FROM the PRESIDENT the Secret World Inside the Animal Rights Agenda

FROM THE PRESIDENT The Secret World Inside the Animal Rights Agenda — Part Two

Part I of this column and political sophistication to animal rights PETA’s provocative national ad cam- appeared in the Fall advocacy following examples set by the civil paign, “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear A issue of Fair Chase. It rights and other liberation movements. Fur” enlisted a broad spectrum of Hollywood examined the historical PETA’s unique niche, according to its Presi- entertainers, celebrities, and supermodels development of the dent, is being “complete press sluts,” endlessly posing nude, such as Patti Davis, Steve-O, Lowell E. Baier legitimate, benevolent, seeking media exposure using outrageous Pink, Pamela Anderson, Kim Basinger, Alec PRESIDENT humanitarian animal shock and awe stunts and advertisements as Baldwin, Stella McCartney, Eva Mendes, Boone and Crockett Club welfare movement part of the group’s strategic campaign to and Christy Turlington. Similarly, PETA beginning in ancient promote its total animal liberation message. will shamelessly exploit a celebrity’s human times well into the last century, followed In PETA’s 2009 annual report, Newkirk suffering to further its agenda, as it did when by the establishment and growth of the proudly wrote, “We organized more than New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani announced radical animal rights and liberation 1,037 colorful demonstrations in 2009 that he had prostate cancer, ending his campaign movement, its philosophical and moral garnered lots of attention from both the for the U.S. Senate. PETA put up billboards footings, and its utopian goal of legal public and the media.” Not to be outdone picturing Giuliani with a milk mustache standing and “personhood” for all non- by her counterpart, Humane Society of the over the caption “Got Prostate Cancer.” human creatures rather than their United States (HSUS) CEO Wayne Pacelle’s Not missing a PR opportunity to current status as “property” of humans. political acumen, Newkirk opened a Wash- utilize global climate change as a hook to The development and activities of the ington, D.C., office in 2009 to “ensure that promote its meatless vegan society message, Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), animal rights issues are front and center in PETA even attributes the human diet as a the world’s largest animal rights organization, our nation’s capital and that animal rights contributor, quoting a University of Chicago was examined in detail, including its use of litiga- displays and events will be seen everywhere study: “changing from a meat-based diet to tion at taxpayers’ expense to perpetrate the by Obama administration staffers and mem- a vegan diet saves the equivalent of 1.5 tons growth of feral horses, burros, and wolves in the bers of Congress.” of carbon dioxide emissions every year! If all United States; the impact the expanding wolf PETA has bought stock in restaurant Americans cut back on meat consumption population is having on hunters and Idaho’s and food companies that serve and sell meat, by just 20 percent, it would yield the same Department of Fish and Game; HSUS’ insidious and then introduced shareholder resolutions reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as if youth-education programs, its global multi- at highly publicized annual meetings requir- everyone in the country switched from driv- national corporate reach that includes a ing animal rights-oriented practices in the ing a Camry to driving a Prius! And “sanctuary system” comprised of at least 1.8 way animals are handled and slaughtered. vegetables cost a lot less than a new car.” million acres in 37 states and 12 foreign coun- Campaigns have targeted McDonald’s, PETA has organized and financed tries, and its cunning fundraising operations. Burger King, Wendy’s, Pilgrim’s Pride, and major infiltrations to create videos, and/or KFC, the latter having its retail locations copy or steal documents, to stir controversy publicly protested over 12,000 times. Some regarding research testing laboratories that of PETA’s current campaigns carry the fol- utilize animals, slaughter houses, factory People for the Ethical Treatment of lowing labels: Kentucky Fried Cruelty; farms, and circuses. In 2007 alone, some 75 Animals, or PETA, which was formed in Bloody Burberry; PetSmart Cruelty; McCru- PETA infiltrations occurred. PETA’s associa- 1980, is the second-largest animal rights elty—I’m Hating It; Brookstone, A World tion and collaboration with the Earth organization globally, and it focuses on the of Deprivation; and Ringling Bros. Beats Liberation Front (ELF) and Animal Libera- following core issues: ending factory and fur Animals. The March of Dimes, the Pediatric tion Front (ALF), both FBI-listed farming; research utilizing animals; animals AIDS Foundation and the American Cancer eco-terrorists, is a matter of record according used in entertainment such as aquariums, Society have all been repeatedly attacked in to the watchdog group, Center for Consumer circuses, zoos and rodeos; hunting, trapping, flamboyant ways to attract media attention Freedom (CCF). PETA’s own tax records and fishing; human consumption of meat or for conducting animal testing to find cures confirm providing them funding and support, dairy products, or the use of leather or fur in for birth defects and life-threatening diseases. which PETA has publicly acknowledged ac- apparel; and confined backyard dogs, cock Polo, Ralph Lauren, J. Crew, JC Penney, cording to a CCF web site. fighting, dog fighting, and bull fighting. PETA Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Zappos, Ann is even opposed to the use of seeing-eye dogs Taylor, and Urban Outfitters all have