Rolling StoneMay 8, 2023
“I hear our governor talking about mental health issues. We’re always going to have mental health issues, but if we don’t do something about the guns, the people-killing guns, then we’re going to continue to have the same thing happen.” https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/allen-shooting-first-responder-calls-out-greg-abbott-1234731215/
Allen Shooting First Responder Calls Out Greg Abbott

“If we don’t do something about the guns then we’re going to continue to have the same thing happen,” Steven Spainhouer said on Monday

Rolling Stone
Show threadNicole Parsons

@RollingStone

Remember Abbott isn't the one running Texas. Abbott's donors run Texas.

The donors fund Abbott to keep the gun nuts voting for Republicans.

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/18/greg-abbott-texas-fundraising-governor-donors/

In Texas, where money has long dominated politics, Greg Abbott is in a league of his own

The two-term governor’s donors enjoy access, appointments to boards and commissions, and a chance to bend the ear of a politician who may harbor bigger ambitions.

The Texas Tribune
May 8, 2023 at 5:02pmWeb
Show thread72mzMay 8, 2023
@Npars01 @RollingStone
This is the case for many politicians on both sides of the aisle.
Show threadNicole ParsonsMay 8, 2023

@72mz @RollingStone

I sincerely doubt Democrat billionaires fund malign influence campaigns that incite mass shootings.

They fund gun safety advocates.

"Both sides" false narratives aren't helpful.

Show thread72mzMay 9, 2023
@Npars01 @RollingStone
I also doubt that, and I wasn't suggesting equivalent support for that situation from Ds. I'd be very surprised if that were the case. I meant that $$$$ drives political decisions for lots of politicians. Self interest over common good is not unusual.
Show threadNicole ParsonsMay 9, 2023

@72mz @RollingStone

Money in politics is now uncontrollable since Citizens United

Citizens United permits unlimited foreign interference & public corruption, as long as its funneled through an American corporation

Yes, Democrats have a certain degree of self interest. They need to get elected

To effect change they need to avoid becoming targets of Republican billionaire donors who can & will spend unlimited amounts to boot out effective Democrat legislators like Luria, Malinowski, & Maloney

Show threadNicole ParsonsMay 9, 2023

@72mz @RollingStone

In an another example, Sen. Claire McCaskill drew the ire of #KochNetwork for being an effective Democrat.

They spent over $2 million on ad buys to replace her with Josh Hawley, everyone's favorite running seditionist.

At some point, GOP voters need to realize that their own billionaire donors are going target their right to representation too.

https://apnews.com/article/5217dbd42eaa4b11aa1c685581656255

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/28/koch-network-unleashes-ad-blitz-against-three-democrats-running-for-senate.html

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2018-02-13/koch-brothers-target-mccaskill-in-new-ad-campaign-democrats-fire-back

https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2021/01/05/the-koch-coup-charles-kochs-political-machine-bankrolled-senators-who-will-attempt-to-steal-election-for-trump-tomorrow/

Koch group launches $2M ad buy against Missouri's McCaskill

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Americans for Prosperity's Missouri branch is spending another $2.1 million on ads against Sen. Claire McCaskill. The television and digital ad campaign announced Wednesday by the Koch-backed group criticizes the Democratic incumbent for her support of former President Barack Obama's health care law. McCaskill is running for a third term in November in a state President Donald Trump won by 19 percentage points. She's up against Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley.

Associated Press
Show threadRealGravitas -Citizen SaboteurMay 8, 2023
@Npars01 @RollingStone I predict this is going to get much worse. It’ll be as bad as necessary to shift current gun owner sentiment.
Show threadNicole ParsonsMay 9, 2023

@CWilbur @RollingStone

Public sentiment has already shifted. No one wants to live in a nation with random gun violence.

Most gun owners now support better gun safety laws according to reporting on MSNBC.

It's only Republican billionaire donors, who are exploiting a white fear manufactured by Fox News, who are funding legislative gridlock on gun safety.

As they did with reproductive rights buying the white evangelical vote, Republican strategists are buying the paranoid gun nut vote.