Harry Truman once said, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” As a former White House press secretary, I know the feeling. My rescue dog was a loyal companion throughout my service in the Trump administration and beyond, regardless of whatever flak was incoming from the liberal media.
I’m not alone among conservatives in my fondness for pets. One analysis finds that states with the highest pet ownership overwhelmingly vote Republican. It’s one reason why a certain Republican governor has found herself in hot water among typical allies over an incident involving a former pet.
But unfortunately, left-wing animal rights activists are using the soft spot for golden retrievers and German shepherds as a Trojan horse. The Republican movement needs to be on high alert.
Fringe animal rights groups are shifty. They deceptively use images of cats and dogs to manipulate Republican legislators to act against the interests of their own constituents. Notably, the political gymnastics include moves to compromise the backbone of America: family farms.
Chief among the organizations is the Humane Society of the United States. The group, which puzzlingly has no affiliation with local animal shelters, is run by a former lawyer for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Polar opposite of the views of traditional red-blooded Americans, PETA and the Humane Society of the U.S. attack hunting, farming, and ranching and promote veganism.
Nonetheless, some conservative lawmakers are being fooled and find themselves sliding leftward in their direction.
A prime example is activity around the recent implementation of a California ballot measure that bans the sale of most pork products in the state. No longer is there a free market for farmers across the country to sell into California. Now, if farmers in Iowa or North Carolina don’t spend millions of dollars to become “California-compliant,” access to a huge consumer market is cut off.
As I write this, Congress is fortunately trying to correct California’s hijacking of the food system, which has caused a 41% price spike for pork in the state. As expected, the legislative effort to protect domestic agriculture and consumers is facing phony “grassroots” resistance that is simply noise bought and paid for by animal activists. Liberal Democrats are naturally among the opposition, but so are a small number of misled Republicans who consider themselves to be members of the MAGA movement.
The lefty political leanings of animal rights groups are no surprise. The lobbying arm of the Humane Society of the U.S., for example, endorsed Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden for president. And federal records show that animal rights groups and their lobbying entities have spent over $1 million in recent years to elect Democrats.
Other players, such as animal rights lobbyist Marty Irby, muddy the waters further. They parade around Capitol Hill as so-called conservatives with a heart for animals while also taking pictures with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and praising liberal vegan Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).
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But it’s disappointing to see a handful of Republican lawmakers being hoodwinked into joining their ranks — undermining the farmers, ranchers, hunters, and anglers that make up a core conservative voting bloc.
Elected Republican officials need to be vigilant. We don’t need any more disaffected voters in November. If animal rights activists can swindle their way in, the conservative movement will go to the dogs.
Sean Spicer was the White House press secretary for the Trump administration.
