Sen. Cruz: Gun Control Will Cost Democrats The Senate

I asked back in January if Obama’s gun control push gave us the 2014 midterms.  In four months, support for stricter gun laws has dropped from 57% in December to 47% today.  We’ve returned to normalcy on this issue.  We have a bill that wouldn’t have stopped Newtown, and adds more needless regulations on law-abiding citizens that are trying to protect themselves, their families, and their private property. Yet, with the Republican filibuster roundly beaten in yesterday’s vote, the media attention is off Republicans – but will the spotlight be directed towards red state Democrats?  Sen. Cruz told the Hill on April 10 that:

[I]n fact, in my view, as a result of their onslaught on the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, I think there’s going to be a very significant consequence in 2014…I think as a result of this fight that President Obama is picking, I think the stage is set for Republicans to take control of the United States Senate because of this fight right now, because of coming after the right to keep and bear arms of peaceful law-abiding Americans. I think a number of red state Democrats who are up for reelection in 2014 are going to lose their seats and I think they should.”

He’s talking about Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana), Mary Pryor (D-Arkansas), and Mark Begich (D-Alaska) to name a few.  Then again, they’re the ones who will kill the assault weapons ban amendment proposed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein.  Also, no magazine limits will be passed by the Senate.  In all, nothing in this bill would’ve prevented Newtown.  Nonetheless, the fact that they’re even debating these gun control measures is enough to end their careers.

This brings us back to 2009-10 when conservative blue dog Democrats tried to fight for a deficit neutral health care plan, and many voted against Obamacare when it came down to the final vote. Yes, they were deficit hawks during the debate.  Yes, former Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Michigan) was a thorn in the side of the more progressive caucus with his crusade to make sure that Obamacare didn’t surreptitiously fund abortion.  In the end, they were decimated in the 2010 midterms. Let’s hope for a more destructive replay.  If we get the gavels of the Senate committees into Republican hands, Obama’s second term agenda is virtually finished.