Obama, like Sarah Palin, hails hunting, killing wild animals

Wow, big change in political attitude this fall. Little-noticed.

Remember that Democratic candidate for president -- what was his name? -- who complained to those elite San Francisco donors at a supposedly private mansion gathering about bitter small-town Pennsylvanians who cling to their guns and religion?

And it made a big splash at the time because, unbeknownst to that candidate, a Huffington Post reporter taped the careless remarks. And, well, some woman who'd gone duck-hunting once went on to win the party primary in the Keystone State.

Well, on the eve of that special season when so many Americans blast migrating ducks out of the sky and blow large holes in the side of fleeing deer, Barack Obama, now in the White House, has just issued a special Presidential Proclamation.

He's saluting and celebrating those "ageless pursuits" of hunting and fishing, just like some caribou-killing ex-Alaska governor might.

And he's actually returning to Pennsylvania this week, only not to kill animals.

Obama says today's American hunters and fisherpersons like, say, ex-VP Dick Cheney, celebrate sound, scientific game management and "freedom, fairness and self-sustainability." Although, truth be told, it's pretty hard to imagine hunting ever being fair until the game are armed too.

Anyway, this Democratic president has proclaimed Saturday as National Hunting and Fishing Day "from atop Pikes Peak to the shores of the James River." Which leaves out a lot of the West. But, hey, he's president now.

Here's the president's full proclamation from the White House, which does have a dog living there but successfully evicted a family of raccoons some months ago.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, A PROCLAMATION

From atop Pikes Peak to the shores of the James River, Americans celebrate the great abundance and utility of our natural resources. Since our Nation's founding, hunters and anglers have cherished these unparalleled natural gifts and marveled at their untamed beauty.

National Hunting and Fishing Day recognizes the contributions of millions of Americans who continue to engage in these ageless pursuits.

Following in the centuries-old footsteps of the pioneers who walked before them, hunters and....

...anglers have played a key role in the conservation and restoration of numerous species and their natural habitats. They not only understand their pivotal role as stewards of the land, but also seek to pass on this honored tradition to future generations.

As our citizens continue to enjoy our Nation's natural resources, we must remember that this privilege brings great responsibility. Not long ago, hunting threatened the extinction of the American Bison, an enduring symbol of the American West. Today, their population has recovered because of the cooperative

efforts of conservationists and hunters. Many species, however, still require our protection. We can no longer look to our wilderness, as some once did, as land full of unlimited bounty and surplus.

Recognizing the need for conservation, our hunters and anglers have worked hard to manage local ecosystems where wildlife remain, as well as to protect those areas where they are slowly re-establishing viable populations. Our national character, always evolving, finds its foundation in those timeless American ideals of freedom,fairness and self-sustainability. Today's hunters and anglers bring this spirit to life in the forests and streams they visit.

If not for America's great hunters and anglers, like President Theodore Roosevelt and Aldo Leopold, our Nation would not enjoy sound game management; a system of ethical, science-based game laws; and an extensive public lands estate on which to pursue the sports.

On National Hunting and Fishing Day, we celebrate their contributions to our natural environment and our national heritage.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 26, 2009, as National Hunting and Fishing Day. I call upon the people of the United States to recognize this day with appropriate programs and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

/s/ BARACK OBAMA

Photo: George Wilhelm / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[greg]

That fly 0bama killed a couple of months ago is probably the closet thing to hunting he has ever done. 0bama's regulatory czar, Cass Sunstein wants to ban hunting, and thinks that animals should have the right to sue people. Good ole Cass does concede that the animals would have to be represented by human lawyers.

[Steve]

I sure that all who agree with this are true vegans. Otherwise you are a hypocrite that allows others to do your dirty work.

[Will Brantley]

Wow. Being narrow-minded, ill-informed, a snobbish twit and from Los Angeles must all go hand-in-hand. Way to keep the stereotype in play!

I'm curious to know, since you obviously have such a grudge against deer and waterfowl hunters--what have you done lately for deer and waterfowl conservation?

[J Jessee]

This kind of moronic commentary gives environmentalists and animal rights people, like ME, a bad name. For thousands of years people have hunted and fished. Is it more ethical to torture and kill domesticated animals than go out into nature and procure your own meat?

And bringing up Cheney and Palin in this...how ridiculous. It's like condemning President Obama because he likes to brush his teeth in the morning, just like (gasp!) some right-wing fanatics!

[Raymond]

Message to MS. ASHLEY JUDD, staunt defender of the wildlife

Dear Ashley,
What can you say about this, huh? Are you going to lambast BHO the same thing that you did to Palin? If yes, then I dare you to do it now. If not, then you are one of those liberal ass hole hypocrites. If you do not have the guts to criticize BHO now, then better change your name to ASSLEY Jude. Thanks for reading this. God bless you and forgive you.

