John McCain, Barack Obama on outdoors issues -- again

The presidential election is two weeks away and I’m flipping through yet another outdoors magazine that touts John McCain’s and Barack Obama’s views on such issues as gun control, fisheries and public land access.

There are no revelations in the November issue of Outdoor Life.

John McCain is still against gun control and Obama still supports the Second Amendment but favors a ban on assault weapons and cinching a gun show loophole that allows trading of weapons between private individuals in states where this practice is currently legal.

Both candidates claim to be conservationists who want to protect fisheries and preserve angler opportunities. McCain, however, appears to be more of a proponent of hunters and anglers at a time when environmentalists are increasingly pressing for wilderness preservation versus public access.

“I have long supported multiple uses for public lands that ensure they are available for this and future generations to hunt, fish and explore,” he is quoted as saying.

Obama tends to include a disclaimer whenever he discusses access. And Outdoor Life, which claims to be objective, countered McCain’s statement with this one from Obama:

“We need to make sure that we’re good stewards of the land. It means that we are maintaining access to public lands but are also making sure that we are doing it in a responsible way.”

Certainly, those who hunt, fish and use off-road vehicles are disturbed by trends toward wilderness preservation. Shutting sportsmen and other user groups out does not always seem justified, and in some cases it seems un-American.

A recent survey commissioned by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation found that hunters and fishermen view loss of habitat and public access as the largest threats to their pastimes. They'd like Congress to prioritize federal lands for habitat available to all.

There are an estimated 40 million hunters of voting age in the Unites States, so their interests should not be taken lightly by the candidates.

In fact, McCain has launched a website, on which he proclaims to be an angler who “knows the difference between spinning gear and a fly rod.”

OK, but in a recent interview with Field & Stream magazine he confessed that his angling experience was restricted largely to a pond on his property in northern Arizona.

He’s not much more of a sportsman than Obama, who, once upon a time, went spearfishing while growing up in Hawaii.

It’s too bad both aren’t more in tune with the great outdoors, because it’s always better to have a boss who truly understands.

It’s also too bad this country is faced with much more pressing issues, which might diminish this debate somewhat. But Outposts is interested in what you think of the candidates and their positions. Please be civil.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo by George Wilhelm / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[travis belote]

wilderness protection does not eliminate hunting. in fact, wilderness protection can enhance hunting experience, because public lands are closed to energy development including mining and drilling. who wants to hunt next to oil wells?

[lsinla]

Hunting is one issue.

But right now we have the opportunity to make the food raised FOR us on factory farms a whole lot safer if you aren't hunting your own animals.

YES ON PROPOSITION 2 would improve the lives of Animals raised for food in California. Currently they are barely able to move and are fed antibiotics which are causing humans consuming them to build up a resistance.

YES ON PROP 2 would make it possible for animals raised for food to be able to stand up, turn around, lie down and extend their limbs/wings. Less animals crammed tightly together. Less illness. Less polluting of the environment.

YES ON PROP 2 is a win for all residents of California.

www.yesonprop2.com

[hottopics]

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/09/mccain-camp-no.html

Also when Palin starts talking about faith maybe she might want to explain the witchcraft youtube video floating around.

[M Lynne]

We're a hunting, fishing, pro-gun family through and through, and our beautiful New Mexico community (home of Smokey Bear) is being threatened by an open-pit gold mine on forest land. We already have voted for Obama because he understands that we can no longer rely on crisis-management mentality for our environment, our infrastructure, or our global image. We like that Obama is a deep thinker, a student of history, and considers all sides in a controversy. We like that he has a real passion about this country, and isn't a hothead ready to fly off the handle and make things worse. So he isn't an outdoorsman; that isn't a requirement for understanding what needs to be done, or loving this land of ours. He's our best chance right now to help us conserve, preserve, AND enjoy. So we voted Democrat for the first time in our lives, and feel good about it.

[Pete Thomas]

In response to Jon K., I feel the same as you do, basically. I am an angler and support hunting and hunters who act responsibly. Hunters do more for wildlife than most people think. As for wilderness protection, I'm all for it, but where it restricts or bans user groups such as ATV or motorcycle riders, I'm only for that if it is determined to be absolutely necessary to protect flora and fauna. On the other hand, I'm glad the motors are kept out of the state parks I enjoy hiking in. I hate even seeing a ranger truck when I'm hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains. But I love riding motorcycles on desert paths and snowmobiles on Eastern Sierra trails. It's a tricky deal. I guess I'm against shutting user groups out of areas in which they've long enjoyed unless those groups truly are destroying or jeopardizing the environment. And yes, the population growth is troubling. I've kind of become anti-development lately. I hate seeing new housing developments sprouting up in hills I used to roam. That seems to be happening everywhere.