agreed PETA Targets Children and police dogs. PETA President and founder to stop selling fur products and Petco exotic One of PETA’s major targets has been in- Ingrid Newkirk has described her group’s pets and large birds. Avon, Estee Lauder, fluencing and educating children through overall goal as “total animal liberation.” This Dow Chemical, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Benet- its Youth Outreach Division and PETA2. means the complete abolition of meat, milk, ton, Gillette, Tonka Toy Company, and com web site with some programs and ma- cheese, eggs, honey, zoos, aquariums, circuses, others all stopped testing products on ani- terial designed for children beginning at wool, leather, fur, silk, hunting, fishing, and mals after consumer boycotts were organized age 3. PETA’s 2009 annual review reports pet ownership. by PETA. Hundreds of fashion shows in the PETA2.com has “over 750,000 subscribers PETA is the most successful militant, United States and Europe have been dis- … and receives more than 375,000 visits radical, animal rights organization in Amer- rupted by PETA members throwing red paint per month … the largest youth membership ica, having introduced a new level of tactical on catwalks and models. of any social-justice organization. Its efforts

6 n Fair Chase Winter 2010 …while HSUS backs away from PETA’s vulgar use of help ensure that tomorrow’s scientists, ex- nudity, scare tactics and ecutives, lawmakers, educators, and parents will be on the animals’ side. … For 245 days outrageous media antics, in 2009, PETA staffed information booths HSUS sits in the shadows in complete agreement with that at 366 concerts, music festivals, and colleges reaching more than 1.1 million young group’s goals and lets PETA be the mouthpiece. people with literature and videos.” Some HSUS lets PETA be the “bad cop” while HSUS assumes the role of 36,000 action packets in PETA’s McCruelty “good cop” in an effort to burnish its legitimacy. HSUS plays on its campaign were sent to young people to pressure McDonald’s to force animal wel- “humane” name to gain public support for the same radical issues, fare improvements at its meat supplier’s level, and as a result, PETA’s Youth Activist but clearly HSUS and PETA are NOT Network grew to over 175,000 subscrib- animal welfare agencies… ers. One PETA Vice President told Fox News Channel that, “Our campaigns are always geared towards children, and they always will be.” Its child-themed web site, PETAKIDS.com, and children’s magazine called, “GRRR!” recommended for ages 5-13, promote PETA’s animal liberation agenda, eschews the use of any clothing that includes animal products, promotes a vegetarian diet, and discourages milk and meat consumption because it causes acne, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and strokes. This same web site tells kids tropi- cal rainforests are being destroyed to create grazing land for cattle, and that 55 square feet of rainforest are cut down to produce just one quarter-pound burger. The Kids Guide to Helping Animals booklet was created for kids ages 6-12 to further influence the minds of children with PETA’s messages, as was its new TeachKind.org program and web site that provides educators and librarians free humane educational material, lesson plans, books, DVDs, classroom posters, kids’ magazines, and step-by-step instructions on addressing animal rights issues in schools, as well as a guest speaker service. PETAKIDS.com even instructs children on how to organize an animal rights club and PETA fundraisers. PETA has even created its own PETA’s Vegan College Cookbook to promote a vegetarian lifestyle, and in 2009 over 422,000 copies of its “Vegetarian Starter Kit” One PETA Vice President told Fox News Channel that, “Our campaigns were distributed. Many popular youth-culture are always geared towards children, and they always will be.” Its child- celebrities were enlisted to carry PETA’s themed web site, PETAKIDS.com, and children’s magazine called, “GRRR!” message to children including pop stars Justin recommended for ages 5-13, promote PETA’s animal liberation agenda, Bieber, reality TV star Steve-O, MTV host eschews the use of any clothing that includes animal products, promotes Layla Kayleigh, Miley Cyrus, and rock bands a vegetarian diet, and discourages milk and meat consumption because it Dillinger, Escape Plan, Rise Against, and causes acne, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and strokes.

Fair Chase Winter 2010 n 7 Silverstein. PETA’s ad is simply no reason for anyone agencies according to the research data col- campaign “Your to hunt. lected by one of the leading authorities on Mommy Kills Animals,” featuring the car- global animal rightist activities. toon of a mother killing a rabbit with a knife One commentator characterized was highly criticized for its message aimed PETA’s speciesism position—that all species Veganarchism at young people. PETA brags, however, that are equal—as follows: “animal trainers, hunt- HSUS and PETA, while the most recogniz- this message reached over 1.2 million minor ers, fishermen, cattlemen, grocers, and indeed able animal rightists groups, are shadowed children, including 30,000 kids between the all non-vegetarians are the moral equivalent by far more militant organizations that ages of 6 and 12, all contacted by email of cannibals, slave-owners, and death-camp emphasize animal liberation and tactically without parental supervision. guards.” