occasions. They would look like fools if they voted against the NRA positions after supporting them in public so often.

But there are special interest groups that also sway the Democrats. In fact, the major groups of power players sway both parties rather effectively. It isn't just a Republican problem, its a governing problem.