When asked to explain his vote against the Manchin/Toomey gun control bill, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) told The Hotline one word: “Montana.”
That response naturally evoked the response, then why did Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), who campaigned against gun control, vote in support of the gun control legislation? The likely answer: San Francisco.
Nonetheless, Baucus’ vote against the gun control measure won’t be getting the long-serving Senator too many pats on the back, as his vote is seen as a transparent fear for his 2014 re-election bid.
In fact, Politico noted that North Dakota Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp was the only Democrat *not facing an election next year* to vote against the gun control bill. Tester, re-elected in the same year as Heitkamp, voted in support of the gun control measure.
One administration official told POLITICO the White House was especially disappointed with Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D), the only dissenting Democrat not up for re-election next year, who refused to go along with the bill even after White House chief of staff Denis McDonough visited her office to make Obama’s case on Tuesday.
Added Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.): “I never saw a president fight so hard, a vice president, never on any issue… It shows us the cowardice of the Senate.”
With one US Senator from Montana waiting until after the election to support a gun control bill, and the other voting against the bill out of fear for his own re-election, I think Barbara Boxer’s got a point- courage is in short supply.
Walter Morris
Friday, April 19, 2013 9:43 AM
I will agree with Barbara Boxer about her statement that she never saw a president fight so hard for what he wants. The question I do have is when is he going to want something that will actually benefit this country and not something to further his agenda for his one world government and complete control of the citizens of this country? We do have many problems that need addressing and doesn’t it seem that all his dividing and concern among those supporting this country to benefit our enemies seem questionable to say the least.