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk support what can be termed “veganarchism.” insists that the world would be a better place These include the Animal Liberation Front Targeting Our without people: “Humans have grown like a (ALF) and Earth Liberation Front (ELF), Hunting Heritage cancer. We’re the biggest blight on the face both listed by the FBI as eco-terrorists here Recreational hunting and fishing have long of the earth.” and abroad, with 150 ongoing, open inves- been a target of PETA. In 1992, its members tigations. These two groups are responsible boisterously picketed the annual meeting of Empty Talk for more than 600 crimes since 1996, caus- the Boone and Crockett Club in Denver, The biggest hypocrisy of PETA comes from ing more than $43 million in damages Colorado. Releases from the PETA media its euthanasia program. During 2009, PETA estimated by the FBI. Their anarchism led center reveal a series of distorted messages took in 2,366 dogs and cats for adoption, to the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act they’ve disseminated on hunting: and killed 2,301 of these. Only one out of being adopted by Congress in 1992. ALF is 300 animals found adoptive homes. Since active in 38 countries globally. These two To attract more hunters (and their 1998, PETA has killed 23,640 dogs and groups along with the British-based anti- money), federal and state agencies cats—all a matter of public record, which hunting guerrilla group called the Band of implement programs—often called PETA filed with the Virginia Department Mercy are known for attacking hunters’ ve- “wildlife management” or of Agriculture and Consumer Services. At hicles by slashing tires, breaking windows, “conservation” programs—that are PETA’s Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters, and harassing hunting parties by trailing designed to boost the numbers of there are no open adoption shelter hours. them afield with noise makers and banging “game” species. These programs There is, however, a large walk-in freezer pots and pans, and putting down false scent help to ensure that there are plenty purchased in 2002 for $9,370, and a contract trails to distract hunting dogs. of animals for hunters to kill and, with a crematory service to empty the freezer An incendiary firebomb at a Michigan consequently, plenty of revenue periodically of animal carcasses according to State University (MSU) animal research from the sale of hunting licenses. the Center for Consumer Freedom. In 2005, testing lab was detonated, causing multimil- … In Alaska, the Department of two PETA employees were charged with 31 lion dollar damages in 1992 by ALF activist Fish and Game is trying to increase felony counts of animal cruelty each, after Rod Coronado, who was convicted of arson the number of moose for hunters authorities found them dumping the dead and sent to jail. Documents removed from by “controlling” the wolf and bear bodies of 18 animals they had just picked up MSU and a videotape of the perpetrator populations. … Wolves have been from a North Carolina animal shelter into disguised in a ski mask were sent by Coronado slaughtered in order to “let the a dumpster. According to the Associated to a PETA employee. According to the book moose population rebound and Press, 13 more dead animals were found in a Eco-Terrorism, PETA reportedly paid $45,000 provide a higher harvest for local van registered to PETA. to Coronado for his legal expenses, and hunters.” … in Canada, hunting PETA’s 2009 annual report and finan- loaned his father another $25,000. Similarly, has caused bighorn sheep’s horn cial statement shows revenues totaling $34.6 according to two reports, PETA contributed size to fall by 25 percent in the last million, $5.1 million or 15 percent of which $27,000 to the legal defense fund of Robert 40 years. … [PETA] insists that was spent on fundraising. The 2009 statement Troen for burglary and arson at the University non-hunters be equally represented lists net assets of $17.7 million. Its 300 em- of Oregon in 1986. Three years later in 1989, on the staffs of wildlife agencies. ployees service a membership reportedly in PETA informed its members of the payment. excess of 2 million members. PETA is a major, PETA’s 1988 IRS 990 tax form disclosed that The PETAKIDS.com web site de- multi-national business operation focused on PETA contributed $7,500 to the legal defense signed for ages 5-13 sends this message about its mission of total global animal liberation of Fran Stephanie Trutt, prosecuted for the sport hunting to our kids, under the bold with rights equal to humans, utilizing outra- attempted murder of the president of a medi- headline “Leave Wildlife Alone.” geous radical tactics. In the opinion of one cal laboratory and convicted of possessing of the leading investigators and authorities pipe bombs. Josh Harper was convicted of Chasing defenseless animals on animal rightists, while HSUS backs away attacking Native Americans on a whale hunt around in the woods just so that from PETA’s vulgar use of nudity, scare tactics using smoke bombs, flares, and chemical fire you can shoot them and mount and outrageous media antics, HSUS sits in extinguishers, received $5,000 from PETA. their heads on the wall is the shadows in complete agreement with that All of these payments were made from PETA’s unbelievably cruel. … Hunting, group’s goals and lets PETA be the mouth- tax-exempt funds. PETA’s President Newkirk like factory farming, destroys piece. HSUS lets PETA be the “bad cop” is quoted by the Center for Consumer Free- [animal] families and causes pain, while HSUS assumes the role of “good cop” dom as saying “I will be the last person to trauma, and grief to both the in an effort to burnish its legitimacy. HSUS condemn ALF,” and in another interview victims and the survivors. Why plays on its “humane” name to gain public she said “I find it small wonder that the labo- cause any suffering when we can support for the same radical issues, but clearly ratories aren’t all burning to the ground. If I avoid it? In this day and age, there HSUS and PETA are NOT animal welfare had more guts, I’d light a match.”

