Senators from Pennsylvania accept anti-hunting Czar                                                                                         By Jerry Bush
 

President Obama chose a radical, animal-rights, anti-hunting, anti-2nd amendment person for position of “Regulatory Czar”.  His name is Cass Sunstein, and hunters should be afraid; very afraid.   

Cass Sunstein is a radical animal rights advocate, who has written that animals should be permitted to sue humans.  No; I’m not exhagerating!  Google Cass Sunstein on the Internet and read his Wikipedia page if you feel you need to verify what I’m writing.  Apparently he feels bystanders should be allowed to represent animals and file suit on their behalf. 

The man unaplogetically states that recreational hunting should be banned!   He claims that “human willingness to subject animals to unjustified suffering will be seen as a form of unconscionable barbarity… morally akin to slavery, and the mass extermination of human beings.”   

According to “Wikipedia” (the Internet’s encyclopedia), this Czar is a proponent of judicial minimalism and endorses the theory of libertarian paternalism, which is the belief that the government should “help you make the choices you would make for yourself—if only you had the strength of will and the sharpness of mind to make such decisions for yourself.  Apparently he feels we “bumpkins” aren’t capable of thinking “correctly” for ourselves.    

Sunstein has argued that “we should celebrate tax day”; claiming that our very concepts of property and society are based on government and taxes, and we should be grateful.  Oh really?  Most of the sportsmen I know feel their income, property, outdoor gear, boats, camps, fuel, and everything else, is taxed way beyond a point of “celebration.”   

Not only should hunters be alarmed with Sunstein, but also concerned because both U.S. Senators from Pennsylvania voted to approve Sunstein.  Even after being made aware of his radical views by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, the NRA, and the National Wild Turkey Federation, Senator Robert Casey and Senator Arlen Specter were among those voting to accept Sunstein to a position where he will advise the president regarding the formation and administration of regulations. 

Senator Casey (D) is supposedly a member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, and his “yeah” approval is a real shock to sportsmen.  “We feel he let down his constituents, the sportsmen and women of Pennsylvania”, stated Jeffrey R. Souders, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs.  “As a member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, we hoped he would have sportsmen’s best interests in mind.”   

Pennsylvania's other senator, Arlen Specter, who recently switched to the Democratic Party after more than 40-years as a Republican faces a stiff uphill battle for re-election in 2010, and this action isn’t likely to help him win the sportsmen’s vote.  “We are baffled Arlen Specter, a veteran Senator, knowing the rich outdoor heritage of Pennsylvania, would cast an affirmative vote for a self-proclaimed, anti-hunting proponent”, stated Souders. 

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and other representative organizations are urging sporting enthusiasts to contact their U.S. Senators even now to voice “strong” displeasure with Sunstein’s appointment, and their support of him.   

Exactly what are Czars and how are they appointed?   If you are like me, you probably think of Czars as members of the Russian Proletariat.  As of late in America, Mr. Obama has created a lot of concern by placing more than 32 such figureheads into positions of authority in just 7 months.  Such a large number is ironic considering Democrats complained so profusely about George “W” Bush naming less than a dozen advisors over a period of eight full years in office.  

Lawmakers and outside experts fear Mr. Obama is setting up a system that if nothing else, creates the potential for conflict among his many advisors.  Even Democrat Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia became concerned enough to send a cautionary letter to Obama.  “Czars rarely testify before congressional committees and often shield information and the decision-making process behind the assertion of executive privilege," Byrd wrote.  "The rapid and easy accumulation of power can threaten the constitutional system of checks and balances."  

It is now obvious that hunters will be included among the members of the American public adversely affected by a Czar placed into a position of power without being subject to congressional questioning. 

 For more information regarding the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alert Network, call 614-888-4868, or email Greg R. Lawson, director of communications at glawson@ussportsmen.org or Sharon Hayden, assistant director of communications at shayden@ussportsmen.org.