Political Punch

PETA has no credibility when the topic is the ethical treatment of animals.

For example; who has killed more dogs Vick or PETA?

This all you need to know about PETA.

"Races like this are the equivalent of child sweatshops"

They equate and even elevate animals abouve human beings.

I completely support PETA's work. For those idiots who say the horses "love to run in the races" while being whipped mercilessly is the same as saying cows love to be slaughtered for meat. Its absolutely disguesting to how the minds of some people operates. Have those people ever thought that the horses DIDNT have a choice but to be exploited as soon as it was born into the racing industry? unlike the jockies or rich scum who line their pockets full of blood money.

Bottom Line: Hillary Clinton should be ashamed of herself and apoligize to the American public for her dispicable act. She is suppose to be a role model for peace and compassion towards all animal, human and non-human. Not lead the way to animal abuse and exploitation. I certainly won't be voting for her if she comes comes out into the primary.

PETA does need to take a stand on the Kentucky Derby - it's not much better than a dog fight. It's a shame that such beautiful animals give their lives for betting/drinking and rich folks that do not value life. The animal has no voice and give it's all. Yes, horses like to run - but running and racing are two different things. They are raced before they are matured physically. The breeding, feeding, and inhancers also need to be looked into. Keep doing what you do - the letter to H. Clinton - right on. Thanks for listening. jb

I am just saddened by the inhumane treatment these horses are given when prompted to run beyond their limits on such slender legs. Especially when they don't realize how much they are hurting because they are being encouraged by "whipping" to continue on to the finish line. On the other hand, common sense should tell the adults in the situation that this is cruel and insensitive and all done for the love of money. As far as the comment made that these horses are "better in these environments than being in the wild" is just ignorance beyond belief. They would have a choice to run or not and not being whipped to do so. I would propose that Hillary and all legislatures vote to band this barbaric act of violence once and for all.

Honestly, get it through your thick skulls. These horses run because they love it. Nothing can stop them. If you'd remember, Edgar Prado had a hard time pulling Barbaro up after he broke his leg in the Preakness because he wanted to keep on running. People are NOT forcing these animals to run, they run because they love it. The whips DO NOT hurt the horse. The horses are trained in a way that when they feel the whip, they increase their speed. Likewise, the whips are telling a horse when to run straight to prevent accidents from happening (in most horseback riding situations, the rider uses their legs to cue the horse where to go. A jockey's legs are far too high to do this, therefore the whip is used). To a horse, it is like a soft slap on the thigh. This is definitely NOT classified as abuse. If anyone disagrees with this, go check out the material the whips are made out of.
If anyone goes onto the backside of a racetrack or onto a thoroughbred racing farm in Kentucky, they would realize that these horses live better than most people in the U.S. They are treated like royalty, given the best of the best to help with the safety issues. Every athlete gets injured sometime during their career. It is no different for horses. If the PETA is going to start something like this, at least do some research first and understand what you are talking about.

You would think that PETA would be ecstatic with the death of Eight Belles. After all, they want to eradicate the world of all animals anyhow, just like H$U$.
What happened to Eight Belles was tragic, I give you that. I even cried, not because I had a bet on her, but simply because she was such a beautiful and talented horse (and I am scared to death of horses).
I have sled dogs, and they run for enjoyment, just like Eight Belles. The PETA crowd needs to find something better to do with their time. Maybe get a job for starters. They have way too much time on their hands, and have NO CLUE as to what they are talking about.

I am against horse racing. I have no interest in any event that uses/exploits animals for entertainment and/or sport. Horse racing should be abolished. It is dangerous for the animals (Barbaro, Eight Belles & plenty of other poor souls) *AND* the riders. If you want to place a bet, go play poker.

Horses run because they enjoy it. More horses break down on farms than in races.

P.S. George Washington ran in the Breeder Cup Classic, not the Preakness. Please keep the facts straight.

IN RESPONSE TO THE BELOW... YOU CAN'T BE KIDDING... THAT 'IS' WHAT THIS ORGANIZATION DOES... AND WHAT IN YOUR MIND MAKES A STRAY DOG OR CAT MORE WORTHY PROTECTION AND FREEDOM FROM HARM AND ABUSE THAN A HORSE?? GENIUS

This horse's death is very sad but I would suggest that PETA also protect every stray dog, cat, rabbit, rat, bird squirrel or mouse from any harm by humans.
This radical group is trying to get their 15 minutes of fame and exploit an sad accident.

PETA wrote a great letter irrespective of who the recipient it. Using animals for fun and profit is tragic and selfish on behalf of all humans that do so. The Holy Spirit is in all living things according to Jesus' teachings (when even on apsrrow falls to the ground my Father knows it).

