Big 'Shock': House Dem Gun Control 'Sit-In' a Fundraising Stunt
“If this is not a political stunt then why are they trying to raise money off of a tragedy?"
6.23.2016
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We know -- it comes as a big shock to everyone -- House Democrats exploited a tragedy to line their own pockets. Their 21-hour, fully catered drum circle in support of gun control legislation turns out to have been nothing more than a fundraising stunt.
We're not sure what gave it away -- the fact that Sen. Elizabeth Warren took selfies with the group while enjoying a Dunkin' Donut or the fact that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) -- the fundraising arm for House Democrats -- circulated a fundraising letter on the basis of the "sit-in."
"Their sit-in has lasted for 21 long hours — and still, there's been NO vote on gun safety," the DCCC email solicitation states. "We need to defeat spineless Republicans."
The letter asked for 30,000 more donations before the "sit-in" protest would end.
According to the Washington Examiner, last week the DCCC boasted that it raised nearly $2 million more in May than the National Republican Congressional Committee. So, why lose momentum when there's a crisis to exploit?
For his part, Speaker Paul Ryan was livid, blasting House Democrats for the spectacles they made of themselves. During a press conference on Thursday, Ryan brandished printed copies of the fundraising solicitation:
“House Democrats on the House floor. Your contribution will go to the DCCC,” Ryan pointed out. He continued by pointing to each fundraising box in turn, “Fifteen dollars, this one says try giving us 25 bucks, but if you want you can send us 50, a hundred, 250 dollars, 500 dollars, a thousand, because look at what we’re doing on the House floor. Send us money.”
Ryan continued, “If this is not a political stunt then why are they trying to raise money off of this? Off of a tragedy?"
"What they’ve called for failed in a committee in the House. The reason I call this a stunt is because they know this isn’t going anywhere. It already failed in the Senate. They may not like this fact but this bill couldn’t even get 50 votes in the United States Senate, let alone sixty. Why is that? Why is it that this bill failed on a bipartisan basis in committee and this bill failed on a bipartisan basis in the Senate? Because in this country we do not take away people’s constitutional right without due process. This is not just Republicans saying this. It’s groups like the ACLU who are saying this."
Ryan, as if talking to schoolchildren, went on to point out the obvious: that in the wake of the Orlando terrorist massacre Congress needs to be focused on "confronting radical extremism" because "terrorism is the issue."
"Let me say it again, terrorism is the issue and defeating terrorism is our focus in the House. So let me be really clear. We are not going to take away the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans. And we’re not going to allow publicity stunts to prevent us from doing our job."
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