White House spokesman Josh Earnest said a presidential campaign appeal by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that says, “Obama wants your guns,” is a play to the lowest-common denominator in GOP politics.
“I think he’s appealing to people’s anxieties and insecurities, and even outright fears, in an attempt to win votes for his presidential campaign,” Earnest said when asked about the ad on Thursday. “And that’s unfortunate; in some cases it veers into the territory of being irresponsible. But, you know, ultimately, that’s clearly what he’s up to.”
“He’s not the only one, but he certainly is one of them,” Earnest added, speaking of Republican presidential hopefuls use of the issue.
President Obama is hosting a TV town hall meeting on gun control Thursday night to explain the 10 executive orders he issued on Tuesday aimed at tightening restrictions on guns, and to moderate a national debate on the issue of firearm availability and use in the country.
As for why some gun purveyors perpetuate the idea that the president wants to repeal the Second Amendment, Earnest said they do so to make money.
[T]here’s a profit motive on the part of the industry to try to convince their customers that the government wants to take away their guns or will somehow limit their ability to buy guns,” Earnest said. “Because you guys have all documented the fact that every time they say that, it works. People go out and buy record numbers of guns,” every time the president discusses gun violence. “So this has a whole lot more to do with a profit motive than it does anybody’s constitutional rights,” Earnest said.
