Mitt the Lobbyist, GOP Lawmaker Plans Gun Raffle Fundraiser, and More

Candidates Talk Gun Control:

Nearly a week after the shooting massacre at a Colorado movie theater, President Obama and Mitt Romney finally spoke out about gun control. In a speech Wednesday, the president said he embraced some more restrictions on guns. “I also believe that a lot of gun owners would agree that an AK-47 belongs in the hands of soldiers, not in the hands of criminals,” Obama said. Romney, on the other hand, doesn’t favor changing any of the current gun laws. He also incorrectly said the suspected shooter had obtained his guns illegally. In fact, there’s been no evidence to suggest he got the weapons any way but legally. (Read more)

Romney’s Olympic Activity: Mitt Romney loves to talk about his role in turning around the 2002 Winter Olympic Games as chief of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. What he’s not so fond of discussing is that in addition to heading up the organization, he was also a registered lobbyist for it. Clearly, the subject is one Romney would like to forget. Especially when you consider he assailed GOP presidential primary challengers Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich for their lobbying activities. Pot, meet kettle. (Read more)

Mitt’s Problem Trait: Romney has another problem that begins with the letter “L”—likability. As in, people don’t seem to like him. In fact, he’s the least likable presidential candidate to run in modern times, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. “Romney’s overall favorable/unfavorable score remains a net negative — a trait no other modern presumptive GOP presidential nominee (whether Bob Dole, George W. Bush or John McCain) has shared,” according to NBC News’ First Read. Perhaps he would fare better if corporations were polled too. (Read more)

Gun to Be Featured at Fundraiser: Missouri state Rep. John McCaherty is planning to raffle off an AR-15 rifle — the same type of gun used in the Aurora, Colo., shooting that left 12 dead and dozens more wounded — at an event Aug 27. The fundraising raffle was planned before the shooting happened, but you might expect that McCaherty would, you know, make some changes in the wake of the deadly rampage. But no, McCaherty is still planning to go ahead with the drawing. In an email sent to supporters after this was revealed, he said he would ignore media questions about the event, and urged them to do the same. There really are no words. (Read more)

Did You Know? In addition to Romney’s possible lobbying for the Games, he was the first Olympic executive to approve commemorative pins with, uh, himself on them. And some of the pins feature talking animals. Yes, really. Take a look here.

Video of the Day: Kameron Slade, 10, was invited by the New York City Council to deliver a speech he wrote for class about supporting same-sex marriage that he was initially banned from reading at his school. Slade told the City Council: “Like President Obama, I believe that all people should have the right to marry whoever they want. Marriage is about love, support and commitment. So who are we to judge?” What an intelligent, thoughtful and articulate young man. Kudos to Kameron!

— Posted by Tracy Bloom.