Horse racing is not a sport. Forcing an animal to run beyond it's physical capabilities is not a sport and watching a horse break down on a race track is not entertainment. It's about money and fame for the owners/trainers/jockeys, the horses are not given a choice. PETA is extreme in their tactics, but I applaud their call to action.

How SAD! How IGNORANT!
PETA shame on you.....Shame on you and that ignorant representative you just had on FoxNews. To blame anyone on what happened to Eight Belles, without knowing the facts, is so saddening. For an organization with a good cause to flippantly blame a jockey or a trainer for what happened to Eight Belles with no evidence? These people spend every single day of their lives dedicated to these amazing animals. To even suggest "masking injuries with drugs" is sickening to listen to. This couldn't have happened to better and more honest people. If you heard Larry Jones and the vet himself, you heard that there was absolutely no sign of stress during the race. This was a freak accident and many believe that she took a misstep as she was slowing down, and accidentally crossed her two front legs. She was a strong filly and one that America should be so proud of. I love that Hillary endorsed her publically and love that Chelsea was there. They embraced American history on Saturday. Good luck changing it.

Leave this jockey, this trainer, and these fans alone! Our hearts should be with them for this tremendous loss.

Me again,

I was a little confusing i guess. i have 48 horses (i checked) currently. We have been in the buiness for 20 years.

I also wanted to comment that these horses want to run. hey were bred for that. More horses break there legs and suffer and then die out in the wild. When a horse breaks down they get put out of there missery, they dont suffer for as long.

Think about this controversial case.
In Oregon they kill sealions because they eat and harm the salmons.
The other part of this country as I watched on ABC people tried to resque some sealions.

Kathy,

I agree with you.
PETA need to take action long time ago.
There are so much more animal abuses in this country which are still underground.

The problem with Eight Belles is why the owner did not know that she was having problem before the accident.
She had to force herself to continue the race.
She was a true champion.
That is make me very sad.
RIP.

Yet another "LOOK AT ME" flag waved from PETA. Yeah. We know you're there. Now do me a favor, will you? Stop euthanizing THOUSANDS perfectly healthy animals yourself and get off the back of the ones that put down ONE in misery.

This horse's death is very sad but I would suggest that PETA also protect every stray dog, cat, rabbit, rat, bird squirrel or mouse from any harm by humans.
This radical group is trying to get their 15 minutes of fame and exploit an sad accident.

There is no hard evidence that carelessness caused this horse to go down. Is PETA going to stop soccer, basketball or football because broken bones happen to the players??? This is just another radical group using a accident to advance their agenda. The owner, trainers and others associated with this horse are heart sick but it must be considered an accident. And the Obamaites who think Senator Clinton is at fault has a severe mental/emotional disorder even before Saturday.

Ouch... not good for Hillary. PETA's Ingrid Newkirk is a lunatic in my opinion. She's said one of her goals is working to outlaw people having dogs or cats... any pet.

It's about time the animals did their fair share. When are they going to start working with poor people in the slums to better their lives? I demand that wolves and bears start moving into the inner city and do their part.

All I can say is I am glad that I was not born a poor animal in this selfish human society. I guess if an animal suffers and dies for our pleasure that's ok? Selfish, very selfish. So sad.

55 HORSE DEATHS IN TWO YEARS AT DEL MAR RACE TRACK 2004-2006 So how many other equine deaths are there every year that go unnoticed in a sport that's largely ignored on a day-to-day basis? Let's just take one track, like Del Mar near San Diego: 55 deaths from 2004-06, says the San Diego Union-Tribune

Drew wrote: My family owns 40+ race horses and we have only had 3 or 4 break down over the time of 20 years.

Was it 3? Or was it 4? Gee, it's hard to remember, right? 4 out of 40 would be 10% of your family's horses. Unless there were 49 horses. Then the ratio is a little better. Oh well, give or take, it's either 3 or 4 breakdowns and hey, that's pretty good!

I guess we should all breathe a sigh of relief when told none of these 40 (give or take) horses ended up as dog food. But those are just the stats from the Drew Family stable.

It is really just a horse. THere are so many more animals that suffer injuries like that and no one blinks an eye. I don't see what the all the hype is about.

