Primary elections for Congress are troublesome for dog owners, because few candidates make their positions known on animal rights and wildlife issues. For the most part, what we have to work with during the primaries are the incumbents" voting records endorsements by interest groups, and possibly some voting records of challengers if they have held previous state or federal offices. Most voters simply will have no way to know how most candidates stand on these issues.
However, voting records can tell dog owners whether we should support an incumbent, or look elsewhere for a congressional candidate.
However, Texans are fortunate to have a senator who has an outstanding record of supporting the rights of dog owners and hunters. Sen. John Cornyn has shunned the animal rights agenda consistently since he has been in Congress. He has received a steady stream of 0-percent ratings from such radical animal rights groups as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the American Humane Association (AHA), the Doris Day Animal League (DDAL) and the Animal Protection Institute (API).
The incumbent Republican has clearly proven himself worthy of dog owners" support.
He faces a Republican challenger, four Democrats and three Libertarians. The challengers have not made their positions know on animal rights issues. Only Rep. Rick Noriega, a Democrat, has a voting record, and he was not rated by the animal rights groups. However, Noriega has received consistent "A" ratings from the National Rifle Association. A strong NRA endorsement tends to indicate positions on animal rights that are favorable to dog owners.
The American Sporting Dog Alliance (ASDA) analyzed the public information on Texas candidates so that dog owners might be able to make intelligent choices based on candidates" positions on animal rights. ASDA fights for the rights of sporting dog owners and professionals nationwide, and is very active with Texas issues. Please visit us on the web at http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org.
Texans looking for the best candidate for the House of Representatives will have a more difficult time sorting through the choices, because few of the candidates have a track record.
Some choices are clear, however.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R - 10th District) has earned a 100% endorsement from the National Animal Interest Alliance Trust (NAIAT), which works to protect the rights of dog owners and opposes the animal rights agenda. At the same time, McCaul has earned very low scores from HSUS and its allies. We believe that McCaul"s voting record has earned the trust of dog owners.
Rep. Ron Paul (R " 14th District) also has a stellar voting record on animal rights issues in Congress. Groups that support dog owners rights give Paul a solid 100-percent rating, while HSUS and other animal rights generally rate him well below 20-percent. Rep. Paul also deserves very serious consideration from dog owners who are looking for a congressman to champion their rights.
In the 20th District, Rep. Charles Gonzalez (D) has a record of consistently voting against the rights of dog owners. Radical animal rights organization give Gonzales very high ratings, while groups that support dog owners" rights rate him at a flat zero percent. Dog owners would be wise to look elsewhere.
Back to the good guys. Rep. Lamar Smith (R " 21st District) has earned the trust and support of dog owners in Texas. Lamar"s voting record has given him a 100-percent rating from organizations that support the rights of dog owners, and very low ratings from fanatical animal rights groups.
Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D " 23rd District) has established a solid track record in support of dog owners" rights, and gets an average rating from animal rights groups of 33-percent approval.
In the 25th District, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D) has almost always voted against the rights of dog owners. The animal rights groups love him, giving him almost perfect ratings. Groups that support dog owners" rights rate him a solid zero. In the 29th District, Rep. Raymond Eugene Green (D) also is strongly supported by animal rights groups
Another darling of the animal rights movement is Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-30th District). Johnson has earned straight 100-percent scores from the animal rights group since 2004. Dog owners groups think he"s a zero.
Other incumbents have mixed ratings, but the views of the vast majority of challengers simply aren"t known during the fast-paced primary season.
The American Sporting Dog Alliance (http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org) is the unified voice of sporting dog owners and professionals. Your membership and support truly will matter in helping us to help dog owners to preserve their rights and the traditions they love. We are supported solely by the contributions of our members.
Texas Dog Owners Have Choices For Congress
