Kerry's EXCELLENT Animal Rights Record

[kerryistheanswer]

As a lifelong vegetarian, I'm glad to see that Kerry was on the right side of most congressional bills. While I'd prefer him to change his diet, I'll take his commitment to Animal Rights over that of Shrub.
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"In terms of past performance on animal issues, four of the eight candidates have particularly distinguished records: Kerry, Kucinich, Gephardt, and Lieberman of Connecticut. Each one has compiled consistently excellent voting records on animal issues in the Congress in recent years. More than that, these individuals have emerged as animal protection leaders, instigating and organizing efforts to achieve reforms for animals.

Senator Kerry was the co-author with former Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) of the successful effort to halt an annual $2 million subsidy for the mink industry - terminating a taxpayer give-away to the corporate mink industry. Kerry and Smith shepherded this amendment through the Senate during debate on the Fiscal Year 1995 Agriculture Appropriations Act, and they have repelled subsequent efforts by legislators aligned with the mink industry to revive the taxpayer boondoggle. Kerry has also been the co-author, with Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), of letters in recent years sent to the leaders of the Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture Appropriations to increase funding for existing animal protection laws, including the Animal Welfare Act and the Humane Slaughter Act. Thanks in part to his leadership - and collaborating with the powerful senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Robert C. Byrd -- the Congress has provided more than $26 million in new funds for animal protection programs in recent years.

Kerry has cosponsored almost every piece of animal protection legislation - including measures to combat cockfighting, bear baiting, canned hunts, puppy mills, the bear parts trade, the exotic pet trade, steel-jawed leghold traps, and the abuse of "downed" livestock - introduced on behalf of animals. "

[Redneck Socialist]

1. Will this help him get the...

pheasant vote?

[bicentennial_baby]

2. Is Kerry a hunter?

Just wondering

[kerryistheanswer]

3. Yup -

Which makes his legislative and personal stances on opposite ends of the paradigm. Its somewhat strange.

[bicentennial_baby]

5. Exactly!

Hmmm...I'll have to think about that one.

[incapsulated]

4. Yes, he made a big show of that. But..

I find this record to be most impressive. Do you have a link?

[kerryistheanswer]

8. I picked up from Moby's website

He's an animal activist and Kerry supporter. I'll have to get a proper link.

[incapsulated]

11. The hunting thing

It will be used to dismiss this, but those who do would be wrong.

Anyone who eats meat, or uses animal products is really in no position to judge.

This kind of legislation is very important to me and I give Kerry serious props for it. Really serious.

:thumbsup:

[Monte Carlo]

7. He is. He's no vegan.

From what I understand he goes semi-regularly on hunting trips.

[Renew Deal]

6. I thought Kerry ate Kittens

at a BBQ with Clark and Dean? Oh well.

[MISSDem]

9. Thanks for this; I am still undecided as to who I like for the

Democratic candidate but this makes me like Kerry. There are a lot of people out there who care about what happens to the "critters" so this should be one issue to talk about. Unfortunately, too many people think that it is unimportant. Also, why can one not be a hunter and care about what happens to the animals. I'm a vegetarian but if I were going to eat meat I would want to go hunting and kill my own food. I would still care about the abuses which are rained upon the helpless animals, especially those raised for food. I do not see a discrepancy at all.

[MoonRiver]

10. Great!

I'm also a vegetarian, and animal rights advocate. This definitely increases my respect for Kerry! Thanks for the info.

[kerryistheanswer]

12. Sure thing

We vegetarians share a special bond :>

[montanacowboy]

13. If he is going to talk the talk

he should walk the walk - hunting? what is his stance on NIH's cruel torture of animals? CDC's?

[DoNotRefill]

14. Here's a pic of Kerry helping animals as a photo-op