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Which Presidential Candidates are Animal Friendly?
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/angelanimals/archives/131083.asp?from=blog_last3
Above is the link for this original article from the
Seattle PI. It refers to an issue of Kinship Circle Newsletter and the
information about the Presidential Candidates. I thought you might find it
interesting. Of course, most of you will remember the fiasco over Huckabee’s
son and the boy scout camp.
Which Presidential Candidates are Animal Friendly?
As we watch the television coverage of the presidential elections and read the
newspapers articles and editorials, we often wonder which candidates care about
animals.
The January 17, 2008 issue of Kinship Circle Newsletter (www.kinshipcircle.org)
presented valuable information about who would potentially be an animal friendly
administration. This blog gives you an overview of the candidates, their history
in the area of animal protection, and their statements on the topic of pets.
Senator Hillary Clinton
In the current session of Congress, Senator Hillary Clinton was a co-sponsor of
legislation dealing with horse slaughter and animal fighting, and she previously
co-sponsored legislation to stop the processing of "downer" livestock and to
crack down on abusive puppy mills where dogs are treated like production
machines She led efforts in the 108th and 109th Congresses to stop the overuse
of antibiotics in farm animals, which allow them to be crammed in overcrowded,
stressful, unsanitary conditions on factory farms. She had a perfect 100 percent
score on the Humane Scorecard in the 108th and 109th Congresses.
Source:
The Presidential Files: Discussing the Donkeys by Michael Markarian
http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2008/01/donkeys.html
Visit Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF) Scorecard at
www.fund.org/humanescorecard/
Note: Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF) is a social welfare organization
incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. HSLF works to
pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the
public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for
office. Michael Markarian is the president of the Humane Society Legislative
Fund, a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization that lobbies for animal welfare
legislation and works to elect humane-minded candidates to public office.
What is very disturbing was Sen. Clinton's selection of Joy Philippi, the
immediate past president of the National Pork Producers Council, co-chair of
'Rural Americans for Hillary.' Joy is a leading advocate of the cruel industrial
factory farming practices and a outspoken opponent of banning horse slaughter.
BAD CHOICE for anyone who claims to like animals.
Senator Barack Obama
In the current session of Congress, Senator Barack Obama was a co-sponsor of
measures to stop horse slaughter, upgrade the penalties for animal fighting, and
crack down on dogfighting. Senator Obama has had a strong record for animals in
both the Illinois State Senate and the U.S. Senate. Read more about his
responses to the Humane Society Legislative Fund's questionnaire in Michael
Markarian's longer entry, "Barack Obama and the Dog-acity of Hope
In his Humane Society of the United States questionnaire response, Senator Obama
pledges support for nearly every animal protection bill currently pending in
Congress, and says he will work with executive agencies such as the U.S.
Department of Agriculture to make their policies more humane.
Senator Obama on links between animal cruelty and violence in society:
"I've repeatedly voted to increase penalties for animal cruelty and violence
and, importantly, to require psychological counseling for those who engage in
this behavior... In addition to being unacceptable in its own stead, violence
towards animals is linked with violent behavior in general, especially domestic
violence... As president, I'd continue to make sure that we treat animal cruelty
like the serious crime it is and address its connection to broader patterns of
violence."
As Illinois State Senator:
Voted for at least a dozen animal protection laws that came up during that time.
Supported measures: To allow creation of pet trusts for long-term care of
companion animals; to upgrade penalties for cruelty to animals; to require
psychological counseling for people who abuse animals; to require veterinarians
report suspected acts of cruelty and animal fighting; to ban the slaughter of
horses for human consumption...
As U.S. Senator:
Voted to end federal funding of horse slaughter in 2005. Currently a co-sponsor
of new legislation to stop horse slaughter and export of horses for human
consumption. Co-sponsored legislation to upgrade federal penalties for
dogfighting and cockfighting. Co-sponsor of new legislation to ban possession of
fighting dogs and being a spectator at a dogfight. Signed letter requesting
increased funds for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Humane Methods of
Slaughter Act, and federal animal fighting law. Sent letter to National Zoo
expressing concern for the care of Toni the elephant.
SOURCE:
The Presidential Files: Barack Obama and the Dog-acity of Hope
http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2007/12/the-president-3.html
INFORMATION:
READ MORE:
http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2007/12/the-president-3.html
Animal Rights Advocates for Obama
http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/AnimalRightsAdvocatesforObama
Governor Mike Huckabee
During Huckabee's administration:
Arkansas lawmakers tried to pass legislation upgrading the state's anti-cruelty
law from misdemeanor to felony... They received no help from the governor, and
were unsuccessful every time. Stymied by the legislative process, animal
advocates collected signatures to place an anti-cruelty and anti-cockfighting
measure on the statewide ballot in 2002.
