Prominent Republican Donor Issues Ultimatum on Assault Weapons

[DonViejo]

Source: The New York Times




By ALEXANDER BURNSFEB. 17, 2018

A prominent Republican political donor demanded on Saturday that the party pass legislation to restrict access to guns, and vowed not to contribute to any candidates or electioneering groups that did not support a ban on the sale of military-style firearms to civilians.

Al Hoffman Jr., a Florida-based real estate developer who was a leading fund-raiser for George W. Bush’s campaigns, said he would seek to marshal support among other Republican political donors for a renewed assault weapons ban.

“For how many years now have we been doing this — having these experiences of terrorism, mass killings — and how many years has it been that nothing’s been done?” Mr. Hoffman said in an interview. “It’s the end of the road for me.”

Mr. Hoffman announced his ultimatum in an email to half a dozen Republican leaders, including Jeb Bush and Gov. Rick Scott of Florida. He wrote in the email that he would not give money to Mr. Scott, who is considering a campaign for the Senate in 2018, or other Florida Republicans he has backed in the past, including Representative Brian Mast, if they did not support new gun legislation.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/17/us/prominent-republican-donor-issues-ultimatum-on-assault-weapons.html?smid=tw-share

[dem4decades]

1. Did either Adelson or Wynn come out against assault rifles after Vegas?

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Adelson will never speak against the Gun Lobby.

And as far as Wynn,he is staying away from the Public .

[stopbush]

27. I was at a party in Las Vegas in 2004 where Adelson was a guest.

He was accompanied by two bodyguards packing Uzis.

[Hortensis]

31. Uzi supposed weapon of choice for a party? What a creep.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Maybe there is hope, although

I still would not trust a republican as far as I could throw him.

[PatSeg]

16. I know what you mean,

but I need to know that at least some of them have a soul. With so many, there doesn't seem to be a bottom to how low they will go.

No one is safe from gun violence in this country. No amount of money or power can protect you from a heavily armed person with an intent to kill as many people as possible.

[cvoogt]

3. Bit late to the party

but welcome

[JI7]

19. How is it late to the party when we don't have gun control ?

[cvoogt]

29. Because..

Just like the rest of us he's seen the news all these years and only NOW he appears to be coming to his senses.

[Hortensis]

32. As you say, late but a welcome voice that speaks a lot

more powerfully than most of their constituents'.

We're in the middle of this right now, of course, and can't see ahead. But could this finally be a tipping point, where doubt growing on the right from all the severely immoral and destructive Republican positions is weakening opposition to the one issue of gun control?

[mucifer]

4. I'm pretty jaded. I would doubt this person has as much money to throw around as the nra

[hibbing]

5. Won't matter n/t

[elleng]

7. Sad to see the negative responses to this here,

this is at least a beginning, and if Democrats don't recognize it, we truly ARE lost.

[Jedi Guy]

11. I agree.

When we finally find some common ground with someone on the other side, especially on such a contentious issue, that should result in positive responses. Whether they come to the table from a moral imperative or a financial one isn't really relevant, as long as they're at the table.

[elleng]

13. Thanks, Jedi Guy.

Welcome to DU.

[Jedi Guy]

17. You're welcome!

And thanks. Mirror images in our posts, I like it.

[femmedem]

14. Well said.

Last edited Sat Feb 17, 2018, 10:34 PM - Edit history (1)

Not only do we need to welcome new people to the table, but a Republican donor, presumably well-liked and respected by the very people we most need to persuade, is very valuable--and his statement is one of the first signs that things may be about to change in a big way, as they finally did with same-sex marriage and the legalization of marijuana.

Welcome to DU! I'm glad you're here.

[Jedi Guy]

15. Thanks for the welcome!

I'm hopeful that this time [and how sad it is that we have to say "this time"] there might be enough fury in the body politic to actually make some changes.

Unfortunately, there will be that solid core of people that'll resist any and every effort to regulate guns. And the NRA will be right there, hoovering up their dollars to forward them on to politicians who'll happily spend blood money. Why, it spends just like regular money, and the stains almost wash off, if you scrub hard enough...

[elleng]

18. YES.

Thanks, femmedem.

[SammyWinstonJack]

21. Agreed.

[Ferrets are Cool]

23. Every little drip will help. I support his response to this issue.

[BadgerMom]

24. I agree as well.

Accept a good thing. A crack in the wal isn’t all that’s needed, but it’s a start.

[Motley13]

8. probably not even close to NRA $, but looks like he has plenty

https://2001-2009.state.gov/outofdate/bios/h/58102.htm

google him & you can see his yuge house

[Frustratedlady]

9. Well, it's a dribble. Trump should know him and now we've seen his threat in writing. Remember

his name. If he backs down, it won't be a surprise but he will need to be reminded of this pledge.

[Turbineguy]

10. Eventually the costs

of these massacres reach outside of the immediate circle of relatives and friends.

When republicans start losing money, they notice.

[Hekate]

12. Well, it's a start

[JI7]

20. Good for him, we need everyone to support common sense. Conservative parties in other countries

Also realize how stupid the US is when it comes to guns.

[beachbum bob]

22. the fractures are appearing and I expect to see more of these statements as even republicans are

tired of the inaction by congress and the blatant disregard of the NRA and the gun lobby for american lives, especially our kids. Assault weapons have no business in the hands of civilians. Period

[iluvtennis]

25. I'd love for the gun control changes to be revolutionary, but that won't happen, so baby steps are

good start.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

26. Have to hit 'em in the pocket book

It'll take a few more donors standing up to make a difference however.

[dflprincess]

28. All the demands from constituents for reasonable gun laws have fallen on deaf ears

this, however, may work. And, while I'd be happy to see the assault gun ban reinstated, I am disgusted that the threat of losing campaigns funds might be what does it.

It's time to change the national motto to "Money Talks".

[Dan]

30. Well, its not the voters

But rather the OWNERS that are speaking...

[muriel_volestrangler]

33. Kick (nt)