by John Price
“Wow, Mr. Voyles, that’s a serious commitment. Is there an upper limit to your generosity?”
“Let’s wait and see. I’m willing to give well over a million, maybe a lot more. I truly believe that the fight over the abolition of ownership of guns by Americans is only the beginning. If we lose this fight, since the Second Amendment is so clear, the Constitution will be shredded, and it won’t have any meaning in the future. This bill also goes after the freedom to speak your mind freely in this country, which Hollywood and the media seemed to have overlooked. Those speech review panels in the bill will just be used to censor Americans who want to discuss controversial subjects. Our founding fathers must be spinning in their graves. If this bill passes as its written, forget freedom of speech and worship and of the press, along with all those due process rights we have relied on for centuries. We can’t lose this battle.”
“But, Jon, aren’t you concerned about pressure on you from the White House, and the Administration’s friends in Hollywood?”
“Look, Harrison, I made my last major movie several years ago. Once it got out that I wasn’t drinking their liberal kool aid, I was blacklisted, and I have been ever since. That’s OK, I’d rather be right than to have to thank the Academy. We have to defeat this dangerous bill. If we don’t, we’ll always regret not doing everything we could to stop this assault on the Bill of Rights. Don’t forget that there were weapons used by both sides in the recent campaign violence. Mark my words, if we don’t stop this bill, the government will be deciding what we can say on shows like this, in books, in speeches and even from the pulpits of our churches. I’m very concerned, which is why I’m backing my words with my money. I invite others to join with me.”
“Thanks, Jon, we’ll be watching how many Americans make contributions to stop this evil bill. We’ve put your website link on the screen for those who want to have you match their contribution. God bless.”
By the time of the vote on the McAlister bill, Americans will have given over four million dollars to the Voyles fund, which he matched, dollar for dollar. Most of the funds given in opposition to the bill were used to encourage calls, letters, e-mail and other communications by voters to their State’s Senators and to their District’s member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Later studies confirmed that most of the funds spent, however, had little effect, as those Members of Congress who were committed in favor of the bill routinely instructed their office staff to round file written communication against the bill, to delete electronic communication and to spike telephone messages. Representative government in action.
Members who had declared their opposition to passage of the bill, and who were known from past votes on other conservative issues as Members who would keep their word, were not targeted for voter pressure, for obvious reasons. They were the safe votes in opposition, not requiring any expenditure of funds by gun rights, religious groups and other conservatives.
The undeclared Members, those who refused to pledge to vote for or against the McAlister bill, numbered approximately twelve in the Senate and forty-four in the House, give or take, depending on the day. Of the fifty-six in both Houses, some were genuinely not sure how they intended to vote. They didn’t arrive in Congress because of gun rights supporters, nor were they elected with the support of opponents of gun rights. On the other hand, a few of the fifty-six uncommitted Members were known in Congress as ‘perpetual undeclared Members’, who had learned that holding out until right before the final vote could reap large benefits. Not only in meals at DC’s finest restaurants, but also invitations to speak at expensive U.S. resorts and exotic overseas locations to various associations’ annual conventions, all expenses paid. The most important rewards, however, for a last minute decision by these hold out Members were the campaign contributions bundled from the executives of companies and pressure groups, frequently totaling many tens of thousands of dollars, the ‘mothers milk of politics’. Ah, they would frequently muse, there are many advantages of taking one’s time to decide important issues facing the Congress.
THIRTY TWO
Phoenix, Arizona – State House
Arizona Governor Mike McManus was a hunter, a collector of antique firearms, a member of the NRA, Gun Owners of America and the Arizona state gun owners association. He was, therefore, an unlikely public official for the President to threaten, at least on gun ownership issues. Nevertheless, the President, in his telephone call to the Governor, made clear what he thought of the Governor’s plan to gut the McAlister Bill, should it become law.
“Governor, we don’t know each other all that well, I think we’ve met twice at the Governors’ Conferences, but I feel like I can just be real candid with you. I can level with you, you know.”
“Mr. President, in Arizona that’s what we expect. Straight talk. People out here don’t usually say, ‘well, to be honest with you’, because that’s just expected. So let’s talk turkey, which is something we do say.”
“Good, Governor, here’s the deal. We can’t allow your State to get away with adopting your militia bill. It’s not gonna’ happen, not while I’m the President.”
Governor McManus, as a skilled hunter, knew that sometimes the best thing to do was keep quiet, so as not to scare away the game. So, he said nothing. Seconds passed….still nothing….”
The President was the first to give in, to break the heavy silence.
“Governor. Are you still there? Phyllis, I think we’ve been dis-conn….”
“No, Mr. President, I’m still here, but you’re right that the two of us are dis-connected. We’ll pass whatever laws we want to in Arizona. Do you recall the immigration enforcement law fight under Governor Brewer. We don’t much care out here in the desert what you all think about our State’s laws back on the Potomac.”
“Un-huh….Well, they told me you didn’t have much respect for authority.”
