White Fangs: Judd vs. Palin Battle Gets Nasty

If you've been anywhere near an electric outlet this week, you've had to catch wind of Ashley Judd's passionate national television ad campaign, on behalf of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund (DWAF), condemning Alaska Governor Sarah Palin for her support of aerial kills of the Last Frontier's wolf population and exposing her "renewed anti-conservation agenda."

"I'm outraged," Judd declared, "by Palin's promotion of aerial wolf hunting and I will fight to stop her."

Palin's not one to take a celebrity-bashing lying down. In an official response, full of typical Palin venom and hyperbole, issued on the Governor's State of Alaska web site, Palin flashed her fangs back at the Action Fund:

It is reprehensible and hypocritical that the Defenders of Wildlife would use Alaska and my administration as a fundraising tool to deceive Americans into parting with their hard-earned money.

The ad campaign by this extreme fringe group, as Alaskans have witnessed over the last several years, distorts the facts about Alaska's wildlife management programs...

Shame on the Defenders of Wildlife for twisting the truth in an effort to raise funds from innocent and hard-pressed Americans struggling with these rough economic times.

The DWAF is hardly a "fringe group" (a frequently invoked Palin dismissal), but rather a widely respected organization dedicated to "saving imperiled wildlife and championing the Endangered Species Act, the landmark law that protects them." And since my ten-year-old son raised money on his own this year to protect imperiled penguins impacted by global warming, which Palin, of course, denies is "man made" (talk about fringe), I feel compelled to call lie to Palin's--and the State of Alaska's--duplicitous characterization of the Fund's work.

Rodger Schlickeisen, president of the DWAF, no slouch when it comes to defending endangered wildlife, has now issued his own response:

As we've seen before, what you often get in response from Governor Palin when she is challenged is not a rational defense of what she's doing, but rather name calling and a very transparent attempt at spin control. But then again, since there is no defense for her aerial wolf slaughter program, it may be that she feels there really isn't much else she can do...

Deception and deflection are all that that Governor Palin has ever offered in place of justification for her aerial killing program. By calling us 'extremists' she is suggesting that our opposition to her policies and actions is out of step with the way the majority of Americans view her brutal, unethical wildlife slaughter. But it is she who is the extremist in this case. And she knows it.

Okay, first three rounds go to the DWAF, with a standing-eight-count required of Palin following the last foray. Palin's--and Alaska's--assault on wildlife used to go somewhat unchecked as a result of the Last Frontier's geographical isolation. Now, because of Palin, the whole world is watching. Indeed, the DWAF has now devoted a web page to Palin's "extreme anti-conservation record on issues ranging from global warming, energy and drilling to wildlife and habitat protection."

As Alaska native and Anchorage radio personality Shannyn Moore has written in a moving essay on this issue:

The wolves of Alaska don't know they are Alaskan...or American. Wherever you are, these wolves are part of your world. They represent the best part of the Last Frontier; its wildness, its mystery and its promise of adventure. In short, they represent hope.

Comments

[1will]

Is wolf hunting the problem or is it just hunting wolfs from helicopters? If they are merely thinning the wolf population to manage the number of predators then who cares if they hunt them from a tree stand, helicopter or ATV? I think Judd has more of a problem with killing something that looks cute and doglike rather than a real issue with culling predators. Given a choice I would rather see a managed wolf population and a healthy number of deer, elk and moose than these animals over hunted by wolves.

[Reelcanajun]

The two issues, as I understand them, are that Palin is not using good scientific evidence to support her stance on wolf population control. Removing the top predator in any natural ecological system never a good idea. For years, wolf, Native American, and food source
(caribou, moose, deer) remained in balance. Introduce an invasive predator, such as the white man, and the balance is disrupted. That said, any control of wolves must be done carefully.
The second issue is that of animal cruelty. I might add that my husband and I are subsistance
hunters (trophies are pretty meaningless). We pride ourselves on generally bringing down an animal with a single shot,; the animals we kill generally feel less pain and a great deal less suffering than a steer kept in a feedlot, ...you get the message). We don't waste meat.
In nature, no meat is wasted. Wolves might occasionally leave an unconsumed
carcase, but that feeds the scavenger birds (ravens, etc), scavenging animals, and on down the chain.
It seems pretty reprehensible (isn't that the one four syllable word that Palin can understand) to slaughter wolves as painfully as possible in a wholesale manner? Can she truly support such bad stewardship of an important animal population?
Iwill, in response to your condescending comments about both Ms. Judd
and twolves. They are not cute nor are they doglike (other than being canine.) That is so "Walt Disney". Fully grown, a wolf is regal and savage, and has my complete respect.

[1will]

I don't consider wolfs cute or doglike but I'm sure that most of Judd's supporters do. As for introducing a an invasive predator such as the "White Man," well the white man is here to stay. I would rather have the "White Man" stock his freezer with the elk, moose or caribou that the wolves would normally kill. While I don't believe in eliminating the wolf population I also don't believe they need to have their numbers go unchecked. How many wolves per year does Judd believe should be killed? I haven't heard a quote.
As for the experts and their "Scientific Evidence," anyone can find an expert to agree with you regardless of the subject.

