Yes, The Blue Dogs Money-Launder NRA Money Into The House Democratic Caucus

From time immemorial the Blue Dog organization has been soliciting money from the NRA and then spreading it out among its members. It’s a kind of money-laundering operation that allows Blue Dog members to get NRA cash without actually accepting it directly. Now many of them are pretending they never knew the source of the funds and they’re giving it back. Crooked right-wing Floridians Stephanie Murphy and Charlie Crist are two good examples. After the NRA massacre in Parkland, the two slimy Democrats were petrified they would be seem as NRA-allies and they were eager to see the Blue Dog organization to return the loot-- after the Miami Herald exposed the scam.

The Blue Dog PAC, which has doled out campaign cash to Florida Reps. Stephanie Murphy and Charlie Crist during the 2018 election cycle, said Tuesday it would return a $4,950 contribution from the National Rifle Association’s political arm in July 2017. The PAC will also not cash a $5,000 check from the National Rifle Association given to the Blue Dogs in January 2018, about two weeks before the nation’s deadliest high school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Murphy and Crist, who were both in favor of gun-control measures like a ban on assault-style weapons before the Parkland shooting, said they were not aware that the Blue Dogs’ PAC received NRA money during the 2018 election cycle. Murphy and Crist have both received $7,000 in direct campaign contributions from the Blue Dog PAC this election cycle, making it possible that their campaigns received NRA money.

“I am disappointed to learn that the Blue Dogs’ political arm accepted a contribution from the NRA, and I strongly urge them to return the contribution,” Murphy said in an email. “I am proud of the ‘F’ rating I’ve earned from the NRA. In recent weeks, we have seen historic progress and a major shift in the national conversation about how to prevent senseless gun violence, yet the NRA has continued to put the interests of corporate gun manufacturers above keeping our schools and communities safe.”

Crist echoed Murphy’s call for the PAC to return the NRA money.

“In keeping with the Blue Dog PAC’s decision not to accept NRA money, it would be prudent and correct that they return any contributions received this cycle,” Crist said in an email.

Two hours after the Miami Herald asked the Blue Dog PAC to explain why they accepted political contributions from the NRA, an organization that some of its members have publicly denounced, the Blue Dog PAC said it would return the money. The PAC has also decided not to accept any more NRA money this cycle.

The NRA’s political activity has come under increased scrutiny after the Parkland shooting on Valentine’s Day. Pro-gun control student activists from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have hammered Republicans like Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for accepting contributions from the NRA, and organized marches around the world with the intent of changing the nation’s gun laws to include policies like universal background checks and a ban on assault-style weapons.

The Blue Dogs are a group of 18 House Democrats who generally have more conservative voting records compared to other Democrats in Congress. Their ranks include the three Democrats who have received direct NRA contributions during the 2018 election cycle-- Georgia Rep. Sanford Bishop, Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar and Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson.

…Crist once enjoyed the support of the NRA, though his relationship with the nation’s largest gun lobby soured after he left the Republican Party to run for the U.S. Senate as an independent before switching his party affiliation to Democrat.

The article forgot the mention that the Blue Dogs have conspired with the DCCC this year to grow their coalition by sneaking a number of right-wing Democrats who support the NRA and oppose sensible gun reasons into Congress as Democrats. Although they hide their endorsees’ position on NRA affiliation, so far Anthony Brindisi (NY), Paul Davis (KS) and Jeff Van Drew (NJ) are all NRA allies who have been recruited by the Blue Dogs and endorsed by the DCCC… despite all having been firm NRA allies in their state legislatures with very clear records that explain why the NRA has given each an “A” rating.

The NRA also gives substantial cash and support to several Blue Dog incumbents directly, particularly Collin Peterson (MN), Kurt Schrader (OR), Vicente Gonzalez (TX), Henry Cuellar (TX) and Sanford Bishop (GA).