“Got that one right, sir. I repeat. We don’t care what you think out in Washington about our militia bill. We are basing the bill on the most American of ideas, that every able-bodied man should be a member of our State’s militia. Check your history, the Massachusetts Bay Colony required every man from 16 to 60 to be a militia member, and of course, to bear arms to defend their State. Our militia bill only applies to Arizonans from 18 to 50, and what we are….”
“Look. We don’t give a rip about who you conscript for your militia, or don’t. Governor, you are quite well aware that this is all about your planning to buy up the guns in your State from their owners, and then handing those same guns back to the same people you just bought them from, except you’ll call them militia armaments. All this is a not very clever way to try and avoid the McAlister Bill, when it passes, from applying to Arizona. That’s a bunch of horse puckey, Governor, and we’re not gonna’ allow it. Are you hearing me?”
Governor McManus started to give the President the silent treatment response again, but he couldn’t restrain himself. In college he had been a wrestler, competing in national tournaments. Now he felt like his arms were being pinned behind him. It was time to make a reverse move on his opponent.
“Well, we’re gonna’ pass the bill into law, and you can just get used to the idea. And you might as well know, since it’s been rumored in the news, that I’ve been in touch with a number of other Governors who are giving very serious thought to following Arizona’s lead. You got ya’self a good old American rebellion on your hands.”
“No, Governor, I’m well aware that Arizona is leading this….this….rebellion….as you call it. I would call it by another word, maybe….insurrection….maybe trea….well, let’s just say we’re not going to let you get away with gutting the McAlister Bill when it’s a law.”
“With all due respect, Mr. President, which I am quickly losing, how do you plan to stop us? Invasion? Throw us out of Union? Go on and throw us in that briar patch.”
“I instructed the Attorney General about an hour ago, once I confirmed that there may be other states will
ing to jump off the cliff along with Arizona, to prepare suit to ask the Courts to….”
“Ha! That’s some threat. So if we pass a militia bill and arm our militia, you’re gonna’ get some liberal federal District Court Judge, probably appointed by Carter or Clinton, to tell us we can’t do it? Fine…that’s just fine. Do you remember Mr. President, that a Pope once famously ordered a British King to take a certain action? And the King’s response was to tell the Pope to enforce his order with his non-existent armies, or something like that? Our response to the Judge will be very similar – if you want to prohibit our militia from bearing arms, which is the ultimate purpose of a militia, of course, then Mister Judge, Your Honor, sir, you just come out here to Arizona and pick up those guns yourself, one at a time. Good luck with that.”
“Two problems with your little story, Governor. Unlike the Pope, I do have armies, and I will use them, as I have under my order declaring martial law. Second problem, it won’t be one singular judge picking up your guns. Now follow this, because I don’t want you later on to say you didn’t know what was coming….I have the Constitutional right as President to nationalize the National Guard of any State. Remember President Eisenhower and Little Rock in the 50’s? He federalized the Arkansas National Guard and then sent in 1,000 Army paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division. I can nationalize state militias. I will nationalize your state’s newly created militia. All several hundred thousand of them. And, listen carefully, Governor, I will require each member of the newly nationalized militia to turn in their guns, to comply with McAlister, and to comply with my order, as their Commander in Chief. For those who may try and be brave and dis-obey my direct Presidential order, we will arrest them, we will try them in a military court of justice, you probably know what that means, and then we will either imprison them or we may execute some.”
“What? Are you completely insa….”
“I’m perfectly sane, Governor. President Lincoln strung up deserters on the White House lawn. If we have to make an example of a few of your Arizona rebels, in order to enforce the law, and rid this nation of hate weapons, then so be it. That would be a small price to pay to save the nation from continued widespread gun violence. I didn’t run for a second term in order to sit back for four years and watch the haters continue to spew their hate speech and fire their hate weapons. So forget your little plan to avoid complying with what will almost certainly become the law of the land. Have I made myself sufficiently clear, Governor McManus?”
This time the Governor’s silence wasn’t calculated, he was genuinely unable to speak. He wanted to throw back a clever counter-argument, but he knew he had none. He was pinned to the mat. He had just been threatened with a highly credible threat by a President who would undoubtedly do precisely what he had just told the Governor he would do, if Arizona adopted its militia law. Game. Set. Match point. Match over.
Arizona State House reporters that afternoon noticed the Governor huddling in his office with Arizona Legislative leaders, although the official schedule instead showed a ribbon cutting in Flagstaff. Early the next day, the Governor’s Press Secretary issued a terse written media statement.
TO: ARIZONA MEDIA
SUBJECT: MILITIA BILL (HCR-13-927)
After discussions with the Governor, sponsors of HCR-13-927, (Establishing and Arming the State Militia), have agreed to withdraw the bill from further consideration. The Governor’s Office will have no further comment on the Bill, nor on its withdrawal. Likewise, neither the House or Senate leadership, nor Bill Sponsors, will have any further comment.
