Political parody sparks pre-Christmas gun purchases

By Chad D. Baus

No, it isn't a real fundraiser, but a political satirist's joke about former Senator Fred Thompson's staunch support for gun rights actually seems to be gaining traction on the Presidential candidate's own website.

From the political parody column, entitled "Fred Fundraiser Targets $6M in Guns Pre-Christmas", published on ScrappleFace.com:

Republican Presidential candidate Fred Thompson today, upon hearing that rival Ron Paul’s supporters had raised $6 million in 24 hours to commemorate the Boston Tea Party, called on his supporters to match that figure in gun purchases before Christmas to mark George Washington’s victory at the Battle of Trenton.

“I’m tired of running around the country raising money that I just have to hand over to the same mainstream media companies that ignore my campaign,” said the former senator from Tennessee. “We’ve done enough this year to support the so-called free press of the first amendment. Let’s give a boost to our friends who make it possible for us to exercise our second amendment right to keep and bear arms.”

Click 'Read More' for the full commentary.

Again, from the ScrappleFace.com parody:

“Go out and get your sweetie a nice personal protection sidearm,” said Mr. Thompson, “or buy your kid his first shotgun. If you have a few bucks leftover, go ahead and get that civil liberties insurance device you’ve been thinking about for yourself. I’d like to get ten or twelve thousand more firearms into the hands of law-abiding Americans, purchased from local merchants in hometowns across the nation.”

Thompson supporters can visit the Fred ‘08 campaign website to anonymously report how much they spent on handguns, rifles and other firearms before midnight December 25, the eve of Washington’s crossing the Delaware in 1776.

When chatter about the parody began in the comments section of the FredFile, the candidate's official weblog, the campaign decided it was time to make note of the fact that it was indeed a parody. Nevertheless, readers of the FredFile blog at Fred08.com liked the satirist's idea so much that they have begin posting their recent firearms purchases and enjoying a healthy discussion about same in the comments section of the blog.

I believe it's Rush Limbaugh who regularly reminds his listeners that the best political satire contains an element of truth, and it is quite obvious from the response to the ScrappleFace.com that there is a strong desire for a pro-gun Republican like Thompson to stand up for them in the 2008 Presidential primaries.

Chad Baus is a Member of the Fulton County, OH Republican Central Committee and the Buckeye Firearms Association Vice Chairman and Northwest Ohio Chair.