WASHINGTON (October 25, 2016)—The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces the launch of its television ad campaign in Virginia opposing the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump. The ads, which previously ran in northern Virginia and begin airing in the Richmond media market today, are aimed at informing voters of the unprecedented danger that a Donald Trump presidency would pose to animal welfare.
“A Donald Trump presidency represents the greatest threat ever to federal policy-making and implementation of animal protection laws,” said Michael Markarian, president of the HSLF.
The ad, which can be viewed here, makes plain that Trump’s surrogates on animal welfare issues are vitriolic opponents of the cause: Forrest Lucas, the money man behind Protect the Harvest, a front group devoted to fighting animal welfare organizations; Bruce Rastetter, who supports cruel industrial agricultural practices like confining pigs in gestation crates; and Oklahoma state Sen. Eddie Fields, author of the bill overturning the state’s 50-year ban on horse slaughter for human consumption. The Trump sons are also featured in the ad, which notes their trophy hunting of threatened species, and Donald Jr.’s documented interest in the position of Interior Secretary.
Hillary Clinton has a strong animal protection record. During her eight years in the U.S. Senate, she earned scores of 100, 100+, and 83 on HSLF’s Humane Scorecard. She co-sponsored legislation dealing with horse slaughter and animal fighting, as well as bills to stop the processing of “downer” livestock and crack down on abusive puppy mills. She led efforts to stop the overuse of antibiotics in farm animals, which allow them to be crammed into overcrowded, stressful, and unsanitary factory farms. As Secretary of State, Clinton led international efforts to crack down on wildlife trafficking. She continued her leadership on animal protection later through the Clinton Foundation, and helped to launch a major campaign to fight the illegal ivory trade and poaching of elephants.
“The contrast could not be greater, nor the choice more clear cut for people concerned about animals,” said Wayne Pacelle, executive vice president of the HSLF. “Voters who care about animal protection should support Hillary Clinton for president.”
The NRA, which defends captive hunts of animals and promotes elephant hunting and the targeting of other rare species, has invested more than $20 million in support of Trump. Trump’s sons have acted as surrogates in handling the relationship with the NRA.
HSLF encourages Americans who care about protecting wildlife, combating large-scale cruelties like animal fighting and puppy mills, securing humane treatment of animals in agriculture, and addressing other challenges that face animals in our nation, to oppose Donald Trump and elect Hillary Clinton. HSLF’s other endorsements of pro-animal candidates, both Republicans and Democrats, can be found at: elections.hslf.org.
Media Contact: John Cleveland, jcleveland@hslf.org, 803-272-2770
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HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.
The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.
Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20037.
