This wolf ad is REALLY going to hurt Palin's popularity..

[Virginia Dare]

I was talking to some rural white folks this evening, and they're very disgusted by her support of this type of thing. I think we've found her achilles heal.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I really HOPE so!

[justinaforjustice]

Hunting Wolves From Planes is Cruel Slaughter, Not Sport

This is a very effective film showing Pahlin's enthusiastic support for slaughtering wolves in an extremely cruel manner.

While many Americans don't know what the Bush Doctrine is, we all recognize senseless cruelty when we see it.
It is absolutely perverse to wound wolves with buckshot and leave them to die an agonizing death. This film shows just that.

Coupled with publicizing Pahlin's determined opposition to protecting polar bears from extinction by putting them on the endangered species list, this film can have a great impact on undecided voters.

[Blondiegrrl]

52. Thanks for the reminder. I just now donated $20 to Defenders of Wildlife.

(edited)

Oops. I meant to put this as a response to the main post.

Regardless, this thread reminded me to donate!

[Danger Mouse]

2. Shooting helpless wolves from planes is an ELITIST practice.

Real hunters spend hours waiting for a chance at a kill. Nobody hands it to them. Hunting is WORK. A true-blooded hunter would find this practice disgusting and dishonorable.

[BlooInBloo]

3. It's hard to be any more of a coward.

[Danger Mouse]

7. The hunters I know are all hard-working, earnest men and women.

I can't see how they'd find anything to like about taking potshots at wolves from planes. Unless you're a rancher or a sadist, wolves are very noble and well-regarded creatures.

[polichick]

It's powerful because it exposes such a DEEP CRUELTY...

I sent them some money to support it ~ hope they can afford to run it for a while.

[casus belli]

71. Or complete indifference, not that it's any better. n/t

[Jade Fox]

4. see this....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7050519&mesg_id=7050519

[Virginia Dare]

10. There are right wing animal lovers out there, lots..

and this will resonate with them. They opened up the comment to me with "One thing really bothers me about this Palin woman"...yep, this is a deep body blow to her image as "just regular folks".

[Jade Fox]

24. Everyone send what you can to Defenders of Wildlife....

They are running the wolf killing ads (or trying to) in swing states, and it will have an effect!

[Raine]

26. Yes there are lots of RW animal lovers also lots

of anti-choice people are pro-animal. I know this because I was active in animal rights causes and half of the people in the movement were rePUKEs. I intend to hit the people I remained in contact with HARD with this issue. It will be interesting to find out whether their party or their principles are more important to them.

[rockymountaindem]

65. Not to mention that aerial "hunting" is seen as the lowest of the low by a lot of regular hunters

Whether or not you approve of hunting (I've personally got nothing against it) I know that a lot of hunters would never deign to shoot an animal from such an advantage. In fact, the friends I've had who are either bow-hunters themselves or have a dad who partakes in that activity even think that using a gun at all is un-manly. I've never met one who would only use a spear though :)

Anyway, this goes beyond animal lovers and into another segment of society who are all about hunting but who think that aerial hunting is unethical. Plenty of them will probably give the Republicans a pass on this peripheral issue, but it can't hurt to bring it up.

[madaboutharry]

5. It won't effect how a republican votes, only some undecided.

I was out canvassing this afternoon and between houses my team partner and I were talking about "What makes a person a republican?"

It is just amazing to me that McCain has a single vote. But I have come to the conclusion that republicans just don't care about the same things that democrats care about. They couldn't care less about wolves getting shot from airplanes.

[Chulanowa]

19. I disagree

Most Republicans have no empathy for their fellow human beings. But show them an animal in obvious pain, and they will have pretty much the same reaction as anyone else - revulsion, anger, even a desire to help the critter out.

I've been saying we need to spread this sort of ad in particular among Republicans. Even the most contemptable ones I know love their dogs and cats. Many of them are also hunters - and the idea of pointlessly shooting animals without any "honor" from a plane (and often shooting -badly- at that) will be found offensive.

