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Oboma a President for the animals

Horseless

Well-known member
In a recent article by Pat Goggins he quotes Obama saying that he "won't just be a president for the American people, but the animals also".
Obama sponsored the bill to prevent horse slaughter in Illinois. Could that mean he has plans of expanding that to other animals? What does he mean by a president for the animals?
 

Mike

Well-known member
Obama Pledges Support for Animal Rights
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gyXVIfZ2F2CTuuxH3_93vuTP-
ywwD8U74PLG0

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — "What about animal rights?" a woman shouted during the candidate's town hall meeting outside Las Vegas after he discussed issues like war, health care, and the economy.

Obama responded that he cares about animal rights very much, "not only because I have a 9-year-old and 6-year-old who want a dog." He said he sponsored a bill to prevent horse slaughter in the Illinois state Senate and has been repeatedly endorsed by the Humane Society.
"I think how we treat our animals reflects how we treat each other," he said. "And it's very important that we have a president who is mindful of the cruelty that is perpetrated on animals." Compiled by Nedra Pickler

SOURCE / BACKGROUND:
The Presidential Files: Barack Obama and the Dog-acity of Hope
hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2007/12/the-president-3.html

INFORMATION HIGHLIGHTS:
READ MORE: http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2007/12/the-president-3.html

In his [HSUS] questionnaire response, Obama pledges support for nearly every animal protection bill 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...

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.

...But he has not yet co-sponsored major animal welfare bills such as the Pet Safety and Protection Act...

MORE / BARACK OBAMA
Animal Rights Advocates for Obama
my.barackobama.com/page/group/AnimalRightsAdvocatesforObama

CONTACT INFO / ASK FOR THIS CANDIDATE'S STAND ON ANIMAL ISSUES:
Let this candidate know his/her position on humane issues will affect your vote.
Barack Obama (D)
email: my.barackobama.com/page/s/contact2
phone: 1-866-675-2008
website: www.barackobama.com

http://www.kinshipcircle.org/updates/updates_01-17-08.html#anchor1


Posted: Saturday February 2, 2008, 10:12 am
Visibility: Everyone
 

Yanuck

Well-known member
This is a month old, but tells you how the candidates voted........



COPIED FROM MichaelMarkarian.org ~ The Humane Society Legislative Fund

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Democrats:
All of the Democratic contenders have been friends of animal welfare, and have received high marks year after year on the Humane Scorecard.



Joe Biden: In the current session of Congress, Sen. Biden is a co-sponsor of measures to stop horse slaughter, upgrade the penalties for animal fighting, ban the possession of fighting dogs and attendance at a dogfight, and call on Canada to stop its annual massacre of baby harp seals. He has consistently voted for animal protection during his career, and he led the fight with Sen. Barbara Boxer to ban the netting of dolphins by commercial tuna fishermen. He was the lead author of a bill in the 107th Congress to prohibit trophy hunting of captive exotic mammals in fenced enclosures, and he successfully passed the bill through the Senate Judiciary Committee.



Hillary Rodham Clinton: In the current session of Congress, Sen. Clinton is 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.



Chris Dodd: In the current session of Congress, Sen. Dodd is a co-sponsor of measures to stop Class B dealers from trafficking in random-source pets for research, end horse slaughter, upgrade the penalties for animal fighting, and call on Canada to stop its annual massacre of baby harp seals. He has consistently voted for animal protection during his career, and can always be counted on by animal advocates.



John Edwards: A leader on the issue of factory farming, Sen. Edwards has called for a moratorium on the construction or expansion of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). His campaign has released a positive statement on animal welfare, and you can read more about his record in my longer entry, “John Edwards on Animals and Rural America.”



Dennis Kucinich: An ethical vegetarian, Rep. Kucinich has been one of the true leaders on animal protection issues in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is currently a co-sponsor of 14 animal protection measures in the 110th Congress, one of the highest numbers among all 435 members. He led the effort in 2001 and 2002 to secure more funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act at puppy mills, research laboratories, zoos, circuses, and other facilities. When animal issues are considered on the House floor, Rep. Kucinich can often be found speaking in favor of the animal protection position. In November, he hosted an online forum to discuss animal issues.



Barack Obama: In the current session of Congress, Sen. Obama is a co-sponsor of measures to stop horse slaughter, upgrade the penalties for animal fighting, and crack down on dogfighting. He 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 my longer entry, “Barack Obama and the Dog-acity of Hope.”



Bill Richardson: New Mexico banned cockfighting in 2007 thanks to Gov. Richardson’s leadership, and the chief executive signed numerous animal protection bills into law and issued a comprehensive animal welfare package for the state. Read more in my longer entry, “Bill Richardson’s Animal Magnetism in the Land of Enchantment.”

Posted at 2:03 PM on Thursday, January 3



Wednesday, January 02, 2008


Republicans:

Mike Huckabee’s terrible approach to animal cruelty issues and pandering to the sport hunting lobby, and Ron Paul’s philosophical opposition to even the most modest animal welfare policies in Congress are discussed elsewhere. As to the other presidential hopefuls in the party ...



Rudy Giuliani: As mayor, Giuliani did not have as many opportunities to take a position on animal issues as those who served as governor or a member of Congress, but he did take some proactive measures in America's largest city. In 2000, he proposed and signed a bill to promote the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats and open an animal shelter in each borough in order to help curb New York's pet overpopulation. He is the first Republican candidate to release a public statement on animal issues, which is reproduced here in its entirety: "Animals play an important part in the lives of many Americans. We should all work to reduce animal suffering by advocating for sensible public policies, investigating animal cruelty and strongly enforcing the laws that are already on the books. I will continue to support efforts to educate the public about animal issues, and work with corporations to develop animal-friendly policies."



Duncan Hunter: In the U.S. House of Representatives, Hunter’s record has been relatively poor but he’s been a supporter on some issues. He has earned scores ranging from zero to 42 percent on the Humane Scorecard over the years, having backed a few animal protection proposals, including those to stop animal fighting, horse slaughter, and the processing of “downer” livestock. He has been leading the fight to continue the trophy hunting of deer and elk on Santa Rosa Island, in a controversial battle over whether the animals will be exterminated from the island or allowed to remain in a canned hunt—either way a bad outcome for the animals.



John McCain: In the U.S. Senate, McCain has been a strong supporter of numerous animal welfare issues, earning scores of up to 75 percent on the Humane Scorecard. He has voted for and co-sponsored legislation to stop horse slaughter, and voted to eliminate a $2 million subsidy for the mink industry. He has co-sponsored bills to stop the interstate shipment of birds for cockfighting and to stop the poaching of bears by ending the 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. Senator McCain has been a leader in the effort to stop global warming, and he opposes drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to many wildlife species.



Mitt Romney: 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 twelve-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 didn't exactly inspire confidence in his judgment on animal issues, either. He appointed a raft of animal-unfriendly people to the state Fisheries and Wildlife Board. He did, however, leave the governor's mansion on a high note by signing a bill passed in 2006 to strengthen the Massachusetts animal fighting law and prevent a convicted animal abuser from getting the animal back.



Fred Thompson: Thompson rarely supported animal protection issues in the U.S. Senate, but his highest score was 50 percent on the Humane Scorecard. On the positive side, he voted to eliminate a $2 million subsidy for the mink industry. On the negative side, he voted to continue spending tax dollars to allow the use of two particularly inhumane traps—steel-jawed leghold traps and wire neck snares—for commercial and recreational trapping on National Wildlife Refuges. And he opposed an amendment to protect dolphins from drowning in tuna fishing nets.
 
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