NRA at Texas Motor Speedway v Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy (D)

Discussion in 'Freedom and Liberty' started by HK_User, Apr 13, 2013.


  1. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    ESPN said that sources confirmed to the outlet that two drivers have been advised by their PR people not to conduct interviews in the Texas Motor Speedway media center in order to avoid the NRA logo from appearing behind them.
    The move is just the latest in media hysteria that has resulted from the NRA sponsoring Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup race, the NRA 500.
    Earlier in the week Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy (D) urged Fox not to air the race in an attempt to demonize the NRA, which has been critical of some of the gun control measures that have cropped up in the wake of the Newtown massacre.
    "This celebration of guns is inappropriate in the immediate wake of the Newtown massacre," Murphy said in a statement. "But most importantly, broadcasting this race, which will highlight the NRA and its radical agenda during this time, sends a harmful signal to the families affected by gun violence, as well as the millions of Americans who support sensible gun control measures and enjoy your sports programming."
    But Murphy isn't the only one making controversial statements. NASCAR spokesman David Higdon is sharing that honor. On Friday, Higdon released a statement seemingly bowing to pressure from critics.
    "The NRA's sponsorship of the event at Texas Motor Speedway fit within existing parameters that NASCAR affords tracks in securing partnerships," Higdon said. "However, this situation has made it clear that we need to take a closer look at our approval process moving forward, as current circumstances need to be factored in when making decisions."
    On Friday afternoon, Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage shot back.
    "I would say about Mr. Higdon is, I think he's new to the sport and doesn't quite understand how it all works," Gossage told local ESPN Dallas radio host Randy Galloway. "And he could have just as easily put out a quote that said C.Y.A. [cover your ass]. That's what that is."
    "It's a PR mistake to have made that statement," he added. "They should have conferred with some other folks before they issued that."
    The race is one of the few night races during the NASCAR season, and will take place at 6:30 CT. TheBlaze will have two writers at the event, so stay tuned this weekend for continued coverage.
     
    ColtCarbine likes this.
  2. hidden211

    hidden211 And thats no BULL!!!!!!

    [​IMG]
     
  3. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

    480x6004.

    rpm_g_johnson_gb1_600.
    Jimmie Johnson fired the six-shooters after winning at Texas in November, a postrace tradition that will remain in 2013.​
     
    Yard Dart likes this.
  4. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

    Conn. Senator Is Actually Urging Fox Not to Air Saturday’s NASCAR Race…Because the NRA Is Sponsoring It

    Apr. 12, 2013 10:30am Jonathon M. Seid

    600x4205.

    U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., speaks at a gun violence conference as U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., left, listens in Danbury, Conn., Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. The conference, organized by members of the state’s congressional delegation is to push President Barack Obama’s gun control proposals.

    Credit: AP
    Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy does not like the NRA, and he’s making that quite clear. In a letter to News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch, he’s asking that Fox cancel plans to air Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race — because the NRA is sponsoring it.

    Murphy wrote that the race is taking place during Senate consideration of legislation to reduce gun violence in the wake of the elementary school shootings last December in Newtown, Conn., and feared the race will give national attention “to an organization that has been the face of one side of this heated debate.”

    Fox officials declined comment Thursday. The NRA 500 from Texas Motor Speedway will be broadcast as scheduled.

    Murphy also questioned the Victory Lane tradition at Texas, where the winner gets a cowboy hat and can fire six-shooters loaded with blanks into the air.

    “This celebration of guns is inappropriate in the immediate wake of the Newtown massacre,” Murphy added. “But most importantly, broadcasting this race, which will highlight the NRA and its radical agenda during this time, sends a harmful signal to the families affected by gun violence, as well as the millions of Americans who support sensible gun control measures and enjoy your sports programming.”

    “I think the fact that they’re not loaded is a fairly safe thing,” said Eddie Gossage, the president of Texas Motor Speedway, in response to the victory celebration.
    Gossage has repeatedly said that the NRA’s sponsorship is “not about politics. It’s about sports marketing.” He said he has received fewer than a dozen cards, letters or emails about the deal since it was announced last month.

    480x6004.

    FILE – In this Nov. 4, 2012, file photo, Jimmie Johnson fires blanks out of a pair of revolvers as he celebrates his win in Victory Lane following the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway, in Fort Worth, Texas.

    Credit: AP
    But that’s not good enough for Murphy. He told Murdoch “your company would now essentially endorse the NRA’s extreme position against such laws by broadcasting this event.”

    This is not the NRA’s first title sponsorship in NASCAR. The group sponsored a second-tier Nationwide race last September at Atlanta, which like Texas is owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc.