And then we mention that Palin endorses the practice despite it being voted against by Alaskans THREE TIMES... We mention how she allows private "hunters" to do the job of DFG officials... and we mention how this is all an example of her selling out her state for out-of-state interests (the trophy hunters) and we've got a good bludgeon.

Especially the trophy hunting aspect. Include pictures of that charnel house of a dwelling Palin has, with animal bits all over the walls. Trophy hunting is an elitist pursuit, after all.

[madaboutharry]

53. I agree that they don't care about other human beings.

But, they are so mean spirited. I hope I am wrong and that you're right and that they will care about animals.

[MissDeeds]

62. This is so true

I know a woman who owns a funeral home and is a rabid Republican. Several years back, she had to drive a Pakistani man to the airport with the body of his deceased toddler in the back of the hearse. She complained to me later about having to drive the man all over the metro area with "a dead kid in the back". Not long after, she struck a squirrel on the road on the way to work, killing it. She had to return home because she was weeping so hard that she could not drive. I kid you not. This is a true story. Sick, but true.

[Chulanowa]

74. The beleive humans "deserve it"

poor people deserve to be poor, brown people deserve to be shot, etc. Their private reality tells them that everything in an individual person's life, good or ill, is earned by that individual. Thus why rich white people are better than poor brown people. Has nothing to do with generations of handouts and state-endorsed disadvantaging. These don't exist to Republicans, it's all bootstraps with them.

But they maintain no illusions that animals can be held responsible for their situations.

republicans and conservatives in general are seriously fucked in the head, but if you know how to play them correctly...

[Birthday]

6. When???

I keep waiting for the general public to be offended by the continued lies, not to mention the heartless killing of wolves. Where are the thinking Republicans? There have got to be SOME thinking repubs. out there. Are they not outraged and offended at being told the same lies day after day... i.e., bridge to nowhere, sold it on ebay, etc. I am stunned that these lines are repeated time and again as if they were true. Hello out there. These are LIES.

[seabeyond]

8. made my hunting son watch it. he was shaking he was so mad. hunting hubby opposed

and disgusted by it too. hunters as a whole scorn and sneer at these people, along with cage hunting and some other unethical hunting ways

[Patiod]

34. REAL hunters find this appalling

A hardcore rightwing hunting fanatic I used to work with LOATHED Cheney for the canned pheasant hunt. Totally not sporting.

REAL hunters have a code about this stuff.

I used to dive with a bunch of tough Vietnam vets. One speared several fish on a dive, and offered one to me.

"Yeah, great" I said.

"You're gonna eat it, right? 'Cause I'll only kill a fish if someone is actually going to eat it."

[seabeyond]

41. exactly.... n/t

[27inCali]

9. real hunters

are all about the camo and the sneeking up on the prey, the sport of the hunt, the sense of danger, anything else is for soulless, elitist, yuppy assholes.

[rexy]

12. Yuppy assholes who could never be REAL hunters.

Hence the need to find a way with zero percent chance of failure.

[RagAss]

11. Where can I send money?

[Virginia Dare]

15. Defenders Of Wildlife ran the ad...n/t

[RagAss]

16. Thanks....

[City Lights]

18. Here's a link to donate:

https://secure.defenders.org/site/Donation2?idb=0&df_id=1547&1547.donation=form1&autologin=true&s_src=6JY08WDC4F&s_subsrc=6JY08WDC4F_EJI08D2a

[RagAss]

48. Thanks !!!!!!

[City Lights]

61. You're welcome.

Glad you're able to donate. :hi:

[ClarkUSA]

21. self-delete

[Parker CA]

13. Maybe I'm recalling incorrectly, but were there not videos or claims that Saddam Hussein

used to hunt from the air, fish by dropping grenades into pools of water in rivers, and use AK-47's to slay animals?

If there is any documentation of this or even video footage, this would be an excellent comparison of Saddam and the Moose.

