Bush entertains hunting groups, Kerry competes for ‘sportsmen’s’ vote

The Associated Press reported in April, George W. Bush lead a tour of his ranch for hunting, fishing and land-conservation advocates. He met with representatives of about 20 groups that the administration called “wildlife conservation organizations.” A partial list showed hunting and fishing groups including Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, the Safari Club International and the National Rifle Association.

Another group, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, says it “provides direct lobbying and grassroots coalition support to protect and advance the rights of hunters, fishermen, trappers and scientific wildlife management professionals.”

They say that Bush is an avid fisherman and hunter who picked up the “sports” from his father. On New Year’s Day, he went quail hunting with George H.W. Bush, a member of Ducks Unlimited.

It was reported that Bush told Tomke how much he enjoys hunting ducks on the Texas Gulf Coast.

One of Bush’s own aides has strongly criticized the practices of some of the hunting groups. Matthew Scully, a presidential speechwriter, wrote in his book, Dominion, that hunting is animal abuse.

Scully describes a convention of Safari Club International, whose members pay up to $20,000 to hunt elephants, lions or other animals, either abroad or in American “safari ranches,” where the animals are fenced in pens.

Scully wrote: “Nature and this holy rite is transformed into an endless theme park and the creatures into so many animatronic figures ingeniously designed to jump and flee and fall for the giddy delight of the boys.”

Far from conceding the NRA vote, Democratic presidential contender John Kerry is also an avid hunter, and is vying for the hunters’ votes.

However, the NRA is not impressed. While Kerry strives for gun owner votes by stressing his Vietnam service and love of hunting, the NRA is no friend to Kerry. Reuters reported that at its convention “Freedom’s Steel”, NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said Kerry would “run the American firearms industry into financial ruin.”

They seem to be right: The Senate killed a bill protecting gun makers. Kerry helped to kill it. That kind of killing C.A.S.H. doesn’t mind at all!!!

“Just remember it’s the birds that’s supposed to suffer, not the hunter.” – George W. Bush, advising quail hunter and New Mexico senator, Pete Domenici, Roswell, NM, Jan. 2004