The horse racing industry is such a money driven industry that I doubt that anything will be done for these wonderful creatures. How sad. Most animals are so willing to please that they always seem happy to do what is expected of them, we, as responsible individuals should do everything possible to protect them. I am sorry that it took another death to open the eyes of the public to what is actually happening.

i have seen a log of comments on both side of the fence, and no one seems to come up with an answer that everyone can live with, I HAVE RAISED BRED AND TRAINED HORSES FOR 30 YEARS, QUARTER HORSES AND ARABS,as for the person who said that these racehorses all live out long useful lives of broodmares or stallions does not understand that this only happens to the cream of the crop, the rest eventually go to other places and for the fient of herar lets just say that it is not in this country, their are 2 really productive things although not cost effective that they could do to stop the majority of this, [no matter what sport there will always be some injuries and a few deaths] to start with STOP RACING BABIES, THESE HORSES ARE NOT MATURE UNTIL AT LEASE 4 AND 5 IS REALLY MORE LIKE IT, THIS IS LIKE PUTTING A 6TH GRADER ON A PRO FOOTBALL FIELD,A HORSE CARRIES THE TITLE OF FILLY OR COLT UNTIL THEY ARE 4 YEARS OF AGE, then they are called mares and stallions, the TB WORLD insistes that all horses of this breed have their birthdays on january 1, this means that a foal born in january will be 1 the following january, but the foal born in december is only l month old is for all intents and purposes 1 year old, the breeders do try to have most foals born in the beginning of the year, but that is nuts, right, almost every horse in the derby was nomanated either before birth or shortly after, that is why you see so many horses that are only there so that the owners can have the best seats, AGE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR, BUT THE TRACK SURFACE COMES A CLOSE SECOND, and they also need to start breeding the legs to go with the bodies, times on the track may suffer but horses will be far better off, as far as PETA demanding that they suspend the jockey, these idiots have got the cart before the horse so to speak, the last person they should blame is the jockey, sometimes jockeys don't meet the horse until the day they ride or the day before, PETA NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP WITH THE KNEE JERK REACTION, INVESTIGATE YES BUT SAVE THE BLAME ON THE JOCKEYS, this all lies with the breeders, trainers and vets and most important of all the RULES NEED TO BE CHANGED FOR ALL RACES INCLUDING THE DERBY SO THAT ALL OF THESE CHANGES CAN TAKE PLACE. STOP THE CARNAGE AND STOP RACING BABIES

i have seen a log of comments on both side of the fence, and no one seems to come up with an answer that everyone can live with, I HAVE RAISED BRED AND TRAINED HORSES FOR 30 YEARS, QUARTER HORSES AND ARABS,as for the person who said that these racehorses all live out long useful lives of broodmares or stallions does not understand that this only happens to the cream of the crop, the rest eventually go to other places and for the fient of herar lets just say that it is not in this country, their are 2 really productive things although not cost effective that they could do to stop the majority of this, [no matter what sport there will always be some injuries and a few deaths] to start with STOP RACING BABIES, THESE HORSES ARE NOT MATURE UNTIL AT LEASE 4 AND 5 IS REALLY MORE LIKE IT, THIS IS LIKE PUTTING A 6TH GRADER ON A PRO FOOTBALL FIELD,A HORSE CARRIES THE TITLE OF FILLY OR COLT UNTIL THEY ARE 4 YEARS OF AGE, then they are called mares and stallions, the TB WORLD insistes that all horses of this breed have their birthdays on january 1, this means that a foal born in january will be 1 the following january, but the foal born in december is only l month old is for all intents and purposes 1 year old, the breeders do try to have most foals born in the beginning of the year, but that is nuts, right, almost every horse in the derby was nomanated either before birth or shortly after, that is why you see so many horses that are only there so that the owners can have the best seats, AGE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR, BUT THE TRACK SURFACE COMES A CLOSE SECOND, and they also need to start breeding the legs to go with the bodies, times on the track may suffer but horses will be far better off, as far as PETA demanding that they suspend the jockey, these idiots have got the cart before the horse so to speak, the last person they should blame is the jockey, sometimes jockeys don't meet the horse until the day they ride or the day before, PETA NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP WITH THE KNEE JERK REACTION, INVESTIGATE YES BUT SAVE THE BLAME ON THE JOCKEYS, this all lies with the breeders, trainers and vets and most important of all the RULES NEED TO BE CHANGED FOR ALL RACES INCLUDING THE DERBY SO THAT ALL OF THESE CHANGES CAN TAKE PLACE. STOP THE CARNAGE AND STOP RACING BABIES

Regarding where ex-racehorses end up, every year the equivalent of MORE THAN ONE THIRD of the US foal crop is in fact butchered for human consumption, in abattoirs in Mexico and Canada. Some kill-buyers will pick them up at the track (so convenient...); others acquire them at auctions like the one in New Holland, Pennsylvania. The trip, which can be more than 24 hours in a crammed trailer (stallions, pregnant mares, foals) without food, water or rest, is exhausting and debilitating, especially for the TB who was injured to begin with -- the slaughter process is inhumane, especially in Mexico. It is a business fueled only by the desire for profit, and those profits are made by non-US companies.