[Omerrrta]

67. there is footage!

hey I googled it after you posted and found this news story:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4001260

[davidpdx]

14. Unfortunately, there are some redneck, gun toting

people that will vote for her because she likes to hunt. It is disgusting, but true.

I hope you are right about the ad though.

[Virginia Dare]

17. They are disgusted by this and don't view it as "hunting"..

I think it taints everything else she claims about herself in these people's eyes. Just a little anecdote I picked up on with these particular people.

[davidpdx]

23. Well and I can understand that

shooting from a helicopter is hardly a sport. I mean give me a gun and even I could probably do it (though I've only fired a gun once in my life when I was about 12 and hated it).

[AZBlue]

73. Actually, hunting from helicopters is strongly opposed by 99.99% of hunters.

They also go by the rule of shoot to kill on the first shot, which aerial hunting doesn't.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

20. Apparently this information is high priority around the world - people are appalled

[RichGirl]

22. I could be wrong...

...but I think the people it will effect most might be the ones who do it. The human mind is a strange thing and is very prone to group think. If in Alaska this is acceptable, everybody does it and people grow up doing it, then they don't really see it. Now that it has been exposed and highlighted, I bet many hunters will for the first time in their lives see it in it's true perspective. I think many will be ashamed and blame Palin for exposing them.

True story. I have a family member who hunted with his friends most of his life. He'd bring home deer and everybody ate it. Nobody ever told him he was doing anything wrong. One evening a bunch of us were sitting out back with the kids, enjoying the beautiful country side when a family of deer came running by, stopped and looked at us. It was so beautiful and everyone was so happy to have seen it, the children were thrilled. Nothing was said but the hunter hasn't hunted since then which was almost five years ago.

[Jade Fox]

25. Reck this up, people!

[Buzz Clik]

27. We aren't running against Palin, and those who love her are NOT going to change their minds.

[quiet.american]

28. No, but those laughing "undecideds" who think she's so funny might be given pause. nt

[Jade Fox]

30. I think we ARE running against Palin.....

and that McCain would be sinking like a rock right now without her.

And don't underestimate the anger of animal lovers when it comes to blatant animal slaughter. This issue will change minds.

[Buzz Clik]

40. If we lose focus on McCain, we lose the election. Period. And as for animal lovers...

... those are not the ones who love her.

The sooner we come back to the realization that beating Palin is meaningless (i.e., Agnew and Quayle), the sooner McCain's numbers start fading again.

[Jade Fox]

45. Animal lovers number in the millions.....

and include all political persuasions, economic classes, and races. And for many of them animal cruelty is a deal breaker.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

66. Who's losing focus on McCain? - What would you have this animal rights organization do?

Sit on their money and do nothing? Animal rights happens to be their particular agenda. The Democratic Party consists of many, many different groups. We are strong enough and numerous enough to handle a variety of issues against BOTH candidates. I don't think we have see to this in terms of Palin OR McCain.

And Sarah Palin is by no means your ordinary VP candidate. This is a very unusual circumstance. And if someone comes to hate the VP candidate for any reason, such as this wolf ad, they are not going to be voting for McCain either.

[mzmolly]

33. I think the ads will hurt her with women? And show her to be an extremist?

:shrug:

[Buzz Clik]

42. The women who love Palin are devout anti-abortion or lunatic fundies.

It's unlikely that they will be swayed by this story.

[mzmolly]

51. But those who "like" her and have moved to the McSame ticket

may be appalled?

[Forkboy]

35. We're running against both of them, and walking away from a weakness helps them, not us.

[Buzz Clik]

43. Our endless obsession with Palin has already done serious damage, and it must stop.

[Forkboy]

46. Where is this serious damage?

If you mean the bounce in the polls, that's absolutely nothing that hasn't happened after every convention. Remember how sick and ugly the RNC convention was in '96? Even after that exhibit they still got about the exact same bounce we're seeing now. He could have picked Satan himself and gotten an 8 point bounce.