The next day Governor McManus convened a behind closed doors meeting in his office with the Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the State’s Attorney General. He divulged the details of the President’s threat and asked the Attorney General to draft for his signature an Executive Order. Under the Executive Order, which he said he would not sign until or unless the McAlister bill passed, every adult male resident of the State was to be drafted into the Arizona Militia. Each would be instructed to arm himself in order to protect the State and its residents from “any enemy foreign or domestic”. The Governor concluded the meeting by saying, “you gentlemen are warned, and as will be our citizens once I announce this Order, if it comes to that, Arizona will not be a friendly place to send armed federal troops. We’ll defend our right to bear arms, even if Congress and the President try to take away our firearms. They don’t have enough troops to fight every armed adult male in this State.”
THIRTY THREE
New York City, NY – Fox News Studios
Fox News, which the White House had once suggested was not a legitimate news organization, stepped forward as the only national news service willing to air a debate in prime time on the McAlister Bill. Other broadcast and cable networks who favored passage of the bill, and who didn’t attempt to hide their support for the bill, declined to give any significant air time to its opponents. Their thinking was not complex. Why stir up the right wing about over-blown threats to their free speech and worship rights? Why give a platform to the Neanderthals fighting the eradication of hate weapons? The average American occasionally watching television news would have to conclude that there really wasn’t much of a debate taking place on the bill, as almost everyone they saw on their home screen was in favor of its adoption into law. That may not be what they heard at work, or at the local bar or even at some churches, but it certainly appeared from news coverage of the issue that America wanted Congress to pass the bill.
Fox had promoted the prime time debate for several days, scheduling it on March 5th, knowing that the final votes in the two chambers of the U.S. Congress were likely by the end of March. The proponent of the bill in the Fox debate was none other than South Carolina Senator Jim Blevins, the choice by the White House, as the person who would gain the most sympathy from viewers. The Senator was a little rough-spoken, at times, the White House was willing to admit, but he had been shot, so he conveyed a strong message before he even opened his mouth in the debate.
Senator Blevins’ opponent in the debate was Representative Melinda Batchelder from Minnesota, an effective Member of Congress, who had impressed many in her earlier quest for the Republican nomination for President. She had been supported by conservatives, but she was unable to gain traction in the early days of the selection process, withdrawing from the race, many observers believed, with dignity and style. Congresswoman Batchelder was an impressive debater, and thus the Blevins versus Batchelder Debate was an event that was expected to attract significant viewership. The Debate was hosted by Fox’s talk show host Grenda Sandora.
“Welcome to the Fox News Debate on the McAlister Bill now pending in Congress, featuring Senator Blevins and Congresswoman Batchelder. The rules of the debate tonight have been agreed to by both debaters. Each will be limited to thirty seconds for a response to a question. All questions have been submitted in advance by Fox News viewers. If you are both ready, Senator Blevins and Representative Batchelder, let’s commence this clash of ideas. The first question is from Iowa, a State with which you are well acquainted, Congresswoman. The viewer wants to know from the two of you simply why you favor, or oppose, the McAlister Bill. Senator? You go first.”
“Well, Grenda, that’s a mighty easy first question, I expected a real hardball first pitch with me comin’ on to Fox, I really did. Not exactly friendly territory for a progressive Democrat, ya know. But, let me first just thank all the tens of thousands of Americans who have reached out to me expressin’ their prayers and their hopes for my recovery after my shootin’. Miriam and I really do appreciate all those kind…”
“Senator, you have only thirty seconds, remember.”
“Uh, yes, uh….of course, sorry. Where was I? Why am I for this bill? Simple question. Simple answer. No person in government should ever have to fear that they will be shot, maybe even killed, just because they are in public service. That’s why I’m supportin’ this bill. And, oh yeah, Grenda, don�
��t ya forget how many guns were used to commit violent acts, and kill folks, in and after tha’ recent campaign. Even forced my President to declare martial law. Yes, ma’am, don’t let us forget all that.”
“Congresswoman. Why do you oppose the Senator’s bill?
“Let me make my answer equally simple, and easy to understand. Our Constitution grants the unequivocal right to Americans to free speech and also the right to keep and bear arms. If Senator Blevins, and his friends in the White House, want to abolish gun ownership or change the First Amendment, let them do it the legal way. They should amend the Constitution by having two thirds of Congress and then three-fourths of the states make the changes they want. It’s been done before – when the nation repealed the 18th Amendment, which had prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages. But, let’s not hide what they are doing by calling ‘re-interpretation’, because it’s not, it’s tyranny, tyranny by the Congress and the White House, to deny us our God-given rights found in the Constitution of the United States of America.”
“OK, well the next question comes to us from New…”
“Whoa, hold on a minute, Grenda, I can’t let that one go without a response…
“Senator, the rules…”
“I frankly don’t care about…my debate opponent here has just called me a name – a mighty serious name, and I will respond, rules or not….Uh….she says that God gave her the right to own a gun? Really? Where’s it say that? My pastor is in favor of my bill, and he would know if God said anything about guns, come on. Now, Grenda, I’m getting’ mighty tired of hearin’ about how we all gonna’ take away free speech and the right to worship and such. My bill won’t take away anyone’s right to speak, they all just can’t say things that are against the law. No more of ya nasty, mean, hateful words attacking public officials, don’t ya see?”
