PA Dog Owners' Election Guide

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No Clear Support For Dog Owners'
Rights In Presidential Primaries

by JOHN YATES
The American Sporting Dog Alliance
http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org

Pennsylvania dog and kennel owners aren't likely to find a hero among the surviving major candidates for President of the United States, an analysis of voting records, public statements and news reports by The American Sporting Dog Alliance (ASDA) shows. ASDA defends the rights of dog owners and professionals who own or work with breeds of dogs used for hunting.

Animal rights and animal welfare issues have not been identified as among the major concerns of voters this year, and information about the candidates' positions and records on these issues is difficult to find. ASDA's analysis concentrates on the available public record of each candidate.

Candidates Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Ron Paul, John McCain and Mike Huckabee remain in the ballot for the Pennsylvania primary this coming Tuesday, but Huckabee has withdrawn from the race and Paul is not considered to be a viable contender. McCain appears to be headed for the Republican nomination, but the Democratic race is seen as very close between Clinton and Obama.

McCain's track record shows fairly strong support for the rights of animal owners, but also a willingness to compromise on some issues. The track records and positions of Clinton and Obama indicate clearly that they do not support the rights of dog owners, and are very likely to support legislation proposed by radical animal rights groups.

This report will summarize ASDA's findings. Detailed documentation is available to support our summary of each candidate's position.

Hillary Clinton

Sen. Clinton's track record shows clear support for animal rights legislature during her tenure in the U.S. Senate. From 2002 to present, she has received 100% ratings from the Society for Animal Protective Legislation, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the Animal Protection Institute, the Doris Day Animal League and the Fund for Animals. Her prior ratings were 86%.

The HSUS legislative scorecard praised Clinton. We quote: "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."

From a dog owner's point of view, Clinton's co-sponsorship and support of the notorious Pet Animal Welfare Act (PAWS) is especially alarming. This failed legislation would have imposed stringent federal regulation upon hobby breeders of purebred dogs. The American Sporting Dog Alliance regards PAWS as the single most dangerous piece of legislation over the past decade.

Clinton also has been given consistently low ratings by gun owners' organizations, and middle of the road ratings by farm groups. Gun Owners of America has consistently rated her at 0%, and the National Rifle Association has given her consistent "F" ratings. A gun control group, the Brady Campaign Against Handgun Violence, has given her consistent 100% ratings. While positions on gun control do not necessarily indicate positions on animal legislation, we believe this issue is important to people who hunt with dogs.

Sen. Clinton also has demonstrated a strong propensity to support liberal activist causes and heavy-handed legislative solutions. However, she grew up in a family that hunted and owned dogs, and has spoken publicly about hunting with her grandfather.

Barack Obama

Sen. Obama has had a relatively brief political career and short track record.  He has received above average approval ratings by animal rights groups. During 2005-2006, he received a 60% rating from HSUS and the Fund For Animals. However, in a public statement during the Nevada primary, he supported the concept of animal rights and touted the previous endorsements of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). He said: "...it's very important that we have a president who is mindful of the cruelty that is perpetrated on animals." He also said he supported legislation in the Illinois state Senate that bans the slaughter of horses.

Here is the HSUS assessment of Obama, written by HSUS Legislative Fund President Michael Markarian: "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."

Malarkian's detailed assessment of Obama said: "In his questionnaire response, Obama pledges support for nearly every animal protection bill currently pending in Congress, and he says he will work with executive agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make their policies more humane. He writes of the important role animals play in our lives, as companions in our homes, as wildlife in their own environments, and as service animals working with law enforcement and assisting persons with disabilities. Obama also comments on the broader 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 as part of the punishment. In addition to being unacceptable in its own stead, violence towards animals is linked with violent behavior in general, especially domestic violence, and we need to acknowledge this connection and work to treat it. Strong penalties are important and I support them, but we know that incarceration alone can't solve all our problems. 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."
Obama has received a generally poor rating by gun owners' groups, and above average ratings by farm groups. Gun Owners of America gave him a 100% rating one year, and 0% the year before. He has been given a consistent "F" rating by the National Rifle Association.

Although he has said that he does not hunt or own firearms, his campaign website makes a very strong statement in favor of gun owners' rights, conservation and hunting. He also has promised to buy his children a dog if he wins the election. He is seen as generally supporting liberal activist causes.


John McCain

Sen. McCain has received mixed but generally low-to-moderate ratings from animal rights groups, and is generally seen as someone whose position on animal rights legislation is moderate. His voting record shows strong support for animal owners on most issues, but also a willingness to support some animal welfare legislation and perhaps an inclination to compromise on other issues.

Prior to 2003, McCain received very high ratings (mostly 100%) from animal rights groups, including some of the most radical organizations, such as the Doris Day Animal League. For the past two years, however, his rating from the Fund for Animals and HSUS has been 40%, and it was 20% for the three years before that.

Markarian of HSUS rates him fairly highly: "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."

McCain has said publicly that he doesn't hunt or own firearms, but knows how to hunt and how to shoot. McCain's ratings by Gun Owners of American have ranged from 0% to 100%, and the National Rifle Association has given him "C+" grades in recent years. His rating by groups advocating gun control has ranged from 0% to 14%. Farm groups have given him above average ratings.

McCain is seen as generally moderate on domestic issues, most often favoring the status quo but occasionally supporting new laws that infringe on the rights of animal owners and the Second Amendment. McCain reportedly owns several dogs.

Ron Paul

Since Rep. Paul technically remains in the race, we will profile his record, which is generally good-to-excellent from a dog owners' perspective. He concedes that he has no chance of winning the Republican nomination, although many people may vote for him to support the ideas he stands for.

