Is your candidate animal-friendly?

The Humane Society rated both candidates on animal protection issues. Barack Obama scored 60% on the Humane Society’s scorecard. John McCain scored 40%.

More importantly, both Obama and McCain have spoken out about the importance of animal rights. Here’s what they had to say:

Senator Barack Obama



“I think how we treat our animals reflects how we treat each other, and it's very important that we have a president who is mindful of the cruelty that is perpetrated on animals."







Senator John McCain









“I just haven’t gotten into hunting…I fish all the time.”










HUNTING

Sen. Barack Obama

  • Recognizes hunting and fishing as American traditions
  • Vows to protect hunters’ gun rights, and to expand and restore habitat for hunting and fishing.
  • He spearfished growing up, but does not hunt or fish in Illinois.

Sen. John McCain

  • Fishes often in Arizona, but does not hunt or own a gun.
  • Vows to protect the right of the American “sportsman.”
  • Support an amendment to the California Desert Protection Act allowing hunting for sport in the Mojave National Park.
  • Has spoken at the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance rally, an extremist organization that defends trophy hunting of threatened polar bears.  



HORSE SLAUGHTER

Sen. Barack Obama

  • Did not co-sponsor the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which bars slaughtering horses for human consumption.
  • Voted for the Horse Slaughter Amendment in 2005 to stop the export of horses for slaughter.

Sen. John McCain

  • Co-sponsored the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.
  • Voted for the Horse Slaughter Amendment in 2005.



ANIMAL FIGHTING

Sen. Barack Obama

  • Co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Prohibition Act to criminalize dogfighting and cockfighting.

Sen. John McCain

  • Did not co-sponsor the Animal Fighting Prohibition Act to criminalize dogfighting and cockfighting.



SLAUGHTERHOUSE TREATMENT

The animals we eat, like chickens, pigs and cows, are often treated inhumanely in slaughterhouses and factory farms where they are bred for human consumption.

Sen. Barack Obama

  • Did not co-sponsor the Downed Animal Protection Act, which bans the use of animals too injured or weak to walk to slaughter in human food.
  • Did sign the letter to the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee which sought funds for the Animal Welfare Act, the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and federal animal fighting laws.

Sen. John McCain

  • Did not co-sponsor the Downed Animal Protection Act.
  • Did not sign the letter to the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee requesting funds for the Animal Welfare Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and federal animal fighting laws.



THE FUR INDUSTRY

Sen. Barack Obama

  • Has no voting record on matters related to the fur industry.

Sen. John McCain

  • Voted to eliminate a $2 million subsidy for the luxury mink fur coat industry.
  • In the August 2007 issue of Vogue, McCain's running mate Sarah Palin said, “I have furs on my wall, but I don’t wear furs.” Pictures demonstrate the contrary.


DRILLING FOR OIL IN THE ARTIC

Drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would endanger the animals, like polar bears, who live there.

Sen. Barack Obama

  • Voted for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling Amendment, which would have kept the wildlife refuge closed to drilling.

Sen. John McCain

  • Voted for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling Amendment, and seeks to protect the refuge from drilling.
  • Sarah Palin supports drilling. In May 2008, the Alaska governor announced that the state would be suing to challenge the recent listing of polar bears as a threatened species. She and other Alaska elected officials feared the listing would cripple oil and gas development in prime polar bear habitat off the state's northern and northwestern coasts.



Sources: Project VoteSmart, Humane Society Legislative Fund, Chicago Sun-Times, Time magazine, Anchorage Daily News

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