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Charles Rex Arbogast / AP
Robin Kelly celebrates her special primary election win for Illinois' 2nd Congressional District, once held by Jesse Jackson Jr., over Debbie Halvorson, and Anthony Beale Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, in Matteson, Ill.
Democratic congressional candidate Robin Kelly, who centered her campaign heavily on calls for tougher gun control laws, emerged from a crowded field on Tuesday to clinch her party’s nomination for the Illinois House seat vacated by Jesse Jackson Jr.
“You sent a message that was heard around our state and around the nation,” Kelly said in her victory speech late Tuesday night. “A message that tells the NRA that their days of holding our country hostage are coming to an end."
Her speech was focused almost solely on gun control, the issue that came to define the race in the Chicago-area district, an area of the country that has recently been at the epicenter of gun violence. Kelly skated to an easy victory, earning well over 50 percent of the votes with none of her competitors earning anywhere near that amount of support.
The former Illinois state representative was aided greatly by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s super PAC, Independence USA, which endorsed Kelly and spent more than $2 million in the race.
The PAC focused on taking down opponents for supporting certain gun-rights policies, including chief rival Debbie Halvorson, a former member of Congress.
"In the race to replace Jesse Jackson, watch out for Debbie Halvorson. When she was in Congress before, Halvorson got an 'A' from the NRA," argued an Independence USA TV ad, adding: "Debbie Halvorson -- when it comes to preventing gun violence, she gets an 'F.'"
Bloomberg tweeted his congratulations, writing, "As Congress considers the President's gun package voters in IL have spoken: we need common sense gun legislation now."
Prominently featured on Kelly’s website is a list of her five-point plan to reduce gun deaths.
"In Congress, Kelly will keep taking on the NRA, fighting to ban assault weapons and outlaw high-capacity ammunition clips," said one of her TV ads.
Kelly will go on to face a Republican challenger in April, but is expected to win easily in the heavily Democratic district.
NBC's Mark Murray contributed to this report
Leave a Comment:
Robin, You Go Girl.
We Girls need more heroines like you.
.
FORWARD...
P.S.:
Bloomberg - a GOP mayor - supported a Democrat in a race that is very local and far away from his base - NY. WOW, I haven't seen that before. But I'm glad the she won though.
BTW: where is everybody? Where are my beloved bloggers? I want to hear you.
Bloomberg is not a Republican, he is an independent.
Why? Because you are so insecure about your position you want some reassurance from someone else that also can't think for themselves?
wow, somebody talking gun control won in a state that is out of control. Ban assault rifles and high cap mags b/c they are whats causing all of the violence everywhere
The Chicago political machine keeps on rolling. Use the tragedy in Newtown to scare the voters into thinking that legal gun owners are to blame. Where does she stand on the other issues? Did she even campaign on the other issues that we are facing? Or is she just another party line hack incapable of thinking for herself? When a candidate uses one issue as a scare tactic to get elected, they are appealing to the lowest common denominator. It leads to easily corrupted and easily influenced leaders who will abandon principle in favor of power and money.
You hit the nail securely on the head.
Congradulations as the democratic party moves forward and the republican party is replaced by independants. The tea bags will be left to wallow in their own self pity. We see it here every day. Right talk?
Hey, Jontho, thanks for proving with your avatar that the statement "nobody wants to take your guns" is a total, bald-faced, blatant lie!!
(Everyone watch to see how long it takes for him to change it now that he has been exposed... by his own ignorant admission, I might add.)
Bloomberg is far from an Independent..... he's more Facist than anything.....
Sure. Tough gun control laws work in Illinois already...
She is just another liberal, probably crooked, Chicago Democrat being elected to Congress, which surprises noone.
That description fits to perfection someone else I know in Washington...
FIREARMS REFRESHER COURSE
Roy 1.13
Very well said... but those who do not have the ability to see or hear will not understand.
leave them alone... let the BLIND follow the BLIND... and let them both fall into the ditch!
They are stuck in the Matrix... and do not see that they themselves are slaves to the system... They are just thankful that their chains wear lightly on them...
Weeper Boehner needs to learn a thing or two from Robin about wisdom.
Yes we Can...
but whether Boehner can't ... learn & will never learn.
P.S.: from the news:
Well, there is no need to get vulgar? Debbie is another girl - we girls don't criticize each other.
"Weeper Boehner needs to learn a thing or two from Robin about wisdom." And what pearl of "wisdom" are you holding up as an example? That a million bucks or two will win you an election or that running to fill the office of a criminal that was elected by the same people who will vote for you is a wise thing to do? I don't see a great accomplishment there.
From the article... “You sent a message that was heard around our state and around the nation,” Kelly said in her victory speech late Tuesday night. “A message that tells the NRA that their days of holding our country hostage are coming to an end."...
