| Author |
Message |
TScottW99
| | Posted on Sunday, August 18, 2002 - 8:54 am: | |
Here's a message that I thought you might be interested in......
Dear Virginia Animal Owner:
The major U.S. animal rightist (AR) political organization, Humane USA PAC, has announced its 2002 election endorsements at http://www.humaneusa.org/endorse/endorsements.asp Virginia endorsements include John Warner (R), Rick Boucher (D-VA9), Jo Ann Davis (R-VA1), Tom Davis (R-VA11), James Moran (D-VA8) and Frank Wolf (R-VA10). HUMANE USA PAC's members routinely lobby for both federal and state laws that restrict or eliminate hunting, fishing, pure bred pets, livestock ownership, circuses, rodeos, medical research and similar activities. Many of those interests, meeting in convention last month in Northern Virginia, applauded PETA's leader, who welcomed hoof and mouth disease into the U.S. and expressed support for those arrested in connection with medical laboratory firebombing and vandalizing.
In reviewing this list and its 2000 equivalent, several things are apparent.The animal rightists have shifted at least some of their focus and resources to the state level. State gubernatorial endorsements have risen from 0 in 2000, to 1 in 2001, to 4 in 2002. A network AR political action committees now endorses local legislature candidates in many states, including California, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington. This effort to elect added animal rightist-supportive state representatives in the more populous states increases the likelihood that restrictive AR legislation will be passed in those states, while also enlarging the pool of state level AR politicians groomed to run for federal office, where they have nationwide impact. For the first time, HUMANE USA PAC endorsed non-incumbents for open Congressional seats.
There's every reason to believe that Virginia animal rightists will endorse candidates for the November 2003 General Assembly and November 2005 gubernatorial elections. The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) is the guiding force behind most of this effort. HSUS's supporters, Democrats and Republicans both, passed two bad animal laws in the last General Assembly session. We must do what we can to change this troubling situation, before it worsens.
A somber note:
Delegate Vic Thomas (D-H17) is in critical condition in Roanoke Hospital. Please say a prayer for him. Virginia sportsmen and animal owners have no greater friend in the General Assembly. Thank you.
Bob Kane
Virginia Hunting Dog Owners' Association
http://vhdoa.uplandbirddog.com/index.html
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