Terrorist video used in ad against McConnell
(CNN) - A liberal nonprofit group said Thursday it would begin airing an ad hitting Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell that uses a video produced in 2011 showing an American al Qaeda spokesperson showing how to obtain guns in the U.S.
Americans United for Change, the group behind the ad, will initially spend $5,000 to air the spot in Lexington, according to spokesman Jeremy Funk.
[twitter-follow screen_name='politicalticker']
"Most Kentucky residents want background checks for gun sales, but Republican leader Mitch McConnell is against them. So who does agree with Mitch?" a narrator asks in the ad.
A clip from the al Qaeda video shows California-native Adam Yahiye Gadahn saying “You can go down to a gun show at the local convention center and come away with a fully automatic assault rifle, without a background check, and most likely without having to show an identification card. So what are you waiting for?"
That particular section of the video is erroneous - it is illegal to purchase a fully automatic weapon in the U.S by anyone but a strictly licensed and regulated federal firearms dealer with special permission.
However, other types of guns can be sold at gun shows or through private sales without a background check, a fact some lawmakers want to change. The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to overcome a filibuster led by some Republicans, including McConnell, against tougher gun laws, clearing the way for a major congressional debate on a package of proposals sought by President Barack Obama in the aftermath of the Connecticut school massacre.
“Do Sen. McConnell and fellow Republicans who oppose broader background checks realize how totally out of step they are with the American people considering the only people who agree with them are big gun manufacturers, criminals, and terrorists? Talk about bad company," wrote Tom McMahon, executive director of Americans United for Change, in a statement.
McConnell's campaign manager Jesse Benton responded to the spot.
"A lot of Kentuckians support the Second Amendment; that doesn’t make them al Qaeda. It’s outrageous the left would make the comparison, but not surprising considering their track record of bullying anyone who disagrees with their point of view," he said in an email.
The group is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(4), which means it isn't legally required to disclose its donors.
- CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
- Republican lawmaker calls TikTok 'an immediate threat' and calls for app to be banned
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Trump leans into extremism at first 2024 rally as legal woes mount
- Supreme Court declines to hear Kansas racial gerrymandering case
- Supreme Court won't review contempt conviction of anti-Chevron environmental lawyer
- Untitled
We have full circle, finally tying the GOP to the NRA to America's enemy. It is fully time to act on the info.
Who need a gun when Lies Inuendo and mis reperesntation will do.
__________________________________
Yup, the way to deal with those pesky facts is to be delusional.
kevin halgren
The majority of people didnt want obamacare either i guess that means the dems are out of touch also
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The people wanted single-payer but the dems did what they ALWAYS do – capitulate – and we end up with watered down legislation that accomplishes little.
Go for it !
This ad is great and something the repos would do. Glad they beat them to it. I think we need a full investigation then maybe a fillabuster and then then many hours of discussion and then we can blame it all on the president.
I can't watt to hear Mumbles scream about "terrorists" and "unamurkins" relating to this video. THe GOP loves to grandstand about patriotism but they have no more than anyone else. It was Gestapo tactics, next it will be "enabling terrorists"....buh bye Beaker
"The people wanted single-payer but the dems did what they ALWAYS do – capitulate – and we end up with watered down legislation that accomplishes little."
-------
Oh, it accomplishes PLENTY. It raises premiums, it raises taxes, it causes physicians to leave practice... and it hasn't even fully kicked in yet. Bravo.... Bravo.
McConnell is Political toast. He is the most obstructive person in the entire Congress. People will not forget his infamous statement about the Republicans primary goal of defeating the President. That is all that he has done is obstruct and filibuster everything attempted by Obama.
He is NO public servant and always puts Partisan goals ahead of the American people. He and his ilk like Cantor have no business being in Congress and never did.
The message in their commercial is a little over-the-top but, I hope there is an end to McConnell soon. Talk about a man who's shady as they get, not representing the normal folks'– but, rather, whomever is lining his pockets. Ok, my rant is done - but, I hop his days are numbered - and short at that...