Bredesen Claims ‘Not With Dems’ on Gun Control Before Bloomberg Fundraiser

On issues Tennesseans care about, Phil Bredesen likes to have it both ways, The Tennessee Republican Party said.

The organization pointed to the National Rifle Association’s criticism of the U.S. Senate candidate for claiming he has an “A” rating, when that endorsement comes from 2002. His current score is a “D,” as The Tennessee Star has reported.

Gun-control advocate Mike Bloomberg hosted a Manhattan fundraiser for Bredesen Tuesday.

Bloomberg said in 2014, “And if you want to have a gun in your house, I think you’re pretty stupid – particularly if you have kids – but I guess you have a right to do that. Someday, there is going to be a suit against parents who smoke in their houses or have guns in their houses by a kid. It’s not that far-fetched,” The Tennessee Star reported.

The Leader (of Covington) said Tuesday that “Bredesen called himself ‘conservative’ with second amendment issues and said he is a life-long gun owner. …’I’m not with the Dems on that stuff.”

Bredesen did not say that the Manhattan fundraiser comes as Bloomberg announced he would contribute $20 million to the Senate Majority PAC, which aims to help Democrats capture a majority. That would put anti-gun senators like Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) into positions as Majority Leader and Judiciary chairman.

Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden said, “Phil Bredesen says one thing to the people of Tennessee, then turns around and says something completely different to New York’s elites. Phil’s exposing himself for a phony who can’t be trusted, plain and simple. He can’t have it both ways.”

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez was right when he said, “There are no moderate Democrats basically left,” Golden said.

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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.