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Subscribe to RSSVice President Joe Biden argued Wednesday that Democratic voters in yesterday’s special Democratic congressional primary in Illinois illustrated that there is a larger national mandate for tighter gun restrictions.
“The voters sent a message last night, not just to the NRA but to the politicians all around the country by electing Robin Kelly, who stood up and stood strong for gun safety totally consistent with our Second Amendment rights,” Biden told a gathering of state attorneys general in Washington D.C.
Kelly, a former state representative, won decisively over U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson, a Democrat who at one time had been favored to win the Chicago-area seat. But Halvorson faced over two million dollars’ worth of negative advertising funded by pro-gun control billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who attacked her for an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association.
Vice President Joe Biden speaks to the National Association of Attorneys General about gun reform on Wednesday.
The congressional district, which is heavily Democratic, includes some of Chicago's South Side neighborhoods as well as suburban areas south of the city.
Biden said Kelly’s decisive victory sent an “unequivocal signal” in the first major electoral contest since the shootings at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.
“The message is there will be a moral price as well as a political price to be paid for inaction,” he said.
After meeting with Biden today, Bloomberg said he believed the race showed that support for stricter gun laws won't hurt candidates.
Bloomberg said the White House should reach out to members of Congress to explain "why their vote could make a difference and why all the polls show that they will not be disadvantaged the next time they run."
"Quite the contrary," he added. "They will have this as a feather in their cap and be able to say next time they run ‘when the going was tough, I stood up for you.’”
NBC's Kasie Hunt contributed to this report.
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I never cease to be amazed at how afraid most of the gun folks seem to be. Scared of everything and everyone all of the time. What a sad life it must be when it is lived in fear - the government, the criminals, the tyrants, the heaven-knows-what...all out to get you if you don't carry that gun. Sounds exhausting. Life can actually be fun when you're not constantly paranoid.
I dont carry a gun nor do I blame it for violence . Maybe if we executed the criminals who use guns in crimes there would be alot less crime .
Head, you are an example of a no nothing voter.
"Gun Folks".... Does that mean anyone who owns a gun? carries a gun? Cares about the 2nd Amendment? I own guns, don't carry any on me, hunt rarely, shoot at the range often. I enjoy shooting as a sport/hobby, and appreciate the complexity and craftsmanship inherent in many firearms. I'm not scared on a daily basis. I do keep a pistol loaded in my house. It's there, so why not? Never hurts to be prepared, just in case. I know a vast number of people extremely similar to me in terms of my mentality on firearms... and none that fit your description. Maybe I just fell in with a good crowd? :).
Huh...I dont live in fear. I have a gun...maybe thats why.
The likely-hood of me having to use my concealed carry weapon to protect my family or myself isn't anymore than my house erupting in flames. But just because I have two fire extinguishers and six smoke alarms doesn't mean I'm scared or paranoid. It's called being prepared and am willing to go to any length to protect my loved ones.
...and every national election from now on will be decided by these major cities of liberal slobs...there is no hope...your conservative vote is now meaningless in national elections...its over...debt, crime and taxes...that's our future...
Walt - Right on. By the way and I hope you don't take offense but did you ever see the Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham. He has a dummy named Walter and he is a dead ringer for the Vice President. I think Dunham should rename the dummy and change it to Joe.
Of course the liberal left and the media is not going to question how easy it is to buy an election. Bloomberg admit being involved in spending $2 million in advertisement for an Illinois candidate who is "the strongest anti-gun" candidate on the ballot. And the White Stooge, comes out and says the Illinois race "sent a message on gun control.
I have to agree it sent a message. The message is that the democrats have shown once again how sleazy their politics are. And to think that Illinois, the most political corrupt state in the nation can send any type of message that could be beneficial to the nation is ludicrous to say the least. I live in Illinois and I know.
The entire state is controlled by the democrats and we rank first in the nation for corruption, insolvency, and most likely state to go bankrupt. A Hundred BILLION pension deficit, several years behind in paying state bills to contractors, highest corporate tax rate, and just increased state income tax by 67% and they are sending a message...give me a break. And we wonder why Obama's seat was up for sale and Jesse Jackson Jr and his wife are going to prison.
Its Chicago, its the left wing democrats, its all for sale. Get the message?
Hit the nail on the head. You have to love the irony... Chicago, Illinois has one of the nations largest systemic gun violence/gang violence issue along with some of the most restrictive gun control legislation. You would think gun control proponents would avoid Illinois in any discussion regarding gun control.