[Old Coot]

I think that ether one of these guys are better then what we have now. The Chief doesn't know the difference from an oil well and a National Monument and the V. P. doesn't know the difference between a lawyer and a quail.

[Jon K.]

Pete,

Where do you stand on this matter? You obviously are a angler. Are you a hunter as well?

I'm all for fishing and hunting. What I'm against is overpopulation destroying the environment and an excess of hunters and fishers decimating the population of wild animals. When I was born in this state there were 9 million people here. Now there's 36 million citizens and 8 million illegal aliens. It's crazy. Some limits have to be put up or everything that is good about this state will be crushed by the weight of too many people living here.

[Louiesmom33]

the humane society legislative fund endorses candidates solely based on their stance on animal protection issues... and they chose Obama.

http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2008/09/humane-society.html

[Paul]

I've watched Bush's policies being responsible for good fishing to evaporate across the Western States and Chronic Wasting Disease diminished hunting in too many states. McCaain is just more of the same. Wild Salmon on the West Coast are almost extinct.

It becomes apparent that conservation is necessary for if my kids will ever experience hunting and fishing like their parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc.

[Landon Bales]

People who kill animals and hook fish are animals. If you think you're superior to all living things, than you're not a living thinking thing. You're just carrying the baton of ignorance probably passed down to you from your ignorant ancestors.
You shouldn't be called, "Sportsmen," you should be called "animal torturers," because that's exactly what you do.
By the way, Vote no on Prop 2.

[hottopics]

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/palins-medica-2.html

[Diane]

It is dangerous to equate Sarah Palin with good policy towards outdoor activities like hunting and fishing. Sarah Palin supports shooting wolves from the air so that there are more moose for hunters; this is not ethical hunting. In addition, Alaska has more wilderness square miles than any other state and so when an Alaska politician allows special interest groups like big oil and mining companies to operate as they like, there are still plenty of wilderness miles available (at least now) for public use. This is not true in the rest of the country and may not be true in Alaska forever. Global warming should be a concern to an Alaskan politician especially if he/she values the Native American/Inuit populations ability to hunt & fish, but Sarah doesn't believe climate change is caused by humans. This is a dangerously false belief that will prevent her from advocating energy conservation or research into alternative energy.
Think how much better off we would all be today if the surplus Bill Clinton left Bush with had been used to support companies researching into alternative forms of energy and also research scientists at government labs and universities working on fuel cells and other alternative energy sources. Commercialization of new technologies has always made this country great. [Al Gore might have done this; thank-you Supreme Court!] Instead of new technology that could be sold here and all over the world for jobs and profits here in America; the rich used their tax credits to invest in real estate (creating the bubble that burst) and the stock market (which has crashed).
Every VP candidate should be ready on Day 1 to be president; I don't believe that Sarah Palin has the judgment or the intelligence to ever make a credible US President. This isn't the same kind of election as a beauty contest. Her opposition candidate for the Republican party nomination and the Democratic adversary must have been pretty bad for her to be elected governor of Alaska.

[Michael Sullivan]

I doubt either candidate is likely to endorse actions abusive to the untamed areas of America. I suspect that Obama is more likely than McCain to endorse measures that reduce use of vehicles on such land. Both candidates already feel pressure to improve U.S. access to domestic fossil fuels, and I expect that the quest for oil will threaten our precious wild areas. That being said, New Mexico Governor Richardson - likely to be offered a cabinet-level position in an Obama administration - is a recognized conservationist. Anyone know if McCain would be likely to put a conservationist in his cabinet?

[Ron Baas]

John McCain:
The Manchurian Candidate connection:

McCain was subjected to 5 ½ years of Soviet driven "brain perversion techniques."
Is he fit to be President and Commander in Chief of the military?
U.S. Veteran Dispatch
By Ted Sampley
March, 2008

[bass]

John McCain:
The Manchurian Candidate connection:

McCain was subjected to 5 ½ years of Soviet driven "brain perversion techniques."
Is he fit to be President and Commander in Chief of the military?
U.S. Veteran Dispatch
By Ted Sampley
March, 200

[LeeLarsen]

Mr. Obama's voting record says it all on this issue. Only until an object is used in an assault does it become an "assault weapon". When the movie and music industry stop glorifying violence and drugs we may have a chance to move peaceably forward as a nation. Violence is a poor substitute for dialog.
The real issue here is the "assault mentality" and not the second amendment.