8 n Fair Chase Winter 2010 While this column was being written, a radical animal rights terrorist entered the Since 1998, PETA has killed lobby of the Discovery Channel headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, and took hostages 23,640 dogs and cats before he was killed by police. He presented the Discovery Channel a manifesto of de- —all a matter of public record, which PETA filed mands centering on stopping the growth of with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and the “filthy human population” at the expense of “wildlife and forest creatures,” strangely Consumer Services. echoing PETA’s President Newkirk’s early At PETA’s Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters, there are no open remarks about population growth being “the adoption shelter hours. There is, however, a large walk-in freezer biggest blight on the face of the earth.” Animal rights militants and eco- purchased in 2002 for $9,370, and a contract with a terrorists operating under the name Animal crematory service to empty the freezer Liberation Brigade targeted the animal testing laboratory Huntington Life Sciences and periodically of animal carcasses according the California National Primate Research Center with firebombs to the Center for Consumer Freedom. and pipe bombs. Companies doing business with Hun- tington have also been targeted with bomb- ings and incendiary devices, including Shaklee, Inc., Chiron Corporation and several UCLA animal research scientists. At sea, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society claims credit for the sinking of 10 Icelandic whaling ships, boarding whaling vessels at sea, ramming fishing vessels, seizure and destruction of drift nets, disorient- ing whalers with laser devices, throwing bot- tles of foul-smelling butyric acid onto the decks of fishing vessels, and the interdiction of Canadian seal hunts. Greenpeace follows Sea Shepherd tactically to disrupt whaling and other fishing vessels, de- stroying drift nets, etc.

Targeting Lawyers and Doctors The legal profession has of course taken its place at the animal rights round- PETA focuses on several core issues that include ending the use of animals in table. Harvard Law School entertainment such as aquariums, circuses, zoos and rodeos; hunting, trapping, began teaching an animal rights course and fishing; human consumption of meat or dairy products; confined backyard in 2000, the first of its kind in the nation, dogs, cock fighting, dog fighting, and bull fighting; along with several other while the Harvard Divinity School offered issues outlined in the article. PETA is even opposed to the use of seeing-eye a course titled, “Religion and Animals.” dogs and police dogs. However, the biggest hypocrisy of PETA comes from its Today 120 of the 196 American law schools very own euthanasia program.

Fair Chase Winter 2010 n 9 BOONE AND CROCKETT CLUB and eight Canadian law schools offer at [the U.S.], social change has and can occur FOUNDED IN 1887 BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT least one animal rights course, and some through the courts, which in many instances an entire concentration. Animal rights do not operate as a democratic institution. BOARD OF DIRECTORS CLUB law committees now exist in the American Therefore, the evolution in elite legal opinion Club President Lowell E. Baier Bar Association and many state bar as- is extremely significant…” Secretary Robert H. Hanson sociations. HSUS and its Humane Society Doctors reportedly have also taken a Treasurer Timothy C. Brady Executive Vice President – Administration University provides training seminars for seat at the animal rights roundtable in the Ben B. Wallace criminal prosecutors on investigating and form of Physician Committee for Responsible Executive Vice President – Conservation prosecuting animal cruelty cases, as does Medicine (PCRM, a PETA front group), but William A. Demmer the National Association of Prosecuting only 5 percent of its supposed membership Vice President of Administration Morrison Stevens, Sr. Attorneys. HSUS also provides a full staff are physicians. The mission of the organiza- Vice President of Big Game Records of 30 well-trained attorneys in their Animal tion, formed in 1985, is to remove meat, milk, Eldon L. “Buck” Buckner Protection Litigation Section to do legal re- eggs, and seafood from the American diet, Vice President of Conservation Stephen P. Mealey search, writing and trial preparation, amicus and eliminate the use of animals in scientific Vice President of Communications assistance, expert witness advice and testi- research. The American Medical Association Marc C. Mondavi mony, species-specific veterinarians, animal (AMA) censured them and called the group Foundation President Gary W. Dietrich scientists and behaviorists, psychologists, “a fringe organization” that uses “unethical Class of 2010 Edward B. Rasmuson Class of 2011 Manuel J. Chee and expert investigators. tactics” and is “interested in perverting medi- Class of 2012 Howard P. Monsour, Jr. Internationally, Austria’s Supreme cal science.” In responding to PCMA’s Court has considered the rights of a 25-year- attempt to start a milk panic scare campaign, FOUNDATION old chimpanzee to own property donated to the AMA said, “The AMA finds the recom- Foundation President Gary W. Dietrich Secretary Robert H. Hanson it by benefactors, and their decision recogniz- mendation of PCRM irresponsible and Treasurer Timothy C. Brady ing such rights is now on appeal to the potentially dangerous to the health and Vice President Ben B. Hollingsworth, Jr. European Court of Human Rights. The Span- welfare of Americans. [PCMA is] blatantly Vice President Thomas D. Price Class of 2010 Timothy C. Brady ish legislature, moreover, voted in 2008 to misleading Americans on a health matter Jeffrey A. Gronauer consider extending limited rights to non- and concealing its true purpose as an animal Thomas D. Price human primates to be protected from use in ‘rights’ organization.” Earl L. Sherron, Jr. medical experimentation or circuses. The Mark B. Steffen Class of 2011 Remo R. Pizzagalli Spanish