2010 Wisconsin Candidate Ratings on Gun Rights Voting Released
Wisconsin Gun Owners
Madison, Wis. –-(Ammoland.com)- A Few Questions: What if politicians could be objectively evaluated on their views of guns and gun issues and on their actual votes, without the usual bias associated with gun lobbies trying to get — and keep — a seat at the politician's table?
What if the gun lobby could honestly rank a candidate based on his or her actual performance, rather than using rankings as favors or the proverbial carrot-in-front-of-the-nose as is the case by so many establishment groups — groups who believe heaping praise on a candidate before they've earned it will "lure" a politician into favoring a group or its issues?
What if the gun lobby could publish these ratings without fear of angering politicians — because it's our view that the politicians work for us, not the other way around?
About These Ratings
These ratings do not imply endorsement of or opposition to candidates. Those candidates who earned "A" ratings may be downgraded over time if they become obstinate — or upgraded if there is improvement, though the path down is much faster than the path up. These ratings are not designed to be a "voter's guide." All candidates for the Wisconsin legislature and congress are surveyed in July following the registration deadline, giving every candidate, regardless of party, equal opportunity and time to respond. All candidates are informed in writing that a failure to respond results in an automatic failing grade (F). However, completing the candidate survey satisfactorily will not guarantee the candidate a favorable ranking. Voting record and attitude are also taken into account and duly punished where applicable.
Click here to download the 2010 Candidate Survey
Why Are We So Harsh?
We're not any more harsh in our grading curve than second-grade teachers who fail students who don't turn in their homework. Politicians are behaving badly, like spoiled children. Over time, they've learned they can get away with playing both sides and still garner gun owner support. This misbehavior has become normalized because the groups who rely on these politicians for fund-raising feel they need to provide political cover, which creates a vicious cycle (How many times have we seen a politician pull out the "I'm NRA A-Rated!" excuse?).
The proper question to ask is, Why is the institutional gun lobby using ratings to buy access — versus as a measurable standard? Furthermore, why is the status quo so lax in rating candidates, given how these very same candidates have ravished our gun rights over time with impunity? The WGO Candidate Survey and Ratings solve these issues at the root of the problem by bringing accountability to the underlying causes. Not hindered by the pressure of trying to please candidates for favors (crumbs, actually), WGO's inherent posture gives gun owners a powerful platform from which to begin accurately evaluating performance. If you don't know how anti-gun politicians really are, you simply won't react as if anything's wrong. Now you can.
If your representative earned an F, or didn't return their survey, we urge you to click on your candidate's name, which will take you to their webpage where you can find contact information. Call and write your representative and ask them why they couldn't fill out a simple questionnaire about their views on the Second Amendment. Ask them what excuse they have for not returning the WGO Survey.
Click Here for the complete list.
WGO works for grassroots gun owners, not politicians. While many gun lobbies fight for "reasonable gun control," WGO sets a higher standard: Defining the terrain of pro-gun political battle. Sure, many groups claim they're "pro-gun" – all the while they provide cover for anti-gun deals cut by politicians – but only WGO truly informs gun owners, remaining committed to a 100% pro-gun position. We oppose all gun control – regardless of the political party – and work tirelessly to restore the Second Amendment. Visit www.wisconsingunowners.org