Rep. Paul has received generally low ratings by HSUS and other animal rights groups, and has established a clear congressional record for voting against most animal rights legislation. He received moderate approval ratings by animal rights groups during his early years in Congress, but his ratings dropped sharply in recent years. HSUS, The Doris Day Animal League and Fund for Animals have given him consistent 11% ratings since 2003. In contrast, the National Animal Interest Alliance Trust, which supports the rights of animal owners, gave him a 100% rating in 2006.

He has won strong ratings from gun owners' groups, and very low ratings from groups that favor gun control. Gun Owners of America has given him consistent 100% ratings, and NRA has given him consistent "B" grades. Gun control groups have given him consistently low ratings. His farm group ratings have been moderate.

He is generally seen as a libertarian who believes in small government and civil liberties, although he has not been completely consistent in this regard.


Congressional Races

Almost all Pennsylvania seats in Congress will be contested in the November general election, but no incumbents face challenges in the primary election. For the most part, voting records of potential challengers are not available at this point, and HSUS has not issued rating of any of the challengers to incumbents in the primary.

We regard consistently high ratings by HSUS as a strong indication that an elected official will oppose the rights of dog owners. In our opinion, middle-of-the-road ratings are a reason to question a candidate, and low HSUS ratings indicate that a candidate is likely to support the rights of dog owners.

Each voter must make up her or his own mind about the relative importance of animal rights issues in deciding which candidates to support or oppose.

We are publishing this congressional information, even though dog owners will have no choices in the primary among the incumbents. We believe that dog owners need to know the HSUS ratings of candidates in case the opportunity arises to question them or their opponents before the November general election.

We plan a full analysis of all candidates before November.

Here is a summary of what we know to date:

1st District incumbent Rep. Bob Brady has received 100% approval ratings from HSUS for the past several years. He is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

2nd District Rep. Chaka Fattah received an 83% approval rating from HSUS in 2007, and 100% in 2005-2006. He is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

3rd District Rep. Phil English is not facing a challenge in the primary. He received a 67% rating from HSUS in 2007, and 100% in 2005-2006.

4th District Rep. Jason Altmire is not facing a challenge in the Democratic primary. He received a 67% approval rating from HSUS in 2007.

4th District Republican challenger is former Rep. Melissa Hart. She had a 42% HSUS approval rating in 2005-21006, and a zero rating in 2004. She is unopposed in the Republican primary.

5th District Rep. John Peterson (who had a superb track record of supporting the rights of animal owners) is retiring. A crowded field of nine Republicans and Democrats are vying for his seat. None of these candidates has a voting track record, and nine have been rated by animal rights groups. However, Republican Matt Shaner works as an aide to Sen. Rick Santorum, who sponsored the notorious PAWS legislation.

6th District Rep. Jim Gerlach is unopposed in the Republic primary. HSUS gave him a 100% approval rating in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

7th District Rep. Joe Sestak is unopposed in the Democratic primary. HSUS gave him a 67% approval rating in 2007.

8th District Rep. Tom Manion is unopposed in the Republican primary. HSUS has not rated him.

8th District challenger, former Rep. Patrick Murphy, is not opposed in the Democratic primary. He was given an 83% approval rating by HSUS in 2007.

9th District Rep. Bill Shuster is unopposed in the Republican primary. HSUS gave him a zero approval rating in 2007 and 2005, and 56% in 2006.

10th District Rep. Chris Carney is unopposed in the Democratic primary. He was given a 34% approval rating by HSUS in 2006.

11th District Rep. Paul Kanjorski is unopposed in the Democratic primary. He was given a 17% approval rating by HSUS in 2007, 70% in 2006, and 34% in 2005.

12th District Rep. Jack Murtha is unopposed in the Democratic primary. He was given a 67% approval rating by HSUS in 2007, 42% in 2006, and 34% in 2005.

13th District Rep. Allyson Schwartz was given an 83% approval rating by HSUS in 2007, 100% in 2006, and 67% in 2005.

14th District Rep. Mike Doyle does not face a challenge in the Democratic primary. Doyle was given a 100% approval rating from HSUS in 2007, 85% in 2006 and 100% in 2005.

15th District Rep. Charles Dent is unopposed in the Republican primary. HSUS gave him a 34% approval rating in 2007 and 2005, and 70% in 2006.

16th District Rep. Joe Pitts is unopposed in the Republican primary. He was given a 67% approval rating from HSUS in 2007, 56% in 2006 and 50% in 2005.

17th District Rep. Tim Holden is unopposed in the Democratic primary. HSUS gave him a 34% approval rating in 2007 and 2005, and 42% in 2006.

18th District Rep. Tim Murphy is unopposed in the Republican primary. HSUS gave him a 34% approval rating in 2007 and 2005, and 42% in 2006.

19th District Rep. Todd Platts is unopposed in the Republican primary. HSUS gave him a 100% approval rating in 2007, 85% in 2006 and 83% in 2005.

State Races

Voting records are not available at this time for candidates for the Pennsylvania House and Senate. No ratings or endorsements have been made by HSUS or other animal rights groups for the primary election.

We plan to offer a full analysis of statewide candidates for the November election, including the votes of incumbents on proposed kennel legislation and other bills that affect dog owners.

The American Sporting Dog Alliance works on the grassroots level to protect the rights and heritage of people who own or work with breeds of dogs used for hunting, and people who hunt with dogs. Your participation is vital. Please visit us on the web at http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org.