Dem Senators Take On Palin, Offer Bill To Ban Aerial Wolf Hunting

As she gave up her governorship on Sunday, Alaska Republican Sarah Palin took a dig at her "Hollywood" detractors for pushing their anti-gun sentiments on the "non-elites."

"You're gonna see anti-hunting, anti-Second Amendment circuses from Hollywood,'' she said. "They use Alaska as a fundraising tool for their anti-Second Amendment causes... Hollywood needs to know: 'We eat, therefore we hunt.'"

It was a classic Palin bit, resurfacing a campaign-related dispute between her and Hollywood actress Ashley Judd, who had narrated an ad for the Defenders of Wildlife calling out the then-vice presidential candidate for supporting aerial wolf hunting.

Now, however, the argument has expanded to include Democrats in Congress. On Wednesday, Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California and Ben Cardin of Maryland introduced legislation that would explicitly prohibit hunters from shooting and killing wildlife from aircraft. To ensure that anyone following the issue didn't miss the political element, the senators noted in the press release announcing the legislation's introduction that it would specifically end the targeting of "wolves."

The bill, which is endorsed by, among other groups, the Defenders of Wildlife, closes a loophole in the Aerial Hunting Act of 1971. And in an accompanying statement, Feinstein didn't hide her disdain for the practice that Palin now uses to illustrate the contrast between herself and the Hollywood crowd.

"Shooting wildlife from airplanes is not sport -- it is cruel and inhumane. It undermines the hunting principle of a fair chase and often leads to a slow and painful death for the hunted animals. This practice should be banned," the California Democrat said. "So, I've introduced a balanced bill that will enable states to responsibly manage wildlife populations, but ban the cruel practice of aerial hunting for sport. And it will not impinge on legitimate sport hunting."

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Comments

[idahoman]

Wow, you people make me laugh. Some of you are somewhat educated and know a little about game management but most of you have know clue. The simple fact is wolves need to be managed just like everything else and the most affective way is arial shooting. I personaly wouldn't do it but if that is the best way to keep there numbers in check and it is managed correctly then ok by me. Don't let some of these people tell you wolves are endangered. Their not and never will be.

[isadora]

Beware of those who address their audience as "you people." This is a sign of a person with a big ego who builds that ego up with nasty arrogant advice and 'information' imparted from on high. In the 1950's (when it was acceptable for teachers to bully and demean their students) my second grade teacher addressed us in this manner. Negativity and arrogance seemed to build her up. "Not now and never will be"? This is the way wingnuts express themselves, don't mistake it for any level of reasoning. Thanks for revealing yourself Mr. Potato Head.

[idahoman]

It's funny how people that are over educated or undereducated have to resort to name calling (Mr. Potato Head) instead of debating the facts. Do you have't to keep yourself hidden from what you are on here?

[BradSmith]

Wow are the Dem's still afraid of Palin? Seems like it too me. All the people slamming her like she is a threat. She is just another person with her own point of view. So what is the big deal?

[jemborg]

Because she's NUTS!

[BradSmith]

Why, because she has a different point of view? I couldn't see myself ever voting for her, However, The Dem's do seem afraid and I really can't see why. If she does run against Obama they would wipe the floor with her. You would think they would be quite and hope she does run.

[Marshall Lucky]

Maybe Sarah Palin has a future in the NFL. Michael Vick thought doing sadistic things to canines was a sport, too.

http://daltonator.net/durandal/blog/?p=158

[ElaineHe]

Hats off to Feinstein and Cardin! I vehemently opposed aerial hunting. It's a disgusting and cowardice practice. Land hunting isn't great either. Animals still suffer. FYI Largest contributor to heart problems - meat.

[BradSmith]

This is not hunting and if Palin says it is she is wrong. It's about resource managment. The people who are for this bill are using Palin as a scapegoat. It's very close to a straw man argument were you set up a dummy to knock down.

[Mikecoatl]

No, that particular dummy has already been knocked down, apparently.

[Poiks]

"We eat, therefore we hunt."
Do people eat wolf?

[BradSmith]

Was she refering to wolves? No she wasn't, It's always easy to take something out of context.

[isadora]

$aint $arah, increasingly, seems to be saying "Let them eat cake." The richer she gets...

[tantrictim]

why does she wanna shoot wolf blitzer from a plane? maybe ole wolfy should have tossed her more softball questions like katie couric and charlie gibson
:)

[BradSmith]

When will people get it that both the Repugs and the Dems stink to high heaven of corruption? They both sit around playing games while people suffer. Your worried about wolves that are overpolulated and destructive. However, you still support a president that expanded the war into Pakistan and has authorized the killing of hundreds of people. Irony doesn't even cover it.

Peace!

[colah]

Meaningless Palin "story" # 52. Since Sunday. Can you say "cash cow"?
This comment will not be approved.

[colah]

You only posted it because im farming my fields naked, huh?

[Mike169]

Shooting a wolf from a plane - this is hunting? I thought it was a sport where the hunter matched wits with the prey which was ultimately slaughtered to feed the families of those who can not travel seven blocks to a supermarket.

[mdlw]

Thanks to Diane Feinstein and Senators!!!

Come on Sam, break the other story, time for the truth, for the troops!! Check out the videos here:

http://palindeception.blogspot.com/2009/07/for-your-viewing-pleasure.html

[OlderWoman]

Let's hope it passes.

[TheAlchemist]

Sarah says:
Hollywood needs to know: 'We eat, therefore we hunt.'"

Are they eating wolves?

[mountainweb]

The title should read BRAIN DEAD democratic senators, massive battle on health care and they waste time on this issue. And they wonder why the voters have such a low opinion of them!!!

[CindyKay]

Still Angry & Bitter ? Get Over It Already !

[deb8ter]

and clinging to my bible too. lol

[BradSmith]

It's ironic that so many people have knee jerk reaction to killing wolves. These are the same people who for the most part live in an environment destroyed by their overconsuptive ways. I understand the feeling of guilt for what we have done to the places we live in. However, piping in on a subject you know next to nothing about will not alter the fact that your feeling of guilt come from what you have done to your environment. You continue to overconsume over populate and destroy your own environment and you think championing a cause you know nothing about will make it better. It's about the same as using a carbon offset. You can go on polluting and overconsuming as long as you have some pet project that helps you with your guilty feelings. Seriously people get off the consumption treadmill before you preach to others.

Peace!

[cindyw]

Hey, that was a little preachy.
Peace!

[BradSmith]

Yah I guess it was touche!

[mitsie]

While they're at ill, how about a law that outlaws personal game farms, where animals and birds are held only to be slaughtered by some old man, who has chased that poor thing up against some fence. That's not really hunting, that is a slaughter house.

[Suzanne525]

I'm with you on that one!

[Scott1560]

Are you talking about the captive hunting ranches where you can bag exotic animals?

Odd that Palin & Alaska have been targets when N.M. Gov. Bill Richardson loves hunting exotics that are fenced in. Remember the rare oryx he bagged a few years back and even had the photo released to the media?

Why no outrage over Richardson?

[Grunty1]

Simple: because if the GOP acted outraged over Richardson, they would alienate their NRA base.

[deb8ter]

pretty much the same picture i get when I Envision an o b g y n and a pair of force ups .. yes i know i know it is not spelled correctly .. all the grammer police calm down .. slaughter house..