Parliament’s Environment Commit- The End Game Edward B. Rasmuson tee is weighing the proposal. Switzerland As you might now appreciate, an animal’s James J. Shinners recognized animals as “beings,” not “things,” right to “personhood” versus being owned John A. Tomke Leonard J. Vallender in 1992, and in 2002, the protection of ani- “property,” and the legal right and stand- Class of 2012 Gary W. Dietrich mals was added to the German Constitution. ing to sue to protect their interests, is no Robert H. Hanson The state of Israel has banned animal dissec- longer a fringe issue in American society. Ben B. Hollingsworth, Jr. tions in elementary and secondary schools It’s the end game of the animal rights move- Tom L. Lewis Morrison Stevens, Sr. and performances by trained animals in ment. The brave new utopian world of the circuses. A host of animal defense and litiga- animal rightists and liberationists is a pet COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN tion NGOs have been established, moreover less, meatless society, one of vegetarianism, AWCP Jeffrey S. Crane placing additional support and ostensible a lifestyle, and veganism, which is a po- Associates Program Lanny S. Rominger Audit Edward B. Rasmuson legitimacy behind animal issues. These in- litical statement. High-end urban grocery Budget and Finance Morrison Stevens, Sr. clude the Animal Law Coalition, International stores already have dedicated vegan food Conservation Christine L. Thomas Society for Animal Rights, Animal Legal products, aisles or sections. Clothing and Conservation Education Robert D. Brown Conservation Grants Winifred B. Kessler Defense Fund, Defenders of Wildlife, Earth accessories made of animal hides or prod- Conservation Leadership Inst. Steven A. Williams Justice Legal Defense Fund (formerly called ucts such as leather shoes, belts, handbags, Conservation Policy Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund), Natural coats, luggage, wool suits, silk scarves, ties, Robert Model & Stephen P. Mealey Resources Defense Council, Animal Advo- and dresses, etc., would be eliminated, as Development Ben B. Hollingsworth, Jr. Electronic Media Mark B. Steffen cates, In Defense of Animals, Society for some items already have been by major re- Government Affairs Robert Model Animal Protective Legislation, etc. tailers, as would products known to contain History Leonard H. Wurman Recognized senior legal scholar Cass animal byproducts or goods containing in- Hunter and Conservation Ethics Daniel A. Pedrotti, Jr. Investment Robert H. Hanson Sunstein, President Obama’s regulations czar, gredients that have been tested on animals. Legal Floyd R. Nation famed defense attorney Alan Dershowitz, “Puppy mills” supplying dogs for pet stores Library H. Norden van Horne and the President’s confidant and former would be outlawed, but so would legitimate Membership James J. Shinners Harvard Law Professor, Laurence Tribe, who purebred breeders because of deceptive National Collection of Heads and Horns Robert H. Hanson Obama appointed Senior Counselor for language slipped into anti-dog legislation Nominating C. Robert Palmer Access to Justice in the Department of Jus- by animal rightists making it applicable to Outreach Marc C. Mondavi tice, all support granting animals the legal any kennels producing a defined but lim- Physical Assets Earl L. Sherron, Jr. right to sue. As legal scholar Michael Socarras ited number of puppies per year. Fur farms Corporate Governance John P. Poston Publications Howard P. Monsour, Jr. told the Association of American Medical would be outlawed, as would factory farm- Records Eldon L. “Buck” Buckner Colleges: “There is a very important shift ing of cattle, pigs, chicken, and fish, and Sagamore Hill C. Robert Palmer under way in the manner in which many any form of biomedical research, aerospace TRM Ranch Fred C. Hirschy University Programs Harold J. Salwasser people in law schools and in the legal profes- or military exercises that utilize laboratory Wildlife Health Robert E. Frost sion think about animals. This shift has not animals for toxicity testing, basic or applied yet reached popular opinion. However, in research, teaching, education or training, or

10 n Fair Chase Winter 2010 exhibition. Zoos, circuses, aquariums and, becoming the primary mouthpiece for the not officially oppose it)? Tom rodeos would also be eliminated. At the ex- animal rights movement.” Regan [one group’s philosophical treme of this utopian world, your pet would Two other notable groups that pro- and puritanical high priests] have the right to life, the protection of its vide valuable oversight and factual upholds animal rights individual liberty, personal safety, and the information on animal rightists are the fundamentalism, a program of right to claim/own property, if companion National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA) nothing less than a complete and service animals were even permitted. www.naiaonline.org, and the Center for abolition of all exploitation of Hunting, trapping, and fishing would Consumer Freedom (CCF), www.consum- animals for human purposes. be illegal within the animal rightists’ agenda. erfreedom.com. NAIA is an affiliation of Others, including PETA’s Ingrid HSUS’ President Wayne Pacelle is on record professionals who live and work with ani- Newkirk, argue that cooperation with the Bozeman Daily Chronicle (Montana) mals, which include pet owners and clubs, with all allies issue by issue is the as saying, “Our goal is to get sport hunting circus trainers, hunters, fisherman, wildlife only path to victories for animals. in the same category as cock fighting and biologists, rescue groups, breeders, trainers, However impractical, utopian, or dog fighting.” HSUS’ own web site in 2003 veterinarians, research scientists, etc. NAIA’s just plain wrongheaded many of stated, “Sport hunting—the killing of wild mission is to promote animal husbandry’s their goals may appear to the animals as recreation—is fundamentally at best practices and responsible breeding, general public—and to many odds with the values of a humane, just, and strengthening the