[WenPyclenoWex]

TPM: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...le.php?ref=fpa

Eyebrows shot up all over the country Thursday following news that that the Republican Party in Pima County, AZ -- home to Tucson and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' (D) district -- is raffling off a Glock similar to the one used to shoot Giffords in the head in January.In Tucson, the condemnation of the plan was universal and bi-partisan.

"There's a woman who has a bullet in the brain and who everybody is wishing a full recovery," Brian Miller, the immediate past chair of the Pima County GOP told TPM. "I don't think that raffling off a firearm right now is probably the right way to go."

Miller says the people who took over the party -- and booted him from his position after he criticized local law enforcement for shooting a Marine in a controversial raid on his home in May -- are from the "my way or the highway" wing of the GOP who don't pay much thought to the political fallout from their actions.

[LindaSmithXV]

The author is stretching this way too far, Now, I'm not a fan of guns or that the gun should be raffled off, but the source story on Huffington Post even lists this as a different type of gun as the one used in the shooting, a glok 19 instead of a 23... There's no story here except for the GOP is auctioning off a gun and some Liberal yahoo is trying to make an artificial to the Tucson attack.

[JosephNF]

The liberal yahoo is the past head of the GOP in the county.

[hwood]

I see no mention of original writer Alex Brant-Zawadzki being the head of the GOP in Pima. His profile page says he likes "hagaan daas and justice."

As I said, the original poster at Huff Post is making a poor attempt to try to say, "look, they are mocking Gabby Giffords." Your title says "a working replica..." It's not even the same model gun! Even Giffords' office had no comment. Why? Probably because this type of thing, raffling off a gun, is not unusual. This Brant-Zawadzki is trying to make a stink about something that's not an issue.

To use this headline and story is kinda a Brad move, sorry Richard. A flashy headline catches the eye, but if you read the story and the original HuffPo story it's based on, you realize the original author is adding apples and oranges.

Ex-GOP chair Brian Miller is not part of the original story. He was asked by TMP for his reaction. He gave his opinion. I'm not sure how I feel about TMP's take on this story. On the one hand, it's a good follow-up (granted we don't know how they phrased the question to Miller), but I get the feeling TMP is trying to validate a non-story for fodder from another more Liberal site. The real story is GOP in Giffords' District Is Raffling off a Gun." You can question if that's appropriate as TMP did, but to say it's a "working replica" of the gun used to attack Giffords and kill six people? There is NO merit to that claim.

[VodsNittats]

When you suggest "working replica," that means that you take the gun Laughner used, and you modify it the way he did. Then it's a replica, then it is a sick joke that is being pulled on people. This isn't a replica. It's "just" a gun, in its original specs and from the sounds of it, in factory condition, with all the parts it comes with from the plant. And again, it's not even the same model as the gun used to shoot Giffords.

The yahoo Liberal was very liberal in his intentional use of words.

[Ferrotoral]

TPM has been using more and more sensationalized headlines, and I don't care for it either, it's all about eyeballs and clicks. HuffPo is worse in my opinion and I don't go there much anymore.

All that being said, I still think it is rather insensitive in light of the attack in Arizona to raffle off any gun in Gifford's district, How do you think the little girls parents feel about this or the widow of the GOP judge, I don't believe it's a non-issue for those families.

[chzvacmyye]

That is the question, but there's nothing about this replica story.

When you look at the whole picture though, let's not forget who Giffords is and what part of the country she represents. She is one of the more Conservative-leaning Democrats, in Arizona's biggest city near a big Mexican town. Is it distasteful to raffle off the gun? I would think so, but then I would think so even without the shootings. Gearing up for a big campaign, a Presidential election year, and a time when Giffords is thinking about a potential run for Senate, is it fair to ask the opposition to not raise money a way they have in the past? I'm not sure about that either. But make no mistake about it: The way this became a story of national interest is through a writer who had to sensationalize the story. Does it get traction if it's about a gun being auctioned off in Giffords' district? Some maybe, but the writer instead tries to make it out as if the local GOP is itself trying to idolize and capitalize on Laughner. That hasn't happened, and as such, his story is as newsworthy as your average Drudge piece of crap.

[obegeLype]

I agree with many of your points, I lived in Az for a while, it's a different place no doubt and I know gun raffles are not uncommon, hey at least make it an American made Smith & Wesson

I'm tired of ALL the sensationalism, I stopped watching R.Maddow for that reason and could only handle small doses of Oberman, I may agree with what ever point they are driving at, but the need to make everything an outrage just gets exhausting. Even reading the web sites for info is an exercise in dodging drama.