If you mean something else is causing this damage, I'm listening.

I'm not saying the main focus should be Palin, but to ignore her altogether is quite simply naive to the max. She is a major weakness that can be, and should be, exploited early and often. Attacking McCain and Palin is not an either/or proposition and, for the life of me, I can't see why so many here want to reduce it to that.

[Buzz Clik]

49. I wasn't referring to the polls. I'm more referring to endless attention from those on the left...

including those in the left-leaning media. OUR decision that this is important has elevated her status and her exposure.

[Forkboy]

56. But it *is* important.

Her exposure is good for us. If it wasn't they wouldn't have kept her hidden, and she'd be talking to actual people instead of "In What Respect?" Charlie.

And rest assured, nothing we've said here has elevated her stature. :evilgrin:

I agree there's been too much focus on her on DU in some ways, but that's totally understandable. No one in the blogosphere, or anywhere else for that matter, saw this pick coming. And when it happened everyone scrambled to find out who she was. And hell, there's been a lot to find, some pointless, some helpful. The only way we find out which is which is to pay attention to all of it as it comes along and sort the wheat from the chaff.

I'll be more worried if the Obama campaign itself starts to focus on her too much, but that hasn't happened yet imo.

And like I say, when we attack her we attack McCain. Say McCain calls Biden a fuckface in a tempermental fit of rage on his DoubleTalk Express. You'd take that as an attack on Obama too, wouldn't you? With Biden being Obama's VP pick I sure would. So you can see how attacks on her can be useful (though hopefully deeper than my "fuckface" example).

I'm not the chirpy optimist by any stretch, but we're in a pretty good spot right now. Not home free at all, and we need to keep attacking and attacking with any legitimate info we can muster, but in an overall solid position late in the 3rd quarter. I'll take that, and from what I've seen of Obama's campaigning ability I actually have a bit of confidence.

"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!"

[Jade Fox]

50. The denial of Palin's effect on this campaign will get us nowhere.

It's wishful thinking.

All of us would like to believe the American people could not be seriously moved by a ludicrous light weight like Sarah Palin. But they have been.

[seabeyond]

44. those that would vote for mccain ONLY cause of palin CAN be effected by this stuff

and turned off her. media has made her beyond real.... bring her to real, and the wishy washy vote will wishy washy over to obama, not much of a challenge.

[Buzz Clik]

47. It's a smaller group than that -- those who would vote for McCain but don't embrace her values.

It's a small number

[seabeyond]

54. and many arent mccain lovers but voting against the dem instead. this turns off people.

it can turn off a man or woman enough to make them too lazy to go out and vote.

[w4rma]

29. Agreed. This one is nearly universal. (nt)

[cags]

31. I wish they would have put in the photo of buckets of wolf paws

[cyndensco]

32. A woman called C-Span today and said she could not believe

liberals are so upset about palin shooting animals. "They kill babies. Why do they care so much about wolves?"

[Jade Fox]

38. Predictable, but.....

people like that would never change their minds about voting Republican.

Those who have decided they like Palin based on non-stop GOP spin about her everyday hockey-mom appeal are the ones who may change their minds when they see the DoW ad.

[Lakerstan]

36. I feel sorry for Wolf Blitzer

His legs are worth at least $300.

[DCofVA]

37. Shooting an animal in a snow drift from an airplane is..

just as cruel as clubbing helpless baby seals for their fur and, the vast majority of Americans see it as such.

[Bravo Zulu]

39. Cheney's Canned Kill,

Vice President Dick Cheney went pheasant shooting in Pennsylvania in December 2003, but unlike most of his fellow hunters across America, he didn't have to spend hours or even days tramping the fields and hedgerows in hopes of bagging a brace of birds for the dinner Upon his arrival at the exclusive Rolling Rock Club in Ligonier Township, gamekeepers released 500 pen-raised pheasants from nets for the benefit of him and his party. In a blaze of gunfire, the group—which included legendary Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach and U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), along with major fundraisers for Republican candidates—killed at least 417 of the birds. According to one gamekeeper who spoke to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Cheney was credited with shooting more than 70 of the pen-reared fowl.