You know that's just pillow talk right? Politicians will say whatever they think the majority wants to hear in order to get elected.
Lord, you are so right!!!I find it amazing that someone in Illinois is accusing the NRA of holding the country hostage. It is not the NRA, it is the gangbanger and the ghetto culture that is holding you hostage Kelly!!! It is amazing how one can so misdirect blame and people applaud their insincere, disingenous and weak efforts. Chicago presently has the strictest gun laws, but yet has the highest crime rates, yet it is the fault of an association? Are you kidding me?! How about instead of blaming law abiding citizens, you start blaming the hoodlums and forcing their worthless parents to take responsibility for the behavior of their savage children? How about that? Instead of blaming an association, whose members don't even live in these god awful communities, e.g. the ghettos, you start blaming the leaders who allow this behavior to continue, by blaming everyone else who happens to reside outside of these communities? The bottom line is that there will ALWAYS be guns. You cannont uninvent them. However, things can be done to curb the abuse of them. Perhaps start by severely punishing those that abuse the use of guns and holding them accountable. It's amazing how some insist on blaming others for an individual's actions and can't figure out why things never improve. Get a clue people!!!!
Blaming the NRA for firearms deaths is like blaming AAA for automobile accidents. Absolute...complete...stupidity
Stupidity.... liberals..... aren't those the same? The liberal mind thinks that they can legislate violence out of existence by restricting the rights of those that follow the law.
Next year, they are going to pass laws against hammers in an effort to prevent smashed thumbs.
But AAA doesn't actively campaign against traffic laws and auto safety standards...
At any rate, the fact that a gun control advocate got elected in an urban center with high levels of gun violence shouldn't be news. When someone like Kelly wins in the rural South or West, THAT will be news.
If you would do some research instead of believing the lies and propaganda from NBC, you would find that the NRA is a huge promoter of firearms safety education and tougher enforcement of existing laws as well as new laws for tougher penalties on criminals. But, the news media wants to portray the NRA in a bad light to promote their own agenda. What a surprise!!!
The NRA has turned from being a simple sportsman advocacy group into an extremist group. Politicians better be looking for a reasonable middle way. In other words, compromise, for a change. No private individual needs to own an arsenal of rapid fire killing machines.
When you are resisting an extremist President, it becomes necessary to become extremist yourself. Otherwise, the narcissistic, power hungry SOB will ride herd over everyone's constitutional rights.
Go NRA!
hey, Mr.UnSteady (#4.1)
Why do you want the NRA to Go? Please explain
Advocating for your rights isnt extremism. It truly terrifies me to know that people like you believe it is.
Hey, Pigotry, (4.2)
Why do you want Robin to go? Please explain.
Don't be a smart ass with me because I'm going to give shove it right back in your face.
FreeGecko, (#4.3), I assume you are responding to (#4). My comment in (#4.1) in no way means that I believe the NRA is being unreasonable. Extreme in their methods of PRESENTING the message, maybe, but not unreasonable in the message itself.
Hey, Mr.UnSteady (#4.4)
Ms. Robin is going to Washington. Don't you know? U Go Girl.
Obama is in no way "extremist." He's not a "socialist," or "marxist," or "muslim," either. It's nonsense hyperbole like this that turns the public away from the GOP message.
Mr Steady..no, my response was to Steve's original post. I agree with you and your position.
Millions of rounds of ammunition that can ONLY be used on domestic threats, unlimited surveillance, killer drones, unrestricted imprisonment of state enemies..... call me paranoid, but they ARE out to get us....
Our firearms are the ONLY thing standing between freedom & whatever world Obama & his type have planned for the rest of us.
SECEDE from DC..... the ONLY option.......
Millions of rounds of ammunition that can ONLY be used on domestic threats, unlimited surveillance, killer drones, unrestricted imprisonment of state enemies..... call me paranoid, but they ARE out to get us....
Our firearms are the ONLY thing standing between freedom & whatever world Obama & his type have planned for the rest of us.
SECEDE from DC..... the ONLY option.......
Millions of rounds of ammunition that can ONLY be used on domestic threats, unlimited surveillance, killer drones, unrestricted imprisonment of state enemies..... call me paranoid, but they ARE out to get us....
Our firearms are the ONLY thing standing between freedom & whatever world Obama & his type have planned for the rest of us.
SECEDE from DC..... the ONLY option.......
The NRA is a one issue organization...gun rights. That covers everything from "sportsmen" to gun safety and the 2nd Amendment. The NRA is only responding to attacks on gun rights that have been mainly initiated since Lyin' Bill Clinton was in office. Before that time there wasn't an incessant attack to take away the rights of citizens to own firearms. What would you expect? And if the government started making daily attacks to curb free speech, free assembly and other rights, would you not expect some backlash? No? No you'd probably go right along with it as long as it was "commonsense" and "for the children". No, I'm not a member but with all the dumbass headlong assaults on our rights being mounted, I may soon be.
bagdadjoe, great post. I'm also not an NRA member, but becoming more compelled to join every day.
