Follow the Money

I was just readin' an article/post that claims to "reveal" Sarah Palin's attitude toward animals. The writer is one Karen Dawn who sends out a regular email newletter. She starts out "…I need to stress that DawnWatch is entirely non partisan. If you've read Thanking the Monkey you know of my commitment to non partisan animal activism."

That would be more believable if a quick Google search didn't reveal Ms. Dawn donated $2,300 to the Obama campaign and $0 to the McCain ticket.

She continues:

Indeed, Obama's record on animal issues is better than most. I have spoken to him personally and found a keen awareness of and interest in the connection between the livestock industry and global warming.

I have no doubt Bar-ack! knows plenty 'bout cow gas.

And as a senator, long before he was in the presidential race, he posed for photos for an anti puppy mill book.

Seems Bar-ack! does a whole lotta' of posin' and posturin' but not much actual producin', 'less ya' count the aforementioned cow gas.

Based on the rest of her "newsletter," I figure Demo-cat Enviro-wackers will soon be mountin' a huge campaign to demonize Sarah Palin and swing the pet-owner vote.

Sarah Palin has so far shown a level of hostility to animal interests that is well outside the norm. Her presence on the ticket therefore gives us the chance to let it be known that such a stance matters, and that to most people, both Democrat and Republican, it is a negative.

You can learn the details of her stances on various websites. The Defenders of Wildlife site may be the most comprehensive. It tells us, "As Governor, Sarah Palin has championed aerial hunting of wolves and bears" and it includes distressing video of aerial wolf shootings. About whales it tells us, "Governor Palin opposes the listing of the Cook Inlet beluga whales, citing the listing as a threat to oil and gas development, despite their genetic uniqueness and the fact that their numbers have decreased from 1,300 in the 1980s to about 350 today. And it reminds us that Palin opposes listing the Polar Bear as endangered:

Ah ha! Defenders of Wildlife is a name I recognize, havin' checked them out before. Anyone remember the spotted owl flap and the destruction of the loggin' industry?

These people are all about controllin', not carin'. They want wolves runnin' amok then turn around and tell ya' never to let your canine (or fe-lyin') have a littler. Some of 'em aren't ever sure 'bout lettin' ya' have an animal companion at all.

So who are these "Defenders of Wildlife?" Well, Rodger Schlickeisen is President. I found his bio on Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Michigan) government website which sorta' says it all. He's real hard-core, havin' not only served in the Carter White House, but was "…CEO of Craver, Mathews, Smith and Company, a leading consultant on organizational development, membership building and fund-raising for progressive advocacy organizations. [Emphasis mine.]

Victor M. Sher, the Chairman, is from San Francisco, is part of the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, and donated $2,300 to the Obama campaign.

Terry C. Pelster, Vice Chairman from New York, donated $4,600 to the 2008 Democrat Presidental election.

Richard Kopcho, Treasurer, is from California and while he isn't on record as makin' big donations, his wife has been donatin' thousands to the Demo-cats since 2004.

Adelaide P. Gomer, Secretary, is the real big fish. 'Course she's from New York so what can ya' expect? A short list of her donations from February '07 to May '08 include: MoveOn - $5,000; ActBlue - $5,600; Obama - $5,700; and the Democratic Congress Campaign Committee - $1,500

All very non-partisan, right?

Sure—pull my other three legs, Ms. Dawn.

posted by Harrison at 12:13 AM