Charlton Heston Made History
By Doug Patton
April 7, 2008
Page 2 of 2
Heston's five-year tenure as president of the National Rifle Association, from 1998 to 2003, gave the organization visibility it had never had before. Perhaps the most memorable moment of his presidency came at the 2000 NRA convention. The group was strongly opposing the presidential candidacy of then Vice President Al Gore, who favored restrictive gun control. At the convention, Heston was presented with a hand-made Brooks flintlock rifle. To the delight of the crowd, Heston held the weapon over his head and declared, "From my cold, dead hands, Mr. Gore!"
In 2003, diagnosed with Alzheimer 's disease, Heston stepped down as NRA president. In a stunning example of the lack of class displayed by today's Hollywood nitwits, actor George Clooney joked about Heston's affliction, saying that Heston deserved whatever was said about him for his involvement with the NRA. Heston, always the gentleman, said he felt sorry for Clooney, since he had as much chance of developing Alzheimer's as anyone else.
Charlton Heston was a culture warrior. He was unapologetically pro-life, pro-family and pro-American. He once characterized political correctness as "tyranny with manners."
When this great man died last Saturday with his beloved wife of 64 years at his side, he was 84 years old.
Thank you, Charlton Heston, for making history, not just headlines. May you rest in peace.
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Doug Patton is a freelance columnist who has served as a political speechwriter and public policy advisor. His weekly columns are published in newspapers across the country and on selected Internet web sites, including Human Events Online, TheConservativeVoice.com and GOPUSA.com, where he is a senior writer and state editor. Readers may e-mail him at dougpatton@cox.net.
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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA. >> Back -- Page 1 2
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