[N]

I actually agree with Obama's comments and see nothing wrong with saying "need to make sure that we’re good stewards of the land. It means that we are maintaining access to public lands but are also making sure that we are doing it in a responsible way.” How can anyone disagree with being responsible? And let's face, as Americans, we have not always been. I don't think it unAmerican to want to protect the wilderness or wildlife.

[r.u.crazy]

Obama's voting record on all gun related issues says it all. I'm not a big fan of Mr. McCain's voting record either but he is certainly the lesser of two evils regarding this issue. Any weapon used in an assault, only then does it become an "assault weapon". Only until the movie & music industry stop glorifying violence & drugs that we as a country may have a chance at moving peaceably forward.
It's the "assault" mentality that needs changing, not the second amendment.

[Ira]

I'm a hunter and angler(who, by the way knows the difference in a fly rod, spinning reel, and bait casting setup). I'm clinging to my gun and my religion...and am voting for Obama because I want to have work so I can continue to go hunting and fishing. I don't want to wait for "trickle down" economics for my share of a tax cut. I own a small business and, if I happen to make more than $250,000, I don't mind paying more taxes. If not, I want to be able to keep my employees on the payroll.

[Dave S.]

Hunting and fishing are allowed in US designated wilderness areas. I personally have done both. I don't see the divide - a "wilderness" area just means roadless, not "no hunting or fishing."

[Kate]

I'm not a hunter but I do like fishing and hope that waterways & lands can remain open to sportsmen. That is as long as we all respect the land; and animal populations are considered to ensure that future generations of sportsmen will enjoy the same privileges.
With that said, II take GREAT exception to Mr. Thomas suggesting preservationists are "un-American". That word has been thrown around WAY too much lately... usually by McCain supporters who think they have some kind of copyright on patriotism. Just because your fellow citizen has a different point of view does not give you the right to essentially call them traitors to our country. Being American means tolerating and defending others' right to speak their minds. You should consider VERY carefully the people you call un-American; that is a serious accusation to make.

[Political Psychiatrist]

It seems you are less interested in reader's opinions than in portraying Senators Barck Obama as "unAmerican" or John McCain as lying pond scum. Careful, your biases are showing. Why are conservatives in favor of conserving everything but the environment? Is that the same as liberalizing land use? --Hummmm? What is wrong with thinking about land use priorities before actually using the land? I hope the hunting, fishing, gun toting liberals and conservatives can share space without "accidentally" blowing each others heads off.

[reed]

Obama earmarked 8.5 million to take sensible steps to keep Asian Carp infestations in out of the great lakes. McCain would have vetoed such a measure because he wants to veto anything and everything good and bad. As a angler It just makes sense to have a leader who acts wisely to deal with a real problem instead of another table pounding grandstander . Obama for me and tight lines for everybody.

[selmarose]

It is hard to be in all places at the same time and I understand the difference between a sportsman and a politician. But, I think many people have overlooked the strengths of Sarah Palin from Alaska. She comes from a tradition of not only sporting but family survival. Alaska does not have the agricultural advantages of the mid-west and shipping from the lower 48 is cost prohibitive for many Alaskans so hunting and fishing is a main source of food. Alaskans are strong on protection of sporting rights. The secessionist movement everyone jumped on was over wildlife conservation and responsible preservation of habitat and public access. Along with her experience in energy and government reform she is the perfect partner for McCain. I'm sorry that more of the lower 48 are so ignorant of the "Western Woman".

[David Thodal]

The comments that "those who hunt, fish and use off-road vehicles are disturbed by trends toward wilderness preservation." is far off the mark. Wilderness preservation does nothing to shut out people. Even designated wilderness areas do not prevent people from enjoying the back country. Except for a few areas where a quota system of use is employed, people are free to come and go on public lands, wilderness or not. The only exceptions are for fire related concerns, active logging, mining areas and oil and gas drill sites. Almost all the access restrictions are the result of a single extractive use of the federal land.
Now that is not to say that there are restrictions on motorized use and well there should be. But restricting motorized use is not the same as restricting access. Many hunters understand that excessive and "the I can go anywhere" mentality of off-road users leads loss of habitat, land destruction and declining hunting opportunities. For many of us hunters, roadless or non-motorized areas are the last remaining areas of good hunting.
To say "a time when environmentalists are increasingly pressing for wilderness preservation versus public access", is wrong as well. To my knowledge, I know of no environmental group that proposes denying public access in wilderness designation. Public access does not end if motorized access is denied.
John McCain is definitely in favour of more and less regulated extractive activities on public land. It is less clear of his stand on off-road motorized use. Both of these uses lead to more loss of habitat and in the extractive activities to more denial of public access than any roadless or wilderness designation ever will.

David