    Asked about ticket sales for Saturday night’s race, Gossage said he expects a similar crowd to last spring when the crowd of 159,200 was the largest for a NASCAR race last season.
    “I can’t speak for everybody but I can speak for myself in saying that I would really rather stay out of politics and just race,” said NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski, the defending Sprint Cup champion, who owns rifles. “That is certainly not the situation though. Sometimes we get thrown into it whether we want to or not. I think the best thing is just to acknowledge it and try to move on with it.”

    You can read the full letter from Murphy to Murdoch below:

    Dear Mr. Murdoch:​
    I write today to urge you to not broadcast NASCAR’s NRA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 13th. This race, which is being sponsored by the National Rifle Association (NRA), is going to take place during the Senate’s consideration of legislation to reduce gun violence. The race not only brings national attention to an organization that has been the face of one side of this heated debate, it also features the live shooting of guns at the end of the race. This celebration of guns is inappropriate in the immediate wake of the Newtown massacre. But most importantly, broadcasting this race, which will highlight the NRA and its radical agenda during this time, sends a harmful signal to the families affected by gun violence, as well as the millions of Americans who support sensible gun control measures and enjoy your sports programming.​

    The horror that unfolded on December 14th at Sandy Hook Elementary School has sparked a national conversation about the adequacy of our gun laws. You, News Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Fox News, should contribute and continue to cover this discussion. Given that you have been outspoken in your support of gun reform, it is the height of irony that some would perceive that your company would now essentially endorse the NRA’s extreme position against such laws by broadcasting this event.​

    Shortly after the tragedy in Newtown, you called on policymakers and the President to strengthen our gun laws, asking, “when will politicians find courage to ban automatic weapons?” This valid question will be answered when the Senate considers major reforms to our gun laws in early to mid-April. As a senator, I can tell you that many of us possess the courage, and will strongly advocate for sensible gun reforms to take assault weapons and high-capacity magazines off our streets and require all gun purchasers to submit for a background check.​

    You also challenged President Obama to show bold leadership on this issue after he addressed the nation. I believe that the President has shown incredible leadership since the tragedy by trying to help our country, my state, and the community of Newtown heal in the wake of this terrible event. I would like to make a similar challenge to you. You should play a constructive role in our national dialogue by refraining from broadcasting the NRA 500. By airing this race you will be strengthening the brand of a radical organization that is currently standing in the way of meaningful progress on this issue. Today’s NRA bears little resemblance to the one of its founding. It stokes fear and perpetuates a perverse interpretation of the Second Amendment in order to sell more guns and fuel larger donations from gun manufacturers. After the events of Newtown, Aurora, Oak Creek, and so many other senseless tragedies, the NRA continues to say that the only solution to gun violence is more guns. It even disavows common sense measures, like universal background checks for gun purchases – a policy that enjoys the support of 74 percent of its members and that it advocated for in 1999.​
    Considering your support of sane gun control measures and the extreme nature of the NRA, I urge you to not broadcast this race on April 13th. Inserting Fox Sports in this debate at this critical time will give credence to an extreme organization that is opposed to reasonable policies to stem gun violence. Thank you in advance for your consideration.​

    ​The Associated Press contributed to this story.

    Editor’s note: ​TheBlaze will be sending two reporters to the NRA 500 on Saturday. Be sure to check back this weekend for full coverage.
     
  5. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

  6. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

  7. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

  8. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

    NASCAR eyes sponsor decisions
    Updated: April 13, 2013, 2:30 PM ET
    By Terry Blount | ESPN.com

    FORT WORTH, Texas -- NASCAR plans to become more involved in race-sponsorship decisions by speedways in light of the continuing controversy surrounding the National Rifle Association's sponsorship of the Sprint Cup race Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway.

    "The NRA's sponsorship of the event at Texas Motor Speedway fit within existing parameters that NASCAR affords tracks in securing partnerships," said NASCAR spokesman David Higdon. "However, this situation has made it clear that we need to take a closer look at our approval process moving forward, as current circumstances need to be factored in when making decisions."

    More from ESPN.com

    newton_david_m.
    Let's try to keep all this in perspective, NASCAR Nation. Saturday's NRA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway is just another Sprint Cup race -- one that you likely won't want to miss, writes David Newton. Story

    In some respects, this weekend at TMS has become more about politics than racing for the NRA 500, as the sponsorship coincides with the current national gun control debate to become the prevailing storyline.

    Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut wrote to News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch asking the Fox network not broadcast Saturday night's race because of the NRA sponsorship.

    TMS president Eddie Gossage and Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith answered questions regarding Murphy's request and the NRA sponsorship Friday. Gossage said it would be the only time they would address the topic.

    He said only a few people had contacted the speedway to criticize the sponsorship decision.
    "We've had fewer than a dozen responses," Gossage said. "Of those, only two had purchased tickets [to other TMS events]. There is no controversy or big uproar or even a tiny uproar. As for this senator, I appreciate a good publicity effort as much as anyone."

