AWB faces expiration Proponents accuse Bush of political trickery

[rodbarnett]

Washington -- Proponents of Sen. Dianne Feinstein's decade-old federal assault weapons ban accused President Bush on Wednesday of using political sleight of hand to break his promise to support their bid to reauthorize the legislation for another 10 years.

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"The president is breaking the promise he made during the 2000 campaign to support the assault weapons ban,'' charged one of Feinstein's co-sponsors, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. "This is a flip-flop if there ever was one.''

California's other Democratic senator, Barbara Boxer, said, "I see it as a broken promise that was made to her (Feinstein) and those who have supported her.''

Feinstein was somewhat less confrontational, although she said "this president ... has not to date lifted a hand to help us.''

She said she realized that Bush, normally a staunch ally of the rifle association, faces a tough re-election campaign this year and doesn't want to alienate his supporters by signing a gun control law abhorred by many of them.

"No doubt this is a campaign issue,'' Feinstein said at a Capitol news conference. "The people of America have to send a resounding and clarion call'' that they want the assault weapons bill renewed.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/02/26/MNG65583S117.DTL

[slackmaster]

1. She's surprised that Bush wasn't completely honest about it?

I am shocked, SHOCKED!