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Previous allies turning their backs on congressional candidate Debbie Halvorson?
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We're tracking a political story out of Chicago at this hour -- Democrat who supports strong Second Amendment Rights.
Is trying to win a special election.
To fill the seat vacated by Jesse Jackson junior.
This is right in president Obama's hometown -- -- outside -- Chicago.
But we are now hearing reports that she's facing strong opposition from some very powerful members of her own party.
-- being a pro -- lawmaker.
Joining me now is former congressman -- how percent who would like to become the congresswoman from Chicago again congresswoman thank you so much for being here.
I -- thanks for having me so what we're told is that folks like David Axelrod.
-- the bolt who was the spoke to -- person for president Obama's campaign.
Genachowski who supported -- -- your other two congressional runs all turning against you because of your stance on the Second Amendment.
And it's not like you.
Are our pro gun on every issue you want stronger background checks and so on but you're not completely in line with their policies.
And boy have they turned on you your thoughts on.
Well and it's not -- them I think what's started it is.
Billionaire.
Mayor from New York coming in with a one point three million dollars in ads over the last couple weeks.
And I think it's not fair that.
You know in May hear from New York coming in to buy a house race.
And he has you know thought that he and everybody else can just come in and say what they want.
But it's about the district it's about what we need to do.
And just because I want to have some common sense.
About the culture of -- -- And talk about what we really need to do about -- the guns out of the hands of criminals.
Everybody has decided to gang up on me now there are sixteen.
People in this race the special election.
And since I think the front runner.
I am the one that.
Is the one with a proven record the one that's created jobs the one that bidding congress before.
But I'm the only one they can't be controlled I'm the one that's not a rubber stamp now everybody's afraid.
Certainly not on a gun on -- gun control issue you're not a rubber stamp and and your -- -- you know you've mark heard this they they point to Chicago -- -- talk about the horrific gun violence.
In that city -- -- -- twelve alone 500.
Gun related deaths.
And -- they think that the president's gun control measures are the answer to that.
I know you see in a different way.
I do you.
And think about this that the state of Illinois has cut 187.
Million dollars and their mental health budget.
The city of Chicago closed half of their mental health facilities.
Cook County -- had an assault weapons ban since 1993.
But yet.
They've got the highest murder rate in the country there's something wrong with this picture.
We need to be creating jobs we need to be doing things to help our young people stay in school I wanna put vocational education back in the high school.
But again.
It's about talking about the culture of violent nobody wants to talk about that.
Yet I still agree with having background checks and to update our national database.
To have a a much more clearer way of talking about how to get the guns out of the hands of criminals but nobody wants to talk about that nobody wants to talk about.
How do we let law enforcement do their job how do we get rid of the games.
But since I wanna talk about that common sense gun control measures.
-- and he wants to do that.
Now there against I know -- you do oppose a ban on assault weapons in an extended magazine clips and this is one of the reasons why David Axelrod.
Sent out a tweet saying you're strong standing in the district is ironic in his view.
Given quote the carnage in the district mean.
Do you think that there is any link and -- ice live in Chicago and a lot of that you know most of the gun violence that happens there.
Is is by -- you know crippled by gang members who are shooting each other.
There's a real question comes and as you know about whether they would -- -- played by these laws.
Even if we passed.
-- It that's exactly true and and that's why the hypocrisy of it all that they think that if we just -- one more law.
And just slap her name.
On something that -- all of a sudden everything is gonna go away.
And I have talked to so many people out there.
That -- just so angry at at just one mayor who thinks that he can come in with these cats.
There are now three super pacs on that have thought that they could come in to doesn't get rid of me because they don't wanna talk about -- cents and because if you've -- you've got to congress twice before for this like -- it's not like they didn't like it before but suddenly now that this is revenues this is a deal breaker for them yes.
It is and it's a shame.
But the nice thing about it people know me they know what I'm about out and they know that I want to talk about the real issue which is education and creating jobs.
And if -- if they're just they're continuing to push this issue.
Which they're getting up so help because it's not working every -- they do another poll I'm still in the lead and I don't think they know what to do -- me since I just.
Continue to talk about what's really important to the -- Well you raise -- points about you know pushing more vocational education for these kids.
The -- -- get off on the wrong track -- outside of Chicago and cannot really you know brought back and and and trying to intervene early.
In in that laughs listen it's it's great to have you on I know it's an open primary so that on and you make things interest -- any of the will continue to follow it right.
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