    Galloway & Company

    Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage joins Galloway & Company to discuss the NRA sponsorship and who he's picking to win Saturday's Sprint Cup race.

    More Podcasts »

    Sources confirmed Friday that two drivers were advised by their public relations directors not to do interviews in the TMS media center so they could avoid having the NRA logo behind them.

    Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were asked about it on Thursday.
    "I think it's a good fit for Texas," Earnhardt Jr. said. "If we win the race, we're going to treat Victory Lane just like any other race, and we'll be happy to celebrate just like everybody else has celebrated here in the past."

    That celebration involves cowboy hats and pistols that shoot blanks.

    "I own guns," Earnhardt said. "I like to hunt. When I'm not hunting, I keep my guns in a safe place, out of reach from my younger family members and my nieces and nephews. I like to hunt and I believe in ownership, but I also believe in responsibility. You can't ever be safe enough in regards to that, especially with gun ownership."

    Keselowski said he would rather stay out of politics, but that's becoming difficult when questions about the subject continue.

    The Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in December in Newtown, Conn., where 20 children and six adults were killed, is fresh on the minds of many Americans and has been central to the gun control debate.

    Gossage has said all along that the NRA sponsorship was a business decision, not a political statement. Negotiations for the NRA contract took place long before the Newtown incident, but the announcement of the sponsorship agreement came after the tragedy.
     
  9. Yard Dart

    Yard Dart Vigilant Monkey Moderator

    It's a bunch of B.S. with these pin-heads trying to politicize every activity in our daily lives. What ever happened to "mind your own business". [banghead]
     
    Harbin, ColtCarbine and kellory like this.
  10. mysterymet

    mysterymet Monkey+++

    Doesn't that dumb@55 realize that most of the people that watch nascar also own guns?
     
    Harbin, ditch witch and Yard Dart like this.
  11. Rabid

    Rabid Monkey

    I did notice that NRA was never said during the entire broadcast and rarely seen in the video portion of the programing. If coke, STP or someone else were sponsor you would hear their many 50 times during the race. The NRA needs to sponsor a car.
     
  12. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    NRA provides Logos and has for some time in a variety of racing venues. FWIW, the usual is that if you win or place in a race and are wearing a Company Logo then you pick up extra cash. In this case the racers are doing the advertising with no expectation of gain other than that of showing their beliefs.
    NRA Racing
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    The racing community is generally very supportive of the NRA cause. An example is Bill Bader of the IHRA (International Hot Rod Association) running NRA membership advertisements in IHRA publications and TV shows free of charge.

    Understanding that NRA does not sponsor cars, these owners and drivers (shown below) have generously donated valuable space on their cars to support NRA and the cause of freedom.
    [​IMG]
    The SPEARS #75 Chevrolet is a regular on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The #75 has been showing the NRA logos for about six years. It is shown on television nearly every week during the racing season. The truck has been featured several times in the NASCAR Winston Cup Scene newspaper. The owner of the #75 is NRA Benefactor Member Wayne Spears has given NRA free space on the truck for the last 6 racing seasons.​
    Dennis Setzer is the driver of the Spears/NRA #75. www.spearsracing.com
    [​IMG] Stanton Barrett – NRA member-donates 2nd half of the NASCAR Busch Series to the NRA Foundation. Barrett is one of the top stunt men in Hollywood, having appeared in movies and television. Coming from what some have referred to as “the Earnhart’s of Hollywood stunts,” has used his talents to build a racing team, Red Racing. The 91 car has worn the flag of the NRA Foundation most of the second half of the Busch Series season. Barrett a staunch supporter in the beliefs of the NRA and it’s programs. Watch for the 91 car in the NASCAR Busch series this fall.
    [​IMG]
    Marc Hoover races the number 96, a Mazda powered Cheetah in the SCCA DSR class of the Northern Pacific division. Marc started racing in 1985 and frequently leads in points, wins races, sets track records, and finishes near the top at the SCCA National Championships. Marc won the 2001 National Championships which were aired on Speedvision. Marc is hoping to repeat that feat this year.​
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    Kertus Davis is driving the #0 car in the Busch Series displaying the NRA logos. Gearhead Racing Fans, a membership organization of racing fans, is a sponsor of this car and has generously donated their space to the NRA cause. To find out more about the racing team, go to www.johnnydavismotorsports.com.​
    To join Gearhead and to learn more about the group, go to www.gearheadfans.com.​
    [​IMG] KM Racing owned by NRA Member Ken Moore shows the NRA logo on tracks in the Midwest.​
    [​IMG] NRA Life Member and Golden Eagle, Richard Rische owns the #54L driven by Jim Langenback. Jim was the 1999 PRO STOCK CHAMPION at the Lebanon Valley Speedway with 6 feature wins, and 18 top 5 finishes in 19 races.​