So Democrat Socialists don't even want to know how much they are screwing our kids and grand kinds!
Democrat Socialists are ID10TS!
Great plan...stick your heads in the sand and ignore the problem. It is scary that they see guns as a bigger threat than the debt.
They are so concerned with someone with a big bad gun threatening their right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, yet this level of debt is going to threaten those rights for everyone of us.
"The congressional district, which is heavily Democratic, includes some of Chicago's South Side neighborhoods as well as suburban areas south of the city."
The NRA and Conservatives are not the issue. How many of those are you going to find in shooter ravaged CHICAGO!?
All the statistics in Chicago prove is that Democrats, especially in inner cities, should not have guns! The average NRA member or Conservative is not a gun liability.
Look at the statistics.
The "average" person who kills with a gun is likely to be on the opposite side of that fence, I.E, an Obama supporter!
The People of Illinois sends lots of messages.
They practically invented the mafia... They vote governors who go to Federal Prison... They support the strictest gun laws that lead to the most gun deaths... They have some of the lowest test scores in public schools.... They will vote for a man who vanished without a trace for months...
The question is what idiot listens to anything that comes from Illinois? You might as well take advice on Urban Planning from Detroit!
You have an almost totally Democrat city blaming the NRA and Conservatives for their rampant killing among their Democrat selves.
Proves maybe, Democrats should not have guns and everyone else better have one for protection from Democrats?
You have an almost totally Democrat city blaming the NRA and Conservatives for their rampant killing among their Democrat selves.
Proves maybe, Democrats should not have guns and everyone else better have one for protection from Democrats?
A Democrat winning a Democrat primary in Illinois. Definitely a sign that the entire country wants gun control. LOL
Which is the only remaining state that does not allowed concealed carry under any circumstances? You guessed it. Illinois. And where is the murder capital of the world? Chicago.
What a bunch of racist libtards. Sure, the election sent a message all right, but it had nothing to do with gun control. The message is that any negro will win over any white in the many racist parts of our country, no matter the qualifications. But let's pretend it's all about gun control in a city where nearly all guns are already illegal. Stoopid racist libtard sheep. obaa-baa-ma gimme my obamaphone. Idiots.
....two million buck$ of negative ads doesn't hurt either...
Background checks might pick up a mentally ill person, a person with manic or suicidal history, and disallow his purchase of a gun. The mass killers, the frustrated firee, the impulsive delusional, may not have a criminal history. Bottom line, the fewer guns in the environment, the fewer killings with guns. The fewer assault weapons or clips, the fewer mass killings. There's no freedom of speech when a hostile listener is fondling an assault weapon.
The fewer cars, the fewer auto deaths. The fewer bars, the fewer alcohol-related deaths. The fewer rights we have, the fewer rights will be violated. You are a typical libtard moron. Yep, the government will take care of us. Yep, call the cops when someone is pointing a gun at you - that'll sure keep him from killing you, right? And when the lib-enforcers knock at your door, who will protect you? The right to bear arms is not to allow for hunting, it is to allow us to protect ourselves from an over-reaching government. You remember our history, right? The Revolutionary War? The one that would not have been fought or won if the average citizen had not been armed? Or did the union libtard teachers even teach that to you? Or maybe they did but you were out riding your skateboard? Stoopid libtard sheep. obaa-baa-ma gimme my obamaphone!! Maybe you are one who would prefer a return to a monarchy? All hail King Hussein!
we all know demorats are idiots, so a Illinois demonrat race between two demonrats, who cares, the rest of the world is NOT progressive demonrats! you all will find that out.
Repubs are idiots too. Did you not live through the war criminal extraordinaire Cheney and Bush II years?
Really....Cheney and Bush...how original. The Dems are into their second term and during the first two years of the first term had a super majority. Time to put on your big boy pants and assume some responsibility!
Still blaming Bush? Come on guys, move on.
In Jesse Jackson Jr.'s old district in corrupt Illinois no less, that election is a national message? LOL. Biden, you blowhard fool, please stifle yourself.
Geez, the election was won by a New Yorker with money to burn; they can't even add her (Ms. Kelly) name to the quote.
Yes, Joe, that message was loud and clear: You can pretty much buy political seats if you've got enough money.
I think anyone with half a brain already knew that.
As a member of the congregation, I must say, I heard no message since the minister was preaching to the choir.
`
We haven't for a very, very, very, very long time!
Wow, I see that name-calling is the norm here. If someone disagrees with another, that person must be an idiot or worse. And we blame the politicians? It may be that we have gotten what we deserve.
