McCain to speak at NRA convention.

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No libs except KY's gov.?

I thought they were gun lovers too!

McCain slated to address May 16 NRA convention

2nd Amendment is session theme

By Sheldon S. Shafer • sshafer@courier-journal.com • May 7, 2008

Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, will address the National Rifle Association's annual convention at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville on May 16.

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Many other political figures are expected to share the stage with McCain, said NRA national spokesman Andrew Arulanandam.

They include fellow Republican U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas. Also scheduled to speak are former Govs. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, both one-time GOP presidential aspirants, and Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff to President Bush and his one-time chief political strategist.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat, is also slated to address the convention.

Another speaker will be former Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North, perhaps most known for his involvement in the Iran-Contra affair during the Reagan administration and now a conservative political commentator and author.

Arulanandam said McCain's campaign expressed interest in speaking to the convention. "We are grateful he will be attending," the NRA spokesman said.

McCain, of Arizona, and most of the other political figures are expected to speak individually for 10 minutes or so and to discuss issues related to the Second Amendment, Arulanandam said.

They will speak at an afternoon session titled "A Celebration of American Values" in the South Wing. The session is a ticketed event, and all of the approximately 8,000 seats are already taken by NRA members, Arulanandam said.

A simulcast in the expo center's East Hall will accommodate an additional 2,000 to 3,000 members.

To get a seat in the East Hall, people will have to buy an NRA membership.

Arulanandam said the NRA traditionally does not endorse a presidential candidate until after the national conventions in late summer.

But he said in contrast with Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Clinton of New York, the two Democrats still in the running for president, McCain "is the only candidate with any record of support for the Second Amendment."

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I thought Obama was pro gun? Why wouldn't they invite him? Would he speak if he were invited?