If horses could vote...

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If horses could vote...

As the field narrows, its time for a roundup of the candidates from an equine perspective. Because none of them seem to be horse owners or riders, the measure is how they vote on animal rights issues, as well as how they treat animals in their own lives:

Barack Obama has clearly come out on the side of animal rights. He voted for the anti-slaughter legislation that closed the last slaughter plant in his home state.. He also responded to the Humane Society questionnaire with comments on the links between animal cruelty and violence in society. As for animals in his own life, he said that "as a condition for letting me run for President, my daughters Malia and Sasha extracted a promise from Michelle and I that they could get a dog after the election, win or lose. So they're heavily invested in this campaign, if only for it to be over so we can get our dog."

Hillary Clinton has voted for all the issues supported by the Humane Society, earning a 100% rating, but in the area of her own pets, she has taken some hits. She has been accused of dumping Chelsea's cat, Socks, onto her husband's press secretary after using Socks to bolster a softer image. The problem was some conflict between Buddy, the chocolate lab, and Socks. Unfortunately, Buddy was run over by a car in Chappaqua shortly after leaving the White House. He was replaced by Seamus, a Labrador Retriever.

John McCain has the most pets of any candidate - although they probably aren't seeing much of him lately. According to an Associated Press Survey, he has a mutt named Coco, an English springer spaniel named Sam, turtles Cuff and Link, Oreo the black and white cat, a ferret, three parakeets and more than a dozen saltwater fish. He has a 75% rating from the Humane Society, so he is voting for his home constituency!

Ron Paul has done rather dismally by Humane Society standards, primarily because has voted against all recent animal protection measures, from horse slaughter to increased penalties for dog and cock fighting. He has no pets.

Mike Huckabee has been at the center of an animal rights firestorm since it came to light that when his son, David, was fired from his job as a Boy Scout camp counselor for animal cruelty (allegedly hanging a stray dog, slitting its throat and then stoning it to death with another boy) Huckabee pulled strings to try andget him out of trouble. David was 17 in 1998, at the time of the incident. The former director of the state police, John Bailey, claims that he was leaned on, and then fired after he refused to bow to pressure. In the state of Arkansas, animal cruelty is only a misdemeanor offense. Huckabee failed to support 2002 legislation to upgrade malicious and deliberate cruelty to a felony offense and the measure did not pass. However, he does have dogs of his own, a 9-year-old black Labrador Retriever and Sonic, a 1-and-a-half-year-old Shih Tzu.

Of those who have withdrawn from the race, John Edwards was probably the most animal-friendly and released a statement on the subject.

Mitt Romney refused to be embarrassed by an old story the Boston Globe dug up - apparently he strapped his Irish Setter in a crate to the roof of his car in 1983. According to him, that is what the dog preferred, but carrying animals outside the vehicle is illegal in Massachussetts. However, on animal rights legislation. Romney's record is mixed, but he did sign a bill as Massachussetts governor that strengthened animal fighting measures and prevents abusers from regaining custody of their animals.

Now, I am not in the least bit suggesting you base your vote on the number of a politician's pets or vote on an animal rights platform, but it is interesting to see how many candidates feel it is significant enough to many voters to actually make a statement on the issues. How we treat animals in our society is an issue of character for many people.

However, it is the big-picture issues that are most likely to impact the future of horses in America, from the health of the economy to climate change.

Posted by at February 19, 2008 8:13 a.m.
Category: Horse Rescue & Rehoming

Comments

#99710

Posted by unregistered user at 2/19/08 8:46 a.m.

Unfortunately, matter dealing with animal protection are clearly not a responsibility of the federal government. As much as we all love animals, I'd much rather leave the federal government out of it. John McCain and Hillary Clinton are breaking the law.

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#99716

Posted by unregistered user at 2/19/08 9:12 a.m.

once horses pay taxes then they can vote on how to spend it. until then i dont want the government taking my money and giving it to anyone else.

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#99723

Posted by Monica Bretherton at 2/19/08 9:58 a.m.

I am not clear exactly what you mean by the statement that John McCain and Hillary Clinton are breaking the law. Do you mean violating the Constitution in some way?

Personally, I do not generally believe in legislating morality or the bureaucratization of personal choices, but it is clear that there is increasing recognition that the humane treatment of animals is closely tied to the humane treatment of people - it is a rare cruelty case that does not involve some sort of social dysfunction as well. This connection is nothing new - The classic novel "Black Beauty" was as much a plea for better treatment of working men as well as working horses in the Victorian era.

However, as I mentioned in my post, I do not suggest you select a candidate based on their number of pets or their Humane Society voting record. Whether it is a national issue or not, it does seem to influence perception of character and has received a fair amount exposure in the press.

I do believe the Federal government is responsible for protecting the economy AND the environment in a balanced way, issues critical to the equestrian industry, as well being involved in a "gamekeeper" role in certain equine issues, such as the conservation of the mustang on Federal lands. The shipping of horses to Canada, Mexico and Asia for slaughter involves national borders and therefore has to be addressed at the Federal level.

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#99725

Posted by unregistered user at 2/19/08 10:01 a.m.

A famous quote by Ghandi comes to mind here; " The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated"

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#99734

Posted by unregistered user at 2/19/08 10:41 a.m.

Dr. Paul has voted as you say not because of the content of the legislation per se, but because he believes this level of control is not authorized by the constitution and that these types of issues should be resolved at the state level.

Consider this - in today's world some consider horse riding "animal cruelty" and unnecessary since the 'work' horses used to do can be done with an ATV or Truck. How would you like it if some pencil-neck government agent told you it was illegal to 'ride' a horse?

Dr. Paul if fighting for your freedom, won't you support him?

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#99997

Posted by Soos at 2/20/08 5:08 a.m.

Comment re: not responsibility of governement to protect animals/protection of animals. The government has made it their business in view of the facts that they support/fund using animals in research and make the pitiful laws they call "animal care" - Like "CRUEL KINDNESS", (How do you care for a dog you are torturing and plan to murder when he/she is too weak, sick to stand another hideous experiment?) and the USDA and Agriculture Dept. fancies themselves as "inspecting and enforcing the minimal laws extended to animals in industrial production/slaughter, when in reality they only want to get them to the Killing Floor where they meet an unimaginable, brutal and elongated death - finally. Our government has betrayed every creature in our nation with their non-compassionate, selfish tactics. Its up to us to care for the animals and change the stupid laws of so-called "protection". There are no friends of animals in government, and horses are the last thing they are concerned with. Speak up, speak for the voiceless animals who are victims of our government and a crazed consuming public. Thanks.

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#100022

Posted by unregistered user at 2/20/08 8:20 a.m.

If horses could vote, they would probably vote for the total annihilation of the human race because they aren't as sentimental as we are.

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