Republicans take aim at Obama gunowners' rights ad on Missourinet

Republicans are responding to a radio ad that has been running on the Missourinet ... and they don't have too many nice things to say. It's an advertisement featuring former NFL football player Ray Schoenke talking about the importance of Second Amendment rights ... and how Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will protect those rights ... and more.

Our old friend Lloyd Smith - Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson's Chief of Staff - doubts Obama is a friend of gun owners' rights. Says Smith: "I think what Barack Obama is trying to do in rural radio is ... if you will buy that he's in favor of gun owner rights, then maybe you'll buy everything else he said ... and I can tell you that no one out here is going to buy that, particularly our people who are part of the National Rifle Association and particularly our people that are involved, day in and day out, in fighting for Second Amendment rights."

Smith adds, "We have a saying in the country ... If you walk like a duck and you quack like a duck you're probably a duck ... and if you're against the Second Amendment when you're a State Senator in Illinois then you're probably going to be against the Second Amendment when you're President of the United States. His votes speak volumes about his position."

Not that I want to toot the radio industry horn (which might be illegal in a handful of states) ... but the fact Republicans and the McCain campaign under the umbrella of the "Truth Squad" held a conference call on Friday to talk about this ad is a pretty good indication that buying radio ad time works. For the record ... the Obama campaign has bought a whole boatload of ads that will begin running next week on the Missourinet.

- Steve Walsh