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24 Jun 2010 19:45

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U.S.: The DISCLOSE (unless your lobbying group is huge) Act passes

  • good The House passes the DISCLOSE act, designed to make political groups disclose who their five largest donors are (and to make the head of the largest company appear in the ads).
  • bad It sounds good for fans of political transparency, but it makes notable exemptions for the largest lobbying groups – inculding  the Humane Society, NRA, and AARP. WTF? Why are they special? source

20 Apr 2010 20:03

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Politics: People like today’s Supreme Court ruling on dogfighting

  • The ruling struck down a law barring the distribution of animal cruelty videos. Today’s Supreme Court decision may be the strongest across-the-board decision they’ve made in a while, finding in favor of documentary producer Robert Stevens, who sold dogfighting videos that violated a 1999 law (and was jailed for the practice). In this case, free speech won, but by the way everyone’s talking, you’d think both sides won:
  • Free-speech fans A lawyer for the Cato Institute, which filed a brief in the case, said it was a win for free speech, no matter what kind: “The government’s effort to remove any area of public expression from the First Amendment’s protection would have been highly troubling.”
  • Animal Cruelty fighters The U.S. Humane Society saw silver lining in the court’s 8-1 decision: “The Supreme Court’s decision gives us a clear pathway to enact a narrower ban on the sale of videos depicting malicious acts of cruelty, including animal crush videos and dogfighting.” source

19 Apr 2010 21:27

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Biz: Our latest AOL News article takes on the Egg McMuffin

  • Last week, McDonald’s told the Humane Society to shove it. They wanted the fast food titan to make a modest change to the living standards of egg-laying hens. But the company’s board said no. Why? Our latest AOL News article examines the issues behind a major animal rights fight. (Image courtesy Farm Sanctuary) source

26 Aug 2009 11:24

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Sports: The Humane Society’s new spokesman: Michael Vick. PETA, take notes

  • This is how you should handle a PR disaster like Michael Vick. Don’t call him a d-bag in the press: Everyone knows he is one. Instead, give the dude a chance to show that he can rehab his public image. Kudos to the Humane Society for realizing it. Bad on PETA for screwing this golden opportunity up.source