NASHVILLE, Tn. — Faced with Hillary Rodham Clinton as the likely 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, the head of the National Rifle Assocation Friday blasted her as a self-serving liar who would ban guns as president.
“Her history of scandal and controversy is almost endless,” said Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the National Rifle Association in opening the 144th annual meeting.
LaPierre and many of the 70,000 members at the convention scoffed at Clinton’s plan to announce her presidential bid on Saturday.
“Is Hillary the best we can do?” LaPierre asked during the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum.
“No!” the 4,000 ticket holders answered.
LaPierre reviewed Clinton’s history dating back to her days as first lady of Arkansas through her recent job as secretary of state. He raised Whitewater and the cattle futures scandal and even hit her for working to protect Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
He said that the former president “stalked and seduced” Lewinsky and that Hillary Clinton “actively participated in a coverup and ensuing smear campaign against the victim.”
LaPierre warned Democrats that without a rigorous primary fight, like the Republicans are planning, the Democrats will get a “coronation.”
He said, “Is Hillary Rodham Clinton really the first woman president you want?”
LaPierre also warned that Clinton would reenact her husband’s efforts to ban guns. “Hillary Rodham Clinton hasn’t met a gun control bill that she couldn’t support,” he said.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