human-animal bond, and participants in other movements— caring society.” protecting the rights of responsible animal animal rights advocates have come owners. The latter group, CCF, is a contro- a long way in the past decade, and The Sporting World’s versial industry-supported (restaurant and are no longer out beyond Watch Dogs food companies) research and lobby organiza- the fringe. While most of the sporting world has been tion providing reliable research data on focused on the highly visible anti-hunting animal rightists. Several other web sites that All of the animal rightists groups, movement led by PETA and HSUS among really bring clarity to the hidden agenda notwithstanding their separate niches, work others, one organization has identified the cloaked in the clandestine, covert and murky together openly and covertly and play off animal rightists and liberationists and the worlds of HSUS, PETA, and their related each other’s tactics and agendas. Central, hidden threat they pose to the hunting and groups are the following: www.humane- however, to their individual agendas is the fishing world, whose pushback and vigi- watch.org; www.huntersagainstpeta.com; establishment of animal rights globally and lance has been phenomenal. That group www.animalscam.com; www.petakillsani- the creation of a vegan society, which is a is the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) mals.com; www.sfgate.com; www.activistcash. political initiative, with some far-left extrem- in Columbus, Ohio, its U.S. Sportsmen’s com; www.firstthings.com; www.pajamasme- ists bent on eco-terrorism and a Alliance Foundation, and its U.S. dia.com, and www.geari.org. “veganarchism jihad.” This societal move- Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund. Begun ment is no longer in the shadows. HSUS in 1977 as the Wildlife Legislative Fund Where Animals Rights and PETA are now 56 and 30 years old re- of America, and joined by the Wildlife Stands Now spectively, with a combined membership and Conservation Fund of America, USSA has Professor David Walls at Sonoma State constituency of 13.5 million people, total led the way in defeating ballot and other University in 2008 succinctly characterized revenues in 2009 of $161.3 million, and net anti-hunting initiatives in state after state, the current state of the animal rights move- assets of $209.6 million. This is big business. Washington, D.C., and courtrooms across ment as follows: The animal rights movement is now over 50 the country. U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance years old, and its educational influences and staff has connected the dots nationally and The animal rights movement is indoctrination of children have gone on for globally by analyzing animal rightists’ tax still in an early stage of five decades. Generations have been subject forms, who they hire, the worldwide orga- development. Many of the groups to this influence, and many children have nizations that are affiliated, where they get begun since the 1950s are in their grown up to become parents themselves with their money and how they spend it, the first generation of leadership and an animal rights education and orientation, legislation they support and the lawsuits manifest “founder’s syndrome” to and the referenced numbers reflect this. We they file, the information on their web one extent or another. sportsmen have witnessed the rhetoric and sites, their pitch to be vegan, what they try Competition is still heavy for tactics of anti-hunters, but the animal right- to teach our children on their web sites, available issue niches on animal ists bring a whole new threat not just to our etc. If you don’t do that analysis, you can’t experimentation, farm animals, sport, but to the very way we live and func- know HSUS or PETA. That is why U.S. hunting, zoos and circuses, fur, and tion in society. To quote PETA’s own web Sportsmen’s Alliance has become one of animal testing. Questions of site: “Animal rights is not just a philoso- the sportsmen’s prime watchdogs on the “purity” divide animal activists, phy—it’s a social movement that challenges activities of HSUS and PETA. USSA’s web particularly over whether animal society’s traditional view that all nonhuman site, www.ussportsmen.org, is a reliable welfare and animal rights are animals exist solely for human use.” Twenty and highly informative source of informa- complementary or contradictory. years ago, HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle said, tion on animal rightists’ activities; its news Must a true friend of animals be a “We are going to use the ballot box and the archives provides a rich, historical year- vegetarian, or further, a vegan who democratic process to stop all hunting in the by-year chronology of USSA’s activities to eats no animal products? Can United States. We will take it species by protect the sportsmen’s community of inter- animal rights groups make species until all hunting is stopped in Cali- ests. U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance President alliances with mainstream fornia. Then we will take it state by state.” Bud Pidgeon has said, “The HSUS is play- conservation organizations who True to his word, Pacelle has done exactly ing up a mainstream reputation in hopes of condone hunting (or at least do this for the last 20 years.

Fair Chase Winter 2010 n 11 Book Review Colonel Roosevelt By Edmund Morris | Reviewed by Lowell E. Baier | Random House – 784 Pages, $35