Does anyone actually understand the principles of serious debate, or is this forum only for one-upsmanship and snyde comments?
it's MSNBC, only one-upsmanship and snyde comments. No actual debate can occur here. Besides, a serious debate is lost on liberals.
Facts don't matter much to the GOP either in case you have been on FOXNews too long. Both parties are douches.
So a Democrat beating a Democrat in the state that has some of toughest gun control laws in the ENTIRE NATION, and yet has the HIGHEST murder rate in the nation is some kind of "message" about gun control?
Geez libs, I know you like morons running your lives, based on the "geniuses" you vote to "lead" you, but even you have to admit that Biden has got to be one of the STUPIDEST Vice Presidents we've had in our history.
Well, maybe not. You probably think that it's wonderful that a man that is protected by people carrying AUTOMATIC WEAPONS should be telling you that you shouldn't actually allowed to own a weapon to protect your own home, family, and self simply because it has a pistol grip on it.
Here you have an almost totally Democrat city blaming the NRA and Conservatives for their rampant killing among their Democrat selves. What does NRA or anyone else but Democrats who are killing each other in the already most gun regulated city in the U.S. have to do with it?
Proves maybe, Democrats should not have guns and everyone else better have one for protection from Democrats?
How do you consider it a "National Message" when a virtually "One Party" city passes the agenda of that "One party." Hilarious!
Joe Biden is a fine piece of work who must be an embarrassment to Obama and THAT is a stretch!
What this article most demonstrates is that Joe Biden will ALWAYS be the biggest moron ever to to go Washington
After reading your comment Larry, I was sitting here trying to think of a bigger moron then Biden as vp but I can't. Biden even makes Dan Quayle look like he had some brains.
CherylLM,
No Biden just came out and told all of us to buy a shotgun. He proceeded to tell us how his wife should stand on the porch and blast both barrels that no one would dare come after that. Hmmm, how is Jill going to reload in time to blast away again if she happens to miss?
Apparently Biden believes that a double barrel shotgun will stop a crook hellbent on attacking a woman with children in THEIR home.
If thats what he thinks I am sure he wont mind giving up his Secret Service protection. Wanna take bets on that happening?
Biden is a stupid azz and most the elitist extreme liberals on this blog are stupid also. Ilinois means squat and most of you don't even know your own party. That was one all black district who re-elected JJ jr after he had been indicted.
You are responsible today for part of the voting rights act being thrown out. Montana, Colorado, Washington, Arkansas, West Virginai all midwestern, western or gun states with 2 democratic senators, Indiana, North Carolina, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Louisana, Missouri, Oregon, Florida and Nevada all with at least one Democratic Senator and all could lose re-election if you keep shoving your social agenda down our throats. Have you even been watching the Republicans, how they ran people off. You want Mitch McConnel to be the Senate Majority Leader?????? Do you know who confirms US Supreme Court Justices???? It appears the extreme left just like the tea party also eats their young or anybody who doesn't agree with them. There are good honest hard working people in all of those states that don't agree with you and it won't pass. All that is going to happen is that you will give the tea party control of the US supreme court. Clinton was smart enough to see this obviously none of you are.
Another crooked Chicago politician is elected and Biden thinks that it sends a message on guns. No, it sends a message that the folks in Chicago like electing crooks... BHO was elected by 51 - 49 percent... the 49 percent will never allow the 51 percent to dictate their socialist agenda to the rest. It is time that the United States goes the way of Yugoslavia... hopefully peacefully.... but, it is a foregone conclusion that it will happen, as there are too many religious, political, and cultural differences between the two groups to ever be resolved. I'll stay on our ranch on the NM/TX border and watch the fun. Of course, with global warming, we might get lucky and have CA and NYC sink into the ocean.... the Californians can go to Mexico and the New Yorkers can go to Chicago... a good fit for both.
Chicago is the poster child for less gun control. After years of a ban on guns within the city the violent crime rate is the highest in the nation. Why would anyone think more restrictions will solve the problem.
This is the classic definition of insanity.
"doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
I see dumbass Joe is making a fool out of himself again with his stupid comments. Why is not ironic that a heavily democratic district voted for a gun control freak over someone who believes in gun rights? Keep over-reaching Joe. One of these days your party will get more than a slap on the wrist. Maybe then you'll snap back to reality, but I doubt it.
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Where are all of the nutjobs on the left that are normally running their fat mouths on these boards? I guess this story doesn't fit into their narrative. You get one of those every once in a while when the MSNBC staff is tired.