    [​IMG] Leonard Oralls, Scott Brown and NRA member Joe Marshall the owner and driver of the #38c car at Skyline Raceway in Cortland, NY with a big win.​

    [​IMG] "Flyin Brian" Campbell races Sprint Cars with USAC in the West, the USAC National, SCRA, and local clubs. Photos by Dan McGee.​

    [​IMG] The #69 Mazda owned by McGavin Motorsports of Arcadia, Florida shows the NRA logo in SAS races.​

    [​IMG] The #6 Neon is owned by Steve Wynne. Steve races with the NRA logo at the national level in a class called Street Touring/Street Tire (STS). He won the SCCA ProSolo National Series Street Class in the past and hopes to win again this season.​

    [​IMG] Eric Linnhoff races locally and nationally in the D Stock class in SCCA Solo2 events for the past several years. No national wins, yet, but lots of local Kansas City area wins.​

    [​IMG] NRA Member Tim Lowe runs his 1972 Plymouth Duster Super Pro car on tracks in Minnesota and Wisconsin.​

    [​IMG] The WDDH 97.5 Street Stock is driven by Dominic Surra who competes at the Central PA Speedway. The team members are strong supporters of our Second Amendment rights and proud to carry the NRA logo.​

    [​IMG] Mark Strickler is the driver of the #38, 600cc micro sprint car, sponsored by The Workshop, Yamaha/Polaris, Inc. and Stambaugh's Auto Sales. He races at local tracks in Pennsylvania. His father and crew chief, Terry "T" Strickler, is also a lifetime member of the NRA. They are proud to display the NRA on the front of their wing!​

    [​IMG] Longtime NRA members, and NHRA/SUMMIT Drag Racing Series racer Allen & Debbie Cherry of Rye, TX, take the word of the NRA around the south, 1/4 mile at a time!


    [​IMG] Longtime NRA member Marv Magouirk started racing super modifieds in 1970. After 17 years he is back racing Sprint Cars in Placerville, Marysville, and Chico, CA.​

    [​IMG] NRA Member Don Lowe drives his #32 Chevy Monte Carlo in the street stock class on dirt ovals in Wisconsin.​

    [​IMG]
    Jerdon Racing consists of Don Weir - Crew Chief, Jerel Beirley - Driver, John Young and Jason Davis - Mechanics and NRA Members. Don is currently in the GA Air National Guard, Jerel was in the U.S. Navy and John and Jason are both former Marines. We are proud to have the NRA logo on our car.​


    [​IMG]
    Robert Fink is the driver of the F&S Racing #78 Monte Carlo Street Stock sponsored by Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke, PA. The #78 also travels to other asphalt tracks in the area.​



    [​IMG]
    Gary Struble races his #72 Late Model Stock car with NRA proudly displayed.​






    [​IMG][​IMG] Dan Rash #57, NRA Lifetime Member and his wife Becky Rash #49 are members of www.gulfcoastautocrossers.com and frequently autocross these vehicles in South Florida. Dan competes in a 1974 Austin Mini that he imported from England in June, 2001. Becky, a two year class champion in BSPL, competes in a 1991 Chevrolet Corvette.​
    [​IMG] CRAIG PONDISH Racing’s home track is the New Egypt Speedway in central N.J. It is a half mile banked dirt oval. Mike McAleer is the driver and has been for the past three seasons. The sponsors include Robert T. Pondish & Sons Contractors, C&S Equipment Co., Danley Custom Builders, J. Gerdelmann & Son Welding and Johnson Powder Coating. Craig Pondish Racing and their sponsors are proud to show the NRA colors.
    [​IMG] NRA Member Arnold Sharp of Sharp’s Excavating runs several cars in local Missouri races.​
    [​IMG] Driver, Jeff Williams, truck #28, is the current 2006 Irwindale Champion for the Ford - West Coast Pro Truck series.​

    [​IMG]
    Scott Siems races his #1 car in two divisions at the Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, IA.



    [​IMG]
    The Leahy Racing Team race their car on a dirt track at the Lafayette County Speedway in Darlington, Wisconsin.



    [​IMG] NRA member Jonathan Herr races karts with the NRA decals proudly displayed. Jonathan plans to race in in Shelbyville, TN at the World Karting Association divisional and national levels.​


    [​IMG]
    [​IMG] Mike and Janet Cloke of Plum Nuts Racing race the #101 and #127 snowmobiles.These members compete in drag races, cross country races, and hill climbing.​

    [​IMG]
    If you would like to donate space on your racing vehicle or hauler please email contact information to membership@nrahq.org.

     
    Yard Dart likes this.
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