SEBASTIAN LIVEBLOGGED MCCAIN’S NRA SPEECH: “The theme seems to be ‘I suck a little, but my opponents suck more.'”

Now there’s a winning formula!

UPDATE: Checking my email, I got a copy of the speech, which is pasted below — hit “read more” to read it. But McCain doesn’t seem to support a ban on private sales, just an extension of instant background checks to gun shows.:

Over the years, I haven’t agreed with the NRA on every issue. I have supported efforts to have NICS background checks apply to gun sales at gun shows. I recognize that gun shows are enjoyed by millions of law-abiding Americans. I do not support efforts by those who seek to regulate them out of existence. But I believe an accurate, fair and instant background check at guns shows is a reasonable requirement. I also oppose efforts to require federal regulation of all private sales such as the transfer between a father and son or husband and wife. I supported campaign finance reform because I strongly believed our system of financing campaigns was influencing elected officials to put the interests of “soft money” donors ahead of the public interest. It is neither my purpose nor the purpose of the legislation to prevent gun owners or any other group of citizens from making their voices heard in the legislative process.

Whole text below.