Rick Berman, executive director of CCF, wrote after HSUS successfully pushed last month for the passage of Proposition 2, a landmark California ballot initiative to halt the confinement of animals on factory farms: “With the passage of California’s Proposition 2, more people have come to realize the evolving threat of the power, influence, and growing wealth of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Ballot initiatives and legislation similar to Prop. 2 will soon be introduced in more states. HSUS’s massive budget, unwarranted positive public reputation, and deep-pocketed Hollywood friends will only become a greater threat to industry in a post-Proposition 2 business environment. It is crucial that a key broad cross-section of agriculture leaders start managing this nationwide threat now, before it is too late or too expensive to match HSUS dollar for dollar.”

In the pay and in the pocket of corporate special interests that profit from animal cruelty, CCF has consistently sought to undermine The HSUS’s work to combat factory farming, puppy mills, the Canadian seal slaughter, commercial whaling, and other large-scale cruelties. The group attacks The HSUS because it is effective and diligent, and because it poses the greatest threat to businesses that choose to continue to abuse animals as a core part of their operations.

Essentially, every major claim that CCF makes about HSUS is false or severely distorted, just as are its attacks against the leading environmental, food safety, public health, and anti-drunk driving organizations. The HSUS is the leading advocate for animals in the United States, and no group can match its effectiveness in rescuing animals, raising awareness about animal issues, passing laws, influencing corporations, and sheltering and caring for animals.

For more information, here are a few recent blog postings by Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of HSUS, where he responds to CCF’s false claims:

http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/…..lence.html

http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/…..aries.html

http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/…..hting.html

http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2007/08/ccf-ad.html

“ActivistCash’s angle is to imply that their enemies — which include the Humane Society (!)… “

No, not the Humane Society. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which has no connection to the wonderful work done by your local Humane Society. They confuse people, as they have confused you, and keep money from going to help locally.

I’m a biologist, and I’ve corresponded with Rick Berman about some misinformation he was spreading about prions. Berman is an asshole.

I’ve also corresponded with the president of HSUS, Wayne Pacelle, about his organization’s dishonest attempts to prevent biomedical research. He’s an asshole too.

That being said, virtually everything Berman’s organization says about HSUS is correct.

The world is not black and white.

Meanwhile, Coleman and Red Skull are doing their best to obfuscate and delay the inevitable. Maybe so Coleman can fundraise for the recount defense fund he’s going to need soon.

Thanks for the great post, PW.