[KEVIN REIN]

Complaining about a citizens right to hunt and fish helps nothing How about opening your wallets and contribute to ducks unlimited to purchase habitat for wildlife. You contribute noting by bitching. And as far as your California politicians complaining about how Alaska handles there wildlife issues I reccommend to you and them to mind your own business and figure out how you premadonnas can manage your 25 billion dollar budget shortfall before you tell others how to take care of there's.

[Judi Hewitt]

Always knew Obama was a coward! The gun lobby in America is red necked through and through and yes I beleive they run the US of A. Oh and yes, I'm vegan and proud to be so. It keeps me young, fit and I can sleep at night knowing that my diet doesn't hurt any living thing!!!!!
Obama you're also a fake!!!!

[ebd10]

I'm not surprised; Democrats have advocated hunting and fishing for decades. They hunt for tax money and fish for handouts.

[Chris]

Awww...look at the little liberals crying in their kashi. I hunt, fish, serve my local community, give to charities, champion gun safety and regulations that make sense, preach hunter safety and even eat kashi too. Hunters and anglers always have and always will do more for the environment than those that sit by on the sidelines and run their mouths.
There are more deer in America now then there was when the early american settlers arrived here. This planet was not meant to contain huge populations of living things. Man is an omnivore and we just happen to have it between the ears to be the apex predator. Most hunters don't waste a second of their time breathing down the necks of vegans and the like, why must you make it your mission to breath down ours. I agree that more education about hunting and more regulations in firearm safety and proficiency should be enacted. Sadly, there are those who hunt that give the lifestyle a bad name. Just like there are those in professional sports that tarnish the overall image. Look deeper and you will see a group of men and women overall that are not blood thirsty, rather caring stewards of our planets fine natural resources.

[Marcus]

I am a democrat and an avid hunter and fisherman. Your blog is so completely biased and moronic I don't even know where to begin.

Hunters and fisherman bear the brunt of conservation. Without our dollars there would be less wetlands and open lands for those who do not hunt or fish to enjoy.

Thanks for making the rest of us democrats look like turds. Well done.

[Scott Linden]

Cruel, cruel vegans and vegetarians ... just because you won't take personal responsibility for killing animals doesn't mean you don't do it. Every spoonful of organic granola is tainted with the blood of pheasant chicks chopped to bits by the combine that harvested your organic oats ... the guts of skunks, deer, and mosquitoes are splattered on the windshield and wheel wells of the trucks that hauled your organic carrots to Whole Foods ... sometimes, those of us who actually walk around in the woods hear the plaintive cries of the starving birds, bats and bears displaced from their native habitat by your LEED-certified mansion. Which by the way, is glass so don't throw any more stones.

And remember the billions of dollars hunters contribute to conservation every year ... how much have you donated?

[John]

Simply, hunting and fishing are activities for people who don't mind being cruel to animals so long as it's fun for themselves.

[Kirsten Mireille Middleton]

As a human, nevermind the vegan part, why all the attacking of one another? The same as all 'hunters' cannot be tarred with the same brush, neither can all vegetarians/vegans. Peace people, peace...

[JohnMD1022]

Hmmmmmm Judi Hewitt. Last time I checked plants were also living things.

You have the right to live your life in any manner you choose as long as it does not impinge upon my right to do the same. Unfortunately, people like you have a nasty habit of attempting to force your values on everyone else.

As for the president:

Obama ... You lie!!!

[Ryan P]

The biggest problem animals face from an extinction perspective is encroachment, not hunting. And the biggest problem animals face from a humanitarian perspective is dense livestock farms, not hunting.

[Jeff Rogers]

Hunters and fishermen have done more to protect the wild lands of this nation than any tofu eating, Birkenstock wearing, Subaru driving, save the whales sign waving PETA member ever thought about doing. Ask PETA how much money and time they actually donated to saving animals and their habitat last year. NONE!

[Mike B]

Judi Hewitt-Just to help you sleep at night I would like to inform you that two of the farms that I hunt are vegetable farms. These farms are overpopulated with deer and without hunting deer your vegies would be gone. The farmers seek out hunters to keep populations down. Next time your at the farmers market ask if they allow hunting!

[Nathan]

I thought the media was supposed to report the news! Not spin it into their own agenda. The LA Times should be embarassed to let such a story ink their pages! I am not stating my views on this subject, just the state in which our news media across this great nation lack the subjective brain power to report not opininate. Keep these types of articles in the Opinions section of the media, not in the News!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Judi Hewitt]

You animal killers might intimidate some people into silence but bullies don't scare me! All this stuff you write to defend your cruel actions is utter tripe!
Everyone around the world 'knows' that America is ruled by the gun lobby - still living in a sort of wildwest dictatorship. Thank goodness you have a few good people out there willing to speak out against 'killing for fun' - but then they are usually locked up by shadowy people.
It's no wonder the world is rebelling against the human pest when there is so much ignorance around regarding the Earth's other species. Mankind is gobbling up all the planets natural resources like a plague, yet all you people can think of is making up excuses to satisfy your urges to kill for sport. YES SPORT!!!