<P> In 1995, former U.S. President George H.W. Bush resigned his life membership to the organization after receiving an National Rifle Association Institute of Legislative Action (NRA - ILA) fund - raising letter, signed by executive vice president Wayne LaPierre, that referred to ATF agents as "jack - booted government thugs". The NRA later apologized for the letter's language . </P> <P> In December 2008, The New York Times editorial board criticized the NRA's attacks, which it called false and misleading, on Barack Obama's presidential campaign . </P> <P> In February 2013, USA Today editors criticized the NRA for flip - flopping to oppose expansion of universal background checks to private and gun show sales . </P> <P> In March 2014, The Washington Post criticized the NRA's interference in government research on gun violence, and both Post and Los Angeles Times editors criticized its opposition of Vivek Murthy for U.S. Surgeon General . </P>

Which is considered the most powerful interest group in the u.s