Washington Republicans think it’s good politics to attack a mother who lost her son to gun violence
Last night, Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) led the U.S. House of Representatives to make history.
For the first time in more than 20 years, the federal government is set to fund research into gun violence prevention – following the 1996 passage of the Dickey Amendment banning the practice.
In 2018, Democrats successfully lifted Congress’ ban. Now, after losing her son Jordan Davis to gun violence, Congresswoman McBath is carrying the torch – and Washington Republicans are losing it.
Here’s how POLITICO’s Jake Sherman put it in Playbook PM today:
“NRCC CHAIRMAN TOM EMMER said Wednesday in a closed House GOP meeting that he had a “mandate to be ruthless,” our colleagues Melanie Zanona and Laura Barrón-López reported. WELL, HOW’S THIS: The Republican campaign arm put out a video criticizing GEORGIA REP. LUCY MCBATH for her position on guns. McBath’s son was shot and murdered when he was a 17-year-old high school student.”
In response to the POLITICO report, DCCC Spokesperson Avery Jaffe issued the following statement:
“Washington Republicans are attacking a mother who lost her son to gun violence – and it’s that same type of ham-fisted politics that’s pushing suburban Georgia voters away from the GOP and into supporting leaders like Lucy McBath who are working to create safer communities.”
Remember: Last month, NRA President Carolyn Meadows, herself a GA-06 resident, attacked Rep. McBath, declaring the only reason why McBath was elected was because of her status as a “minority female.” After sparking national outrage and condemnation, the NRA president eventually apologized through a spokesperson.
And just a few weeks ago, perennial candidate and former Congresswoman Karen Handel – who was thrown out of office by Georgia voters in 2018 and is seeking a 2020 rematch against McBath – was caught on camera making similar comments: “claiming that the only reason McBath won in 2018 was thanks to the ‘emotion’ that came after her teenage son, Jordan Davis, was senselessly shot to death at a gas station.”
As McBath continues making history, Republicans have a problem on their hands.
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