Theodore Roosevelt lived nine lives inside his 60 years (October international influence. Had he not died in 1919 at the early age 27, 1858-January 6, 1919), and it’s taken his biographer Edmund of 60, he unquestionably would have been reelected to a third Morris 30 years to complete the epic trilogy of Roosevelt’s life, term in the White House and completed the work he began in a herculean feat no other presidential historian has ever at- 1901 of establishing the United States as a model democracy, tempted. Morris separated his three books by the timeline of militarily strong and socially just. This biography by Morris is Roosevelt’s life leading up to his ascension to the presidency the completion of a trilogy sure to stand as purposeful and in The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1901), for which Morris definitive, not merely encyclopedic. Packed with more adventure, won the Pulitzer Prize, Roosevelt’s White House years in Theo- variety, drama, humor, and tragedy than a big novel, yet docu- dore Rex (1901-1909), and lastly Roosevelt’s action-packed final mented down to the smallest fact, it recounts the last decade years (1909-1919) in Colonel Roosevelt, released for sale on of perhaps the most amazing life in American history. What November 23, 2010. other president has written 40 books, hunted lions and all other These three books present a hyperkinetic portrait of TR American big game, founded a third political party, survived an in carefully researched and documented facts that keep this assassin’s bullet, and explored an unknown river in South deeply complex legend alive, human and believable in real America longer than the Rhine? time. Through Morris’ mental retina of clarity in this megabi- Colonel Roosevelt begins with a prologue recounting ography spans some 2,442 pages over three volumes, we see what TR called his “journey into the Pleistocene”—a year-long TR’s life of contradictions as a puny asthmatic and later a safari through east Africa, collecting specimens for the Smith- hardened cowboy, a big game hunter and yet a passionate sonian, which, for sportsmen colorfully describes the beginning conservationist, a disciple of the principal of multiple use of of the golden era of the great African safari. Some readers may our renewable natural resources, and yet a zealot protector of be repulsed by TR’s bloodlust, which this book does not prettify, America’s scenic and cultural landscape treasures. Roosevelt yet there can be no denying that the colonel passionately loved was a dignified scholarly author and bombastic political orator, and understood every living thing that came his way as he a New York Knickerbocker caste of silk-stocking privilege and carefully documented Africa’s flora and fauna with minute wealth, yet one who despised the curse of elitism and the scientific accuracy. The text is rich in quotations from TR’s predatory, nouveau rich industrialist trust-builders. He was an marvelous nature writing. Although TR intended to remain out imperialist with an iron fortress, a cultivated diplomatic inter- of politics when he returned home in 1910, a fateful decision national strategist whose work won him the Nobel Peace Prize, that spring which drew him back into public life. By the end of and a nostalgic sentimentalist and family man who lived with the summer, in his famous “New Nationalism” speech, he was courageous and compulsive abandon in daring, world-class the guiding spirit of the Progressive movement, which inspired life-threatening adventures, one of which won him the Presi- much of the social agenda of the future New Deal. (TR’s fifth dential Medal of Honor. Morris’ writing style is not to interpret cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt acknowledged that debt, TR analytically or deteriorate into an exhaustive, encyclopedic adding that the Colonel “was the greatest man I ever knew.”) thesis, but rather to maintain distance with facts reflective of Morris follows a detailed account of TR’s reluctant, yet TR’s outlook. It’s a writing style that allows TR to portray himself almost successful campaign for the White House in 1912, but at the center stage of world history as he was consumed by does not hesitate, however, to show how pathologically TR himself in real life: Roosevelt-centered in both his public and turned upon those who inherited the power he craved—the private lives, which Morris has masterfully unified. hapless Taft, the adroit Woodrow Wilson. When Wilson declined Roosevelt’s last 10 years constitute the most interesting to bring the United States into World War I in 1915 and 1916, the part of his life in personal and psychological reflection, states- Colonel blasted him with some of the worst abuse ever uttered manship and political bravado, and in heroic exploration and by a former chief executive. Yet even Wilson had to admit that adventure on four continents. Colonel Roosevelt shows that of behind the Rooseveltian will to rule lay a winning idealism and all our great presidents, Theodore Roosevelt is the only one decency. “He is just like a big boy—there is a sweetness about whose greatness increased outside his presidency. When he him that you can’t resist.” That makes the story of TR’s last year, toured Europe in 1910 as plain “Colonel Roosevelt,” he was when the “boy” in him died, all the sadder in the telling: the hailed as the most famous man in the world. Crowned heads conclusion of a life of Aristotelian grandeur. vied to put him up in their palaces. “If I see another king,” he Unlike other biographers, Morris does not treat TR mainly joked, “I think I shall bite him.” as a politician. This volume gives as much consideration to Had TR won his historic “Bull TR’s literary achievements and epic expedition to Brazil in Moose” campaign in 1912 (when he 1913-1914 as to his fatherhood of six astonishingly different outpolled the sitting president, William children, his spiritual and aesthetic beliefs, and his eager em- Howard Taft), we might have averted brace of other cultures—from Arab and Magyar to German and World War I, so great was his American Indian. It is impossible to read Colonel Roosevelt and not be awed by the man’s universality. The Colonel himself remarked, “I have enjoyed life as much as any nine men I know.”

To celebrate the release of Colonel Roosevelt, the final volume of the trilogy on the life of the 26th President by Edmund Morris on November 23, 2010, the publisher, Random House hosted a party at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City. Club members Lowell Baier and Theodore Roosevelt IV attended this event and are pictured here with the author Edmund Morris, whose first volume on Roosevelt, The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, won Morris the Pulitzer Prize.