I didn't even know the job was open for bidding?
So tougher gun laws in Chicago? I'm sure that will work out OK.
The lines will be really long if they pass another law and all the
thugs have to turn in their guns...
BTW, Bloomberg in his haste to write his gun law made the side arms
that the police in New York carry illegal? But he did get his feel good
law passed. You have to go fast because even the slowest of the slow
tend to think things through after a bit.
It would be like declaring Bloomberg GOP when he isn't?
Now PIG can go slurp a 32oz soft drink and break another great law,LOL
Evidence? The ACA. Now that thought is running for two plus years now and it isn't looking pretty. I wonder how many wish they would have known what was in it BEFORE they passed it now?
Big surprise--a district that elected a knee-jerk liberal crooked lunatic elects another knee-jerk liberal lunatic. The only "message" here is that the people who voted for Jackson are incapable of learning from their mistakes.
Let's attack the law-abiding folks again.... somehow that will affect the lawless.....
Great idea Robin, can't wait to see your next move.... maybe a new law limiting the snowfall in Chicago?
As are people who vote for TPers.
So she was aided in her campaign with $2,000,000 from a Superpac. I thought it was those evil Superpac's that the Dem's/libs were so afraid of and against, maybe it was those dastardly unions, oh no wait, unions can spend more than the pac's, but that is okay, as long as it is good for the goose (dem/lib) and bad for the gander (Rep/cons) then the normal rules do not apply.
Unions can spend more than pac's? Got a source for that?
Better stock up on large sodas and styrofoam cups, Chicago!
SteveR-2067355
No private individual needs to own an arsenal of rapid fire killing machines.
Who ever said freedom was about need?
Exactly! Nobody needs an iphone, because just the other day we read that someone used one for voyeurism. Nobody needs a swimming pool because God forbid children might drown in one. Nobody needs alcohol because someone might get drunk and go driving and kill someone. The list goes on and on and on. That's why every time di*khead Piers Morgan asks the question "why does anyone need..." , I just want to punch the socialist bastard in the mouth.
Its called a Bill of RIGHTS, not a Bill of NEEDS. Rights dont require justification.
Or perhaps an idiot moronic utopianist...
Taxed Enough Already
Marx,Karl
" " Take" From each according to their ability, "Give" to each according to their need?"
So redistribution, makes everyone equally, equal robin,g from the producers too support the slothful is a plan that will work. NOT,,, Removing the firearms, from those using them as self preservation tools surly, will cause the criminal predators to stop using guns to hunt & gather from their prey...Utopian nonsense...
Taxed Enough Already!!!
Utopian nonsense? Or is it just plain nonsense from a nonsensical mind???
Who is Carl Marx, is he related to Richard Marx...the musician of 'right here waiting'?
Nah, he was part of that comedy family in the 30's and 40's.
Pigotry, the fact that you so snidely dismiss Marxism principles and the alarming similarity to Obama's principles shows how truly ignorant you are. But you will just keep blindly following the liar-in-chief right down the path of destruction. Pathetic.
Way to go Robin Kelly!!! With the way things are going for the Party of Stupid, it won't be long till they are all gone! That is not good for American politics, but its going to be good for the country, it seems? Nothing will ever get done with the GOP/TP'ers in the HOR or congress, so, the sooner they make themselves extinct, the better off we will all be!!! Once we can get things passed, like the JOB'sBILL, more people will be working, and more taxes will get paid! We don't need cuts now, we need to infuse this economy with funds to get more people working! THAT is the right answer, but don't tell the Rethuglican'ts!!!
ATTN: GOP/TP get off your asses and get to work!!! Boner whines; we passed two bills in the house, its time for the Dems to get off their asses. Whine, cry, snivell!!! NO Bonehead, its time for you to put three, four, how ever many it takes, because thats YOUR JOB!!! What a flippin retard that Boner is, followed closely by McCan'tell!!!
Keep making stupid gun laws and its Dems who will be extinct. The criminals will take over your areas and only stop when you are all gone. Then we will have to come in and clean those places up.
Patience, Taxed Enough Already!!!
This is big news, IL elected a democrat, stop the presses.
Did they get a count on how many voters were actually alive yet?
It was a landslide! The dead voted in record numbers! Shocking...
Honest and free, you forgot to ask how many times that each person voted..
