Senate GOP Caucus Divided On Gun Background Checks

Remember the constant media drumbeat of “Democrats Divided On [fill in the blank]”? My, how times have changed:

Ask a Senate Republican if he or she supports an assault weapons ban and you’ll likely get a “no.” But ask about tighter background checks — one of few items in President Barack Obama’s gun violence package with a shot at passing Congress — and you’ll likely get a vague response about needing more information, if you get a response at all.

“Uh, I don’t know what you mean,” said Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), who then ended the conversation by turning around and walking into a room where senators were having lunch, closing the door behind him.

“I need to have more details. I, you know, I just need — you need to ask me after I’ve talked to our judiciary staff in our office,” said Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), also heading to the Senate lunch. “I hate to respond just in the hallway, so I won’t.”

“I’ve got — my wife’s here. I’m sorry. I’ve gotta — thanks,” said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).

…

“This is an issue we’re not going to run from,” [Sen. Majority Leader Harry] Reid said.

By: dave-dr-gonzo

David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.

* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.