I commend the breeders, owners and trainers who do retire their horses honorably, instead of grubbing the last couple of hundred $ from their bodies. Thank you -- I pray your good example soon sets the standard in this industry.

As a Clinton supporter I an fine with PETA writing her. But all three senators picked horses so all three should have been written.

PETA is being opportunist in this situation.

Another 15 minutes for them.

This is stupid. First of all, they need to get there facts strait, George Washington was avery old horse that broke down in THE BREEDERS CUP CLASSIC! second they cant tell if the horse was happy if they have only seen the horse once... the trainer that saw that horse every day said she was happy... wouldnt he know best? Are they even a lagitament group because they dont seem to know much about the sport of kings. This was a tragety but it happens, we have to move on... not all horses break down. My family owns 40+ race horses and we have only had 3 or 4 break down over the time of 20 years. And they say that the horses get shiped off to be eaten??? That is so fake. Im from lexington and all the horses go to farms where they breed. This is crap and this group has no good argument to say that horse racing is a cruel sport!

as if I don't agree with PETA. horse racing is a horrible sport. but give me a break. GIVE ME A BREAK.

It's so difficult for the ultra right and the ultra left to see outside their own tiny soap boxes. horse racing is sadly a part of american culture - the derby, triple crown etc. are huge, huge thrills for people. It would be like taking Coke off the shelves. Closing down every McDonalds. Should we do this? Um yes, for the health of this country. Will it happen? No. People care more about their big mac's than they do about Bush keeping us in iraq and raping our economy for decades to come.

PETA should be more focused on the rocky mountain wolves getting shot at random than Hillary betting on a terrific horse. Hello? Priorities?

p.s. Did Obama get a letter?

PETA is using this situation as a teachable moment to promote their concern about the dangers of horse racing. I agree fully

We are forgetting that a beautiful animal has lost it's life. Regardless where you stand in politics, whether you eat meat or hug a tree..no one can dispute the loss of a magnificent animal. How many of us has had to look into the face of one of our animals and watch them take their final breath because of some illness, old age or injury. I am appalled that the jockey could just walk away. That is what I am the most upset about. I am not for or against racing...however I am all in favor of loving the animals we share this Earth with. God created us to have dominion over the animals, but cruelty and turning a blind eye to suffering is not dominion it is selfishness and disgusting. I hope when that jockey takes his final breath in his old age, he has someone to hold his hand and love him. All living beings deserve that from the ones they love and care about. Rest in Peace Eight Belles, you did your job.

Hillary file this letter, put it on your to do list for after.........
WE solve the food crisis.
The terrorist threats
The torture issue at Gitmo and elsewhere.
The Iraq war and the Afghan war.
The gas gouging going on at breakneck speed.
The whipping of the middle class....etc

And this is why despite the fact that I adore animals, I haven't ever been able to, in good faith, contribute to any of the animal-based charities. The preening self-righteousness of such groups serves to make them almost universally reviled as a bunch of wild-eyed crusaders whose goals and aspirations are far divorced from logic.

NEWSFLASH -- OBAMA BET ON THE HORSES TOO, AND HE LOST, HE BET BIG BROWN WOULD PLACE, AND HILLARY BET 8 BELLES WOULD WIN, SHOW, AND PLACE. SHE WAS RIGHT ON THE MONEY. It was a tragedy for 8 belles, and groups like PETA should not be using it for political purposes. but at least balance it and hold Obama accountable as well!

Gosh, Ingrid, I'm surprised at you. You're from the UK, so you should know better. The animal rights people had to donate over one million pounds (through lobbying group PAL) to Tony Blair's Labour Party to get foxhunting banned. Do you really think Clinton would lobby for you for free? This is America, Ingrid: Pay to play. Or to put it another way: Pony up.

Where is Newkirk's letter to Obama? He bet on the race too. Not only that but he wants to buy his daughters a new dog after this race. How many dogs need to be adopted? How many dogs who are not adopted are euthanized? Come on Ingrid get with the program.

All lives are sacred; it has been doubted among humans, and Mother Nature who lives and who dies. As humans, we have the opportunity to take care of the animals on our planet, which I believe some are becoming extinct. Horseracing, Rodeos, and Circus' should be banned, as we take advantage of them for our own selfless pleasure and monetary gain!!