Good idea mark, yet impossible with the current political structure... So for now, apparently we are stuck in neutral pointing the middle finger at one another getting absolutely nothing accomplished towards American personal prosperity or debt reduction & nothing positive, all this glass is half empty, and it's you guys at fault, bovine excrement.... go team?---> sorry nope, go to hell------------4ward-->
To claim this is some kind of victory for the cause of gun control is...not journalism but propaganda.
But this is NBC, the official left wing propaganda network, after all.
Exactly. Its clear NBC is nothing but a propaganda machine at this point.
IT'S ABOUT TIME. There has to be SOMETHING to offset the Fox propaganda machine. We all lose when only one side is allowed to manufacture its own facts.
Competing facts encourage people to go looking for the truth instead of relying on the right or left wing mouthpieces. If you're not curious enough to fact check, you're your own worst enemy. And don't only look for things that support your current opinion - look for other viewpoints that may cause you to change your position. Challenge cutsy slogans or catch phrases that stifle debate and hide the true argument. These things need to be discussed.
Turn off the infotainers. They are only interested in making money at the expense of truth. Smooth talkers after advertizing dollars are not your friend.
Gun owners beware! Michael Bloomberg and his group are in the process of buying gun control in America. They have WAY more money than the NRA and history is on their side. Watch for them to fund gun control candidates (Oops, Citizens United coming back to bite you) and flood the media with their message. You all may want to remain in denial about this, but be honest with yourselves and think rationally about it. This isn't hyperbole, it's the future, and you ain't gonna like it.
Outrage to follow.
This isn't 32oz soda, salt at restaurants, and baby formula were talking about. I think Mr. Bloomberg might find that even with all his money he cant win this one.
That's why it is important for states like PA to get laws passed like below.
If we can establish a precedent, maybe other states will follow. Texas and Wyoming have already passed similar legislation. Use the 10th amendment to protect the 2nd!!! The PA constitution is clear:
http://www.repmetcalfe.com/guncontrol2013.aspx
If you are from PA, click the link and sign the petition!!
Many other dictators agreed with your liberal heros. Hitler, Castro, Obama, and others agree with you 100%. If only the American populace hadn't been armed, the Japanese may not have had TWO cities bombed with nuclear weapons, the only country to (so far) have to endure that. Think of all the lives that could have been saved had so many Americans had not been "gun nuts".
stevejc42: WHAT the h3ll are you talking about?
Make mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes. 1st offense---5 years, 2nd offense---10 years, 3rd offense--LIFE. Chicago would need to build LOTS more prisons. I could see 50% of Chicago being incarcerated (hmm not a bad idea). Try banning the criminals for a change not guns...Stricter gun laws for Chicago (LMAO), yea that is working so well for people who ignore laws in the first place.
Thank God!!! Maybe now Illinois will get busy making guns difficult if not impossible for ANYBODY to obtain!! There's not a chance in heck that any criminal element would be interested in bypassing or even ignoring the law. I'd be willing to wager that the criminal element (rapists, robbers, obama, holder, reid) are happier than just about anybody that only they will have guns.
More appropriate title would be "Bloomberg buys the election in Illinois."
But for $2,000,000? The anti Second Amendment politicians are getting expensive.
This outcome will help the rest of Illinois look more like Chicago. This is a true win for the gangbangers and other criminals.
GUN CONTROL = MORE CRIME!
some how-some way the state of illinois and all the voters there have to wake up to the understanding that chicago is not the only city in the state that counts, its a big state and chi-town is just a tiny tiny part of the whole
Chicago is in Illinois. Chicago has more illegal guns than Detroit or Philadelphia. No strict gun laws will ever take those ILLEGAL guns away from the gangs unless they make it a mandatory life sentence for using an illegal gun in a crime. Of course, those guns just don't show up there after a crime, because they are 'pool guns' from Mexico and are being used in Los Angeles and NYC, as well. Strict gun laws only affect how law abiding citizens protect themselves, and the gangs love that all the way to the crime scene -- knowing nobody is going to be able to shoot back. Outlaw the GANGS, not the legal guns! Make gang membership a felony with a mandatory jail sentence. That would clean out some of the crap in the streets of Illinois.
NBC is a pillar of journalistic integrity...aren't they the ones who dubbed in the "pro-gun hecklers" onto a video one of the parents of a shooting victim speaking? They don't just report news, they shape it!
Yeah, what the hell? If you can't find news that fits your ideology, make your own!!
Why these politicians keep campaining on gun control is beyond reason. No matter what they lie about, one thing is clear, you cannot ban or keep americans from having weapons unless you want to change the constitution. The Supreme Court would throw out any ban if it was challenged, (or at least they should if they are following the Constitution and if they did not, then it would be time for a revolution).
40% of guns sold do not have background checks performed on the buyer. These are acquired illegally through online gun sales, gun shows, etc.