All that came from Huckabee during the ballot campaign was a deafening silence.
The measure went down in flames, largely because of a campaign run by the
Arkansas Farm Bureau, Arkansas Cattlemen's Association, Arkansas Game and Fish
Commission, and Ducks Unlimited -- groups with which Huckabee associates himself
-- falsely claiming this modest proposal to upgrade penalties for animal cruelty
would have adversely impacted hunting, fishing, farming, and other Arkansas
traditions...
Huckabee's pandering to the sport hunting lobby:
November television ad in Iowa featured action star Chuck Norris, who stated,
"Mike Huckabee is a lifelong hunter…" During a speech to the NRA in September,
Huckabee...talked about shooting a bullet that was guided by angels to pierce an
antelope, and exclaimed, "I'm pretty sure there will be duck hunting in heaven,
and I can't wait." [Huckabee spent Christmas Day killing tame pheasants].
1998 -- Huckabee's son David, 17, kills stray dog:
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported former Governor Mike Huckabee's son, David,
fired from job as a Boy Scout camp counselor because he and another teen
allegedly killed a stray dog... The boys hanged the dog, slit his throat, and
stoned him to death -- but were never charged with any crime.
At the time of the camp incident, a local prosecutor asked the Arkansas State
Police to investigate whether David Huckabee violated state anti-cruelty laws.
Newsweek broke the story that the former director of the state police, John
Bailey, says Huckabee's chief of staff and personal attorney leaned on him to
drop the investigation... Bailey refused to play ball and was fired seven months
later. It seems Huckabee tried to stop the state police from investigating the
cruelty charges against his son, and Bailey's story is corroborated by the
former FBI chief in Little Rock.
SOURCE:
http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2007/12/the-presidentia.html
INFORMATION:
http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2007/12/the-presidentia.html
Senator John McCain
In the U.S. Senate:
Senator McCain has been a strong supporter of numerous animal welfare issues,
earning scores of up to 75 percent on the Humane Scorecard. Voted for and
co-sponsored legislation to stop horse slaughter. Voted to eliminate a $2
million subsidy for the mink industry. Co-sponsored bills to stop interstate
shipment of birds for cockfighting and to stop poaching of bears by ending trade
in their gall bladders and other viscera.
He took an anti-animal position by supporting an amendment to the California
Desert Protection Act which would have allowed sport hunting in the Mojave
National Park. A leader in effort to stop global warming. Opposes drilling for
oil in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge...
SOURCE:
The Presidential Files: Evaluating the Elephants
http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2008/01/elephants.html
INFORMATION:
http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2008/01/elephants.html
Governor Mitt Romney
Romney's infamous 1983 vacation:
Romney attracted the ire of animal advocates when they learned that during a
1983 vacation, he put the family's Irish setter, Seamus, in a carrier and
strapped him to the roof rack of the station wagon. When the terrified dog
urinated and defecated during the 12-hour drive, Romney pulled over, hosed down
the dog, and continued the voyage from Boston to Ontario.
As chief executive of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City:
Romney also came under fire from animal protection groups for allowing a rodeo
exhibition that included calf roping.
His term as governor:
Appointed a raft of animal-unfriendly people to the state Fisheries and Wildlife
Board. He did, however, sign a bill passed in 2006 to strengthen the
Massachusetts animal fighting law and prevent a convicted animal abuser from
getting the animal back.
SOURCE:
The Presidential Files: Evaluating the Elephants
http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2008/01/elephants.html
INFORMATION:
http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2008/01/elephants.html
Congressman Ron Paul
His Record in Congress:
Driven by attitude that the federal government should not play a role in
protecting animals from cruelty. Rep. Paul one of only 31 members of U.S. House
of Representatives who voted against every single animal protection measure that
came up for a vote in 2007.
Voted in March to keep federal penalties weak for dogfighting and
cockfighting... Voted in April against restoring decades-old protections for
wild horses and burros, instead opting to let them be sold for commercial
slaughter. Voted in June to allow wealthy American trophy hunters to shoot polar
bears in the Arctic and bring their heads and hides back home...
It hasn't always been this way for Ron Paul:
Voted, several years ago, to cut funding for lethal predator control, trapping
on national wildlife refuges, and trophy hunting programs in foreign countries.
But...libertarians like Paul don't want to see laws enacted that restrict
personal behavior, even if that behavior may involve dogfighting or eating
mustangs.
SOURCE:
The Presidential Files: Ron Paul and Michael Vick
http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2007/12/ron-paul.html
INFORMATION:
http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2007/12/ron-paul.html
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