After lunch, the group shot flocks of mallard ducks, also reared in pens and shot like so many live skeet. There's been no report on the number of mallards the hunting party killed, but it's likely that hundreds fell.

Rolling Rock is an exclusive private club for the wealthy with a world-class golf course and a closed membership list. It is also a "canned hunting" operation—a place where fee-paying hunters blast away at released animals, whether birds or mammals, who often have no reasonable chance to escape. Most are "no kill, no pay" operations where patrons only shells out funds for the animals they kill.

Bird-shooting operations offer pheasants, quail, partridges, and mallard ducks, often dizzying the birds and planting them in front of hunters or tossing them from towers toward waiting shotguns. There are, perhaps, more than 3,000 such operations in the United States, according to outdoor writer Ted Williams.

For canned hunts involving mammals, hunters can shoot animals native to given continents—everything from Addax to Zebra—within the confines of a fenced area, assuring the animals have no opportunity to escape. Time magazine estimates that 2,000 facilities offer native or exotic mammals for shooting within fenced enclosures.

http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/wayne_pacelle_the_animal_advocate/cheneys_canned_kill_and_other_hunting_excesses_of_the_bush_administration.html

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

55. How widespread are these ads?

Hopefully, they will be seen everywhere and often.

[d_b]

57. hell

we almost beat it in Alaska of all places Yes: 44.4% No: 55.6%. In Alaska. I hope they blast that commercial all over battleground states.

[Tribetime]

58. This ad alone could bring them down, it's sickening

[VoodooGuru]

59. This ad is hitting her where it hurts - her popularity with *men*.

She is much, much more popular among men than women. Women see right through that pander, except for those who are already fundie nutjobs like her. Men, on the other hand, get impressed by her looks and her ability to do stuff like field dress a moose. (Hey, I couldn't do it, I admit it.)

But you know what? Stuff like this - this turns men off of her, big time. And it doesn't matter if we don't get them to switch sides... as long as they can't be bothered to come to the polls at all, that's a vote HE doesn't get, even if WE don't get it instead.

[MadrasT]

60. I forwarded the link to an "on the fence" friend.

It totally pushed him away from McSame/Mooselini. He was horrified.

Go figure. :shrug: I've been working on him for months with logical, platform related issues. And what finally gets him is the wolf ad.

Whatever it takes! :woohoo:

[mucifer]

63. Anyone else noticing a polar bear extinction ad from WWF?

World Wildlife Federation is doing polar bear ads. No they don't mention palin. But, one can hope that people will think about her when they see this ad.

[lolamio]

64. I have a good friend who is a veterinarian. She says people love their dogs...

And she believes these ads will really resonate with voters. She's sent out links to the ad and website to everyone she knows.

[HughMoran]

68. I do believe that those who would consider voting Dem will be susceptible to this ad

Properly placed, this should have an effect on some votes.

[PatriotGames]

69. Donate to the Defenders of Wildlife (if you haven't already)...

http://www.defenders.org/index.php

Posted in another thread. We are fighting this BS heavily. It is probably on the top of the agenda right now.

[Liberal_in_LA]

70. Views on You tube up to 240K

[Liberal_in_LA]

72. A million views of wolf ad copies

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/17139

Then there's the Defenders of Wildlife devastating television ad on hunting wolves from airplanes and their micro documentary Aerial hunting in Alaska. These are tearing up the airwaves at YouTube with original posts and mirrors totaling over a million views by now. There are derivative videos that are equally devastating.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

75. This morning on MSNBC, they said Todd Palin owns a piper cub airplane

He keeps it parked out in front of his house in Wasilla.

I wonder if either Todd or Sarah have ever used it for this kind of nefarious activity.