Horse Sense is that quality of common sense, gumption, that hopefully helps us make good choices in life. Also, it seems it is a quality in short supply for many who are in Congress.
Today is Pony Penning day in Chincoteague, Virginia where the wild ponies swim from Assateague Island, across Assateague Channel to the town of Chincoteague This event, which began in the 1920's, was made famous by the books by Marguerite Henry, mainly "Misty of Chincoteague". The Misty book was made into a movie in 1961. A portion of the herd, mainly the youngsters, are auctioned off tomorrow. The money supports the Town of Chincoteague's fire department.
Misty of Chincoteague-Newberry Honor Book
This is a big tourism day with visitors from all over the world. My family and I went two years ago and watched the ponies swim and sat next to a nice couple from France. Virginia's tourism website even sells a special Virginia is for Lovers sweatshirt.
So why diary about this day - because many Kossacks are horse-lovers? Maybe so but this is a great example of how out of touch a congressperson can be with their district.
Here is a portion of a press release with the current legislation that would protect horses:
Friday, July 25, 2008
CONGRESS ADDRESSING HORSE SLAUGHTER CRUELTY IN NEW FEDERAL LEGISLATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Congress Addressing Horse Slaughter Cruelty in New Federal Legislation
(July 25, 2008) – A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers has introduced legislation to ban the slaughter of American horses for human consumption overseas, as well as the export of American horses to other countries for slaughter. House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) introduced the bill, H.R. 6598, known as the Conyers-Burton Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008.
In addition to Conyers and Burton, the original co-sponsors of the legislation include Reps. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), Walter Jones (R-N.C.), Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Jim Moran (D-Va.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Chris Smith (R-N.J.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Betty Sutton (D-Ohio). The legislation has strong support from The Humane Society of the United States and other animal protection organizations.
“Every day the Congress waits, there will be more torment and more suffering for America’s horses,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. “The horse is an American icon, and it is a betrayal of our responsibility to these animals to treat them like cheap commodities and send them across our borders for slaughter. We ask leaders in Congress for an up or down vote before the end of the session.”
State legislatures have recently acted to ban horse slaughter, shuttering the last remaining foreign-owned horse slaughter plants in the U.S., but Congress has failed to act to stop the export of live horses to Canada and Mexico for slaughter. More than 45,000 horses have been sent across U.S. borders to slaughter in Canada or Mexico so far in 2008, surpassing the number of exports to date in 2007.
Full Press Release-Americans Against Horse Slaughter
The list of supporters of this legislation include:
The HSUS is joined by members of Congress, the National Show Horse Registry, American Horse Defense Fund, Veterinarians for Equine Welfare, United States Equine Sanctuary & Rescue, American Walking Pony Association, American Indian Horse Registry, Palomino Horse Association, United States Eventing Association, National Thoroughbred Racing Association, National Steeplechase Association, Churchill Downs, and more than 500 endorsing organizations along with the majority of Americans in support of the Conyers-Burton Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act.
So How does the representative of Virginia's Second Congressional District, Republican Thelma Drake vote?
Well, the congresswoman who "represents" the Town of Chincoteague along with Virginia Beach, the Virginia Eastern Shore and parts of Norfolk and Hampton, has received a big "ZERO" on the Compassion Index from the Animal Welfare Institutute, voting against providing horses protection from slaughter every time.
Animal Welfare Institute Rankings
Just an FYI, Obama ranks at 60 %, McSame at 20%.
Thelma Drake has no problem turning her back on the wishes of her constiuients and voting against protection for horses from slaughter. Maybe like her BFF, George W. Bush, she is afraid of them. A national
poll found that 69% of Americans are against killing horses for human consumption.
Drake won in 2006 by a 51%/49% margin so she is beatable. She is challenged this year by Glenn Nye who would be a HUGE improvement over Drake.
So, in the scheme of all the important issues facing us these days, this might seem of small importance.
However, horses are part of our heritage, our national identity, and are the only animal that participates in the Olympics.
Most important, Thelma Drake is a Congressperson who, like Rove who attended a recent fundraiser for her, continues to ignore the wishes of those she should represent.
H/T to Carnacki who challenged me to write this, my first real diary, when I wrote about Congressman Nick Rahall's (D-WV) contributions to this cause.
UPDATE: Here are some pictures from today's swim.