NRA 'pragmatism' takes a hit in New York

The NRA enthusiastically endorsed Republican Dede Scozzafava for the vacant Congressional seat in New York's 23rd Congressional district (excerpt).

Please the read the letter sent to Dede by NRA Chairman Chris Cox:

Dear Assemblywoman Scozzafava: On behalf of our four million members, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund is proud to endorse your candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in the special election in New York's 23rd congressional district.

During your tenure in the New York Assembly, you have been a strong and consistent supporter of the Second Amendment. You are the only candidate in this special congressional election with a solid pro-gun legislative record.

As David Codrea points out, that enthusiasm seems a bit misplaced.

This set off no small amount of criticism from gun owners who view Scozzafava as a "liberal" on a host of other issues. And that has been used by her Conservative Party opponent, Doug Hoffman, who makes sure we know he's an NRA member in his campaign ads (which begin with the Gadsden flag held high).

Now, like David, I have some reservations about Hoffman, as well, based on his refusal to answer the questionnaire, despite GOA's enthusiastic endorsement--although GOA does provide a nice summary of gun rights advocates' reasons to be weary of Scozzafava:

Mr. Hoffman’s other opponent, Dede Scozzafava, voted in 1999 for the kind of “study” of gun “safety” [ed. note--sound familiar?]that is so often used by the gun prohibitionists as a backdoor to greater and more intrusive regulation. Attacking gun owners’ rights under the cover of “safety” is a favorite tactic of the anti-Second Amendment crowd and she voted for it.

She also voted in 1999 to stick gun owners with a burdensome reporting requirement when a gun is stolen. Under that law, the victim of a gun theft can be criminally prosecuted if the theft is not reported quickly enough to suit the authorities. This type of law turns the victim into a criminal.

These are not the votes of a 100% defender of the Second Amendment.

In addition, this candidate has close ties to the radical anti-gun group ACORN. The current leader of ACORN, Bertha Lewis, also co-founded New York’s Working Families Party — a party that supported Scozzafava in past elections.

Well now, Scozzafava is out, after polls showed here in third place, in our (basically) two party system.

Republican state Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava has suspended her campaign for upstate New York's 23rd Congressional District seat, giving a possible boost to Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman against Democrat Bill Owens, Fox News has confirmed.

The move comes on the heels of a new poll that showed Scozzafava had fallen behind her two competitors in a close race.

Has "pragmatism" workin' for ya', Republican Party and NRA?

Update: David has more.