The National Rifle Association and its leaders have long insisted the organization is nonpartisan, and pointed to their past endorsements and work with pro-gun Democrats such as Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and, for a time, Sen Harry Reid of Nevada.

Today, the NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, in the opening remarks at this year’s NRA-ILA Leadership Forum, effectively admitted that the convention, which features all of the big-name Republicans considering a presidential bid in 2016 except Chris Christie and Rand Paul, is now a key step for the GOP contenders.

“As the Republican Party has begun a long and arduous effort to select its nominee, it’s important that all of you are here today, participating in that effort,” LaPierre said.

“The GOP process is going to be competitive and difficult for the contenders,” LaPierre said. “From a coronation, you don’t get the best for America, or even the best for the Democratic party. What you get is Hillary Rodham Clinton.” He chucked in response to the boos and continued, “We’re on to her. She’s been coming after us for decades, degrading law abiding gun owners all over this country. Hillary Clinton hasn’t met a gun control bill she couldn’t support.”

LaPierre’s subsequent remarks hit Hillary Clinton on a long litany of past lies and scandals, ranging from the White House Travel Office, the Lewinsky scandal, the Lincoln bedroom, Whitewater, her claim of dodging sniper fire in the Balkans, to the most current scandal involving her personal e-mail server and fears it was insecure from hackers and foreign intelligence.

“Erase a tape, delete all the e-mails… Is the best we can do a secretary of state, when testifying before Congress about the tragic death of four Americans in Benghazi, waving her arms in the air and crying, ‘What difference does it make?’”