[deosil]

Judd and DEFENDERS are calling attention to the method of culling, not the culling.
Alaska voted against copter killing twice.
It´s a long disgusting process for the wolves to die, no clean shot, no respectful kill.

[GirdwoodAnnie]

I saw Ashley Judd on Larry King talking about aerial predator control... WOW!!!

Who knew Ashley was so smart? She's waaaay smarter than Sarah. WORD.

[deosil]

Judd is very savvy....always was.
She´s no bimbo.

[jacobomorales]

Palin suffers from arested development, she is still 14 yrs old and continues to have the judgement of a 14 yr old girl. I am sorry for Alaskans because they don't seem to be much smarter. Perhaps it's the weather that keeps their brains from developing fully.
Perhaps a study should be funded to understand this phenomenom.

[penjai]

Can we please just give Palin and Alaska back to Canada.

[James Parson]

You mean Russia. The U.S. bought Alaska from Russia

[StillAmused]

One thing emerges clearly: Nanook is posessed of an unnatural affection for killing as entertainment and self-validation.

The battle with these defective knuckle-draggers is, in a very real sense, a desperate struggle to hang on to what's left of the planet that they haven't already destroyed.

Ashley Judd and Rodger Schlickeisen... stone cold knockout in the first round.

[StillAmused]

"possessed"

... and in more ways than one.

[Freda from Scotland]

Perhaps Gov Palin has shot herself in the foot with this one, by advocating and supporting cruelty to animals should if not will prevent her from going forward as a future presidential candidate. I do not think the American people will forget this one in a hurry, I hope not. There is such a difference between culling herds in a humane fashion for ethical reasons, for killing to put food on the table but to allow big game hunters to come in and kill for the sake of killing and having fun at the same time is beyond the pale. Well Gov if you consider this fun then I do hope that this haunts you for the rest of your life and it may well put an end to your presidential hopes. Has there ever been a president in the White House who has so openly supported animal cruelty?

[TheRubberRoomHotel]

Alaskans have voted twice to abolish this abhorent practice.
Actually Palin has been astounding us with her actions.
Palins agenda is definatly catering to big game advocates.
People really need to check more into some of her commisioner appointments.

The Alaska Board of game is a joke! There are no rural or members.

This is only to benifit trophy hunters.
I live in a rural village in Alaska we are on the road and river system so at hunting season this place is a dangerous zoo. We are inundated with hunters showing up with thier big boats and atvs rv's and high power rifels with lazer sights. And let me tell you they will shoot anything that moves.

Try to get Fish and Game to come out when people are shooting moose and leaving them lay to rot and just taking a rack.

As an Alaskan I find this act deplorable and wish that the Federal Athorities would step in.

[meede]

I tuned into King for a Friday Night Rock'em Sock'em. I want my money back. Ticket refund please!!

No response from Palin or her office to appear. Don't expect to get a statement from Palin herself for a few days. If one is issued, it guaranteed it's not Palin's words. Palin will have to get a translation to understand what was said. Judd used $1.00 words that don't appear in a Palinese dictionary.

[ObamacratInCA]

If Defenders of Wildlife is a fringe group, then what do you call a group that advocates Alaska seceding from the union? Or her church that employs witchhunters (excuse me witch cullers)?

Palin/Vitter
The Fringe Party
'12

[marthainmaine]

You usually get one shot from a plane and most hunters aren't that good . So if the animal is wounded by the time the plane turns around it is gone. There is a better chance of not leaving a wounded animal with a fairer playing field. Thank you Ashley Judd for speaking out. Says a lot about you. Beautiful inside and out.

[Dave King]

You are all welcome to come to Alaska, live trap, or dart, all the wolves you want and take them home with you. Then you don't have to worry about what we do in Alaska.

[TheRubberRoomHotel]

I and most Alaskans that I know would just prefere that people like you would leave and take Palin with you.
We will keep the wolves thanks!

[dwedge]

Apparently God created that beautiful wilderness with all of its wildlife just for you and Sarah.......

[gbrooks]

I'm not fond of Biden, but imagine that's our VP.

Yikes.

[doublels]

Are there any Alaskans that can comment?

[ZimboChick]

lol

i dont know why that made me laugh

[DCinFrance]

Yeah, I chuckled at first, then felt guilty about it. Take the little exchange above between Dave_King and TheRubberRoomHotel above.

[nswfm]

Ashley Judd can speak in coherrent sentences and in more than one language. Palin can barely speak one, and she's supposed to be a journalism major. More like a failure than a major.

[glorialovelace]

Since when do journalism majors have to speak more than one language? And what are Ashley's other languages? I'm guessing Glossolalia.

[meede]

The release put out by Palin was not her wording. It's Meg Stapleton's. You can follow a theme of certain words. Palin speaks Palinese -- not to be understood by anyone. Should be interesting to see Palin & Judd on Larry King tonight. Judd - intelligence. Palin - total lack of.

[Frank-y-Ava]

I would LOVE to see them battling on Larry King. If they fight with words Ashley would win but I don't know about physically, Palin would probably take her.

[citizen of the universe]

My money is on Ashley; Plus she has Wynonna to back her up.