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Oregon

In reply to the discussion: A gun lobby sleeper cell? [View all]

barbaraann

(9,089 posts)
3. She also ran into trouble with the crowd at TedxPortland lyesterday due to her pro-gun stance.
Sun May 29, 2022, 05:47 AM
May 2022

TEDxPortland organizers anger ticketholders, appear to break federal rules by giving NRA-backed politician Betsy Johnson a solo platform
The Oregonian
Updated: May. 28, 2022, 7:24 p.m. | Published: May. 28, 2022, 4:21 p.m.

...
The federal agency is clear that 501(c)3 nonprofits such as TEDxPortland must offer candidates equal time, writing, “If a candidate is invited to speak at an organization event in his or her capacity as a political candidate, the organization must take steps to ensure that it provides an equal opportunity to participate to all political candidates seeking the same office.”
...
In videos that Watson recorded and shared online, David Rae, the event’s organizer and emcee and the president of the nonprofit that puts on the event, told the audience that he and others decided to include Johnson just “two weeks ago” and indicated he admires and chose her for her “courage” and outspokenness.

He seemed not to realize the inherent political favor-playing of giving only one of the three major candidates for Oregon governor a platform. “It’s not a campaign” he said of Johnson’s speech during a time when she is spending millions on her campaign for governor.
...
In one of her most recent votes on gun safety legislation, in May 2021, Johnson joined six Republicans to vote no on a bill that, among other things, requires guns to be safely stored, either by placing them in a locked container or by using a trigger lock, and allows school boards to ban guns from school buildings and campuses.
...
https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2022/05/tedxportland-organizers-anger-ticketholders-break-federal-rules-by-giving-nra-backed-politician-betsy-johnson-a-surprise-platform.html

That's all I can post, but the entire article is worth reading.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Oregon»A gun lobby sleeper cell?»Reply #3