12 n Fair Chase Winter 2010 What Can We Do? plaintiff in 88 federal How does our sporting community address district lawsuits since To disable the animal rightists the daunting challenge the animal rights 1988, recovering at and environmental activist’s movement poses when we recognize that least $2.6 million its two leading groups alone represent 13.5 in attorneys’ fees abusive litigation vehicles, million people, have combined annual rev- and costs. sportsmen must follow their enues of $161.3 million, net assets of $209.6 Cutting off million, and have been cunningly planning these litigation subsi- money trail, and cut it off! and executing their global attack on society dies via amendments for over 50 years? The strongest weapons to the EAJA, the Judgment Fund and Section on this issue, and a major national campaign sportsmen have to thwart animal rightists 11(g)(4) of the ESA, thus thwarting animal to secure Congressional approval. The cam- are the facts and truth. And vigilance in rightists’ and environmental activists’ repeated paign will take time, but sportsmen have got clearly communicating these is our first litigation at taxpayers’ expense for their revolv- to start laying the pipe and building the foun- collective defense to stop the unsuspecting, round-robin legal expenses must become dation to achieve Congressional approval and ing public’s flow of money into behemoth the leading goal for the sportsmen’s com- avoid a White House veto. That national animal rights organizations. We must let the munity. Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming) campaign can be the very vehicle sportsmen politicians at the local and national level introduced legislation this past March (H.R. can use to educate the taxpayers of America know the truth on animal issues so they 4717), as did Senator John Ensign (R-Nevada) on the best-kept, dirty little secret the rightists are not guilelessly misled. Moreover, the (S.3122), with 36 bipartisan members of Con- and enviros trade on to maintain their hidden, second strongest weapon sportsmen have is gress co-sponsoring the bills, to amend EAJA, revolving legal expense fund, and to perenni- diligently working together as a united force for which we sportsmen must rally to secure ally generate donations from the unsuspecting, and community, setting our individual ide- Congressional enactment. However, both of unknowing public supporting their litigation ological agendas aside that persistently get these bills only require that the Department cause-based fundraising appeals. in the way, stop fighting, competing, and of Justice annually report what litigation costs The reason this issue hasn’t seen day- criticizing each other, and support offensive have been paid out under EAJA, which has light is because the massive reimbursements groups like the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance become a big secret since the Paperwork Re- for litigation costs have not been publicly and educating the constituency of our na- duction Act of 1995. The pending legislation disclosed by the federal government, and tional sporting groups on the threat the must be expanded to include two important they are individually approved by the judges animal rightists’ agendas present. amendments 1) require disclosure of litigation in the federal district courts hearing the The American Wildlife Conservation payments made under the Judgment Fund and cases, hence spread across 50 states and buried Partners (AWCP) is now 11 years old and its ESA, which has been a closely guarded secret; in federal court records. Moreover, the three combined constituency is 7 million sports- and 2) restrict payments to nonprofit litigants laws that authorize these reimbursements are men. We have a base to start with, and that can afford to pay their own attorneys’ very complex, somewhat arcane, and give AWCP, now a confederation of 47 national fees and expenses like HSUS and PETA. the presiding federal judges virtually unlim- organizations, must exercise leadership. More- Litigation reimbursement expenses ited discretion without any oversight in over, we must unite in this offense with our were intended by Congress to afford equal awarding reimbursement for attorneys’ fees angler counterparts whose constituency is access to justice for indigents and nonprofit and litigation costs. A national campaign to far greater than ours. We are both under groups that couldn’t afford high-priced law- amend the law and end this abuse will show- attack by animal rightists. yers and the burden of prolonged expensive case the secret weapon hidden by the rightists Hunters and anglers face attacks litigation, not for organizations like HSUS and enviros which they’ve run rampant with based primarily on the Endangered Species and PETA that have combined net assets of for over four decades. To disable the animal Act (ESA) and the Marine Mammal Protec- $209.6 million and cash balances in excess rightists and environmental activist’s abusive tion Act (MMPA). The animal rightists use of $44.5 million. Contrary and outrageous litigation vehicles, sportsmen must follow these federal statutes to abusively attack our as it may seem, under EAJA, a “for profit” their money trail, and cut it off! n sporting community. The key to a united company with a net worth over $7 million is sportsmen’s approach is to design a plan to ineligible to recover attorneys’ fees and costs, yet any “nonprofit” is eligible to recover legal The inspiration for Parts 1 and 2 of this diffuse the animal rightist’s agenda that’s column came from the brilliant research and been 50 years in its consolidation, and be as fees and costs regardless of its net worth. How investigative work of retired Army Lt. Col. insidious, calculating and stealthy as they’ve blatant is that inequity! But it doesn’t stop Dennis J. Foster, Executive Director of the been. We’ve got to dilute their funding base there. Guess who President Obama appointed Master of the Foxhounds Association of of unsuspecting donors with facts and truth. as his “Senior Counselor for Access to Justice America. Col. Foster’s investigative skills As discussed in Part 1 of this column, animal at the Department of Justice? As referenced have connected the dots of the threat of the rightists and environmental activists rou- earlier, one of his former Harvard law profes- global animal rightists’ movement, and ex- posed its players’ deceptive, stealthy and tinely sue the federal government and recover sors and confidant, Laurence Tribe, a Machiavellian tactics. My thanks to Col. their litigation costs and attorneys’ fees utiliz- recognized animal rights advocate. Foster’s guidance and counsel, and that of ing the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA, Changing the laws to cut off reim- Bud Pigeon, President of the U.S. Sports- 1980), the Judgment Fund (1956), and Sec- bursement of litigation costs to “nonprofit” men’s Alliance, Rob Sexton, USSA Director tion 11(g)(4) of the Endangered Species Act animal rightists and environmental activist of Government Affairs, and Counselor Wil- (1973), all funded from the U.S. Treasury, organizations that can afford to pay their own liam P. Horn, Esq., of the law firm Birch, attorney fees and costs will be challenging, Horton, Bittner & Cherot, for their review i.e. by unsuspecting taxpayers. During the and critique of this column’s evolution, and last decade alone, $36 million has been paid and the organized pushback as you might their national leadership against the threat out to just nine activist groups in more than appreciate will be huge. It will require the presented to both sportsmen and society 3,300 lawsuits. HSUS alone has been a sporting community to organize a united focus by the animal rights agenda.

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