National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre this weekend dismissed President Barack Obama as a “demographically-symbolic president” — and doesn’t want Hillary Clinton as another.
LaPierre warned a crowd of gun enthusiasts at last Friday’s annual NRA meeting that “there’s no telling how far Obama will go to…reshape America” into an unrecognizable country before he leaves office.
“And when he’s finished, he intends to go out with the coronation of Hillary Rodham Clinton,” LaPierre continued, to boos. “Yeah, I have to tell you eight years of one demographically-symbolic president is enough.”
LaPierre spoke a day after more than a half dozen would-be Republican 2016 presidential contenders addressed the crowd, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.
Clinton announced her long-awaited presidential bid on Sunday and looks poised to make a historic bid, as the possible first female president of the U.S., a central part of her pitch to voters.
The comments drew favorable hoots and applause from the crowd, but immediately sparked backlash throughout the progressive blogosphere, with DailyKos calling him outright racist.
“Plus, what the f— is that supposed to make Hilary Clinton if she were to become President? A demographically symbolic public representative of the majority demographic in our country?” blogger Walter Einenkel asked.
“The Daily Show’s” Jon Stewart also took note of the comments on Monday night.
“Wow, I guess your dog-whistle wasn’t working, and you just went with a regular whistle,” Stewart joked.
LaPierre promised the NRA would work to keep Clinton from being elected on Saturday, and warned of the dire consequences if they failed.
“Hillary Rodham Clinton will bring a permanent darkness of deceit and despair forced upon the American people to endure,” he said.