Although PETA's hearts are in the right place, some horses enjoy racing. My mare loves to run, and although I don't agree with whipping, it isn't necessarily totally wrong. Yes, things need to be changed. Things CAN be changed to make the lives of the horses better. It shouldn't be all about the money. But PETA has no right to "demand" anything of Clinton. If anything they should be kinder about it.
What gets me the most is when Barbaro fell last year, his caring jockey supported the poor horse with his own body. Eight Belles jockey walked away, flat out. And personally, I believe he pushed her too hard.

Hillary does not care at all about animals. She declawed her cat and then refused to take Socks with her when she left the white house AND the Clintons managed to let two Labs get run over by cars. Who knows what else.

Oh Please

The Swiss government has very recently noted that plants have rights, too. Those poor plants have been abused for centuries, and hardly anyone seems to care. We must stop plant abuse! How dare all these animals eat those poor, almost defenseless plants?

Oh yeah, that would really be smart.... Have Hillary denounce the Derby right before Kentucky's primary...She'll lose every blue collar vote for sure.

"Horse racing is the second most widely attended U.S. spectator sport, after baseball. In 1989, 56,194,565 people attended 8,004 days of racing, wagering $9.14 billion."

Where was Peta BEFORE the Derby? Don't remember seeing them at the Preakness or the Belmont Stakes...

No one loves an animal more than me, but this is pure exploitation.

"MARK GRIFFIN"
well said. couldn't have articulated it better myself.
your beliefs and views mirror my own.
i am a big fan of racing, and support the derby.
i have been so torn on where exactly i stand on horse racing. i feel badly that yet another horse has been lost, but racing and particularly "the derby" is so much a part of my family tradition. times have changed, horses are not treated as a commodity like they have been in the past. yes a status symbol yes an asset, but they are beloved animals by everyone in the racing family /circle.

Triangulation time, Hill!

RACE HORSES ARE TREATED LIKE KINGS AND QUEENS--THEY LIVE GOOD LONG LIFES AFTER THERE RACING DAYS ARE OVER-WE SHOULD ALL BE TREATED THAT WAY--P.E.T.A. ARE A BUNCH OF LEFT WINGERS WITH NOTHING BETTER TO DO...THE SMARTEST THING HILLARY'S DONE WAS TO MAKE A BET ON A CHAMPION LIKE EIGHT BELLES...

RACE HORSES ARE TREATED LIKE KINGS AND QUEENS--THEY LIVE GOOD LONG LIFES AFTER THERE RACING DAYS ARE OVER-WE SHOULD ALL BE TREATED THAT WAY--P.E.T.A. ARE A BUNCH OF LEFT WINGERS WITH NOTHING BETTER TO DO...THE SMARTEST THING HILLARY'S DONE WAS TO MAKE A BET ON A CHAMPION LIKE EIGHT BELLES...

None of the GOP/CONS/Fascists can be trusted with our republic. They want to violate the consitution and make this a "Christian State". Look to church for your religion, not the Government.

None of the Dems/Libs/socialists can run this Democracy Obama or Clinton, how can you say God bless them when they want to take God out of the public square

PETA needs to go after the breeders who are consistently breeding horses that cannont accomodate their massive bodies. They also should require racetracks to use artificial turf that is beneficial to these horses.

BKMC, What evidence of carelessness is there? From what I've seen thus far there was no carelessness involved. Or you simply opposed to horse racing in general?

Sarah, maybe Hill should bet on you too. As Hill the Bosnina General used to say herself this is a clear Omen if Hill has to run this country. She is not the best person at all to run this country because she does not represent the democratic values at all. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.

I am sure Hillary will come out in support of PETA or in support of the horse racing industry depending on which donates more money or has potential to garner more votes. That is what Clintons do. Pander.

Animal right is not terrorism, the reality is simply that Hillary wanted to exploit everything for her campaign and as usual she made a serious mistake here by sending her daughter to promote her campaign while the poor horse was in pain and has to die. Let us be honest, candide enough and humble in our comments. PETA is fighting for animals rights for many years and will continue to do so and Hillary is looking for vote in Kentuky as usual and has forgotten about the life of the beautiful female horse Eight Belles and the bad treatment of animals. Carelessness has brought us into a war against Irak and carelessness has costed Eight Bells her life.

I agree with blog on this one.
I don't know about the terroist bit.
but I suppose the way they go about getting their message across would be more in line with obama and his camp.
all far-left extremist. and that is the way a lot of these lefties make their money. just like back in the 70'
start organizations-run around yelling and screaming and everybody else, and eventually someone in their group gets caught with their hands in the cookie jar. come back to the middle america
that Sen. clinton

Blog

I think you have mental problems. Pure and simple.

Peta looking to exploit this tragedy for just a little cash and publicity, why else write Clinton. Groups like PETA and the ELF are terrorists. Pure and simple.