(CNN) – Alaska governor Sarah Palin’s support for aerial wolf-hunting has sparked a heated cross-country war of words between the governor and an environmental ad campaign fronted by the actress Ashley Judd, with Palin calling the organization funding the ads an “extreme fringe group.”
The squabble began Tuesday when the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund unveiled a campaign called “Eye on Palin,” targeting the governor for what they call her “extreme anti-conservation policies.”
The group is highlighting “Palin’s championing of the brutal and unnecessary aerial killing of wolves and other carnivores” - a controversial practice allowed by permit in Alaska since 2003, with the goal of protecting populations of moose and caribou.
Judd, who has in the past lent her voice to AIDS prevention and reproductive health campaigns, signed on with the group and is featured in a YouTube video. “It is time to stop Sarah Palin, and stop this senseless savagery,” she says in the clip.
Palin struck back in a statement Tuesday night, calling the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund a fringe group that “distorts” the goal of Alaska’s predator control programs.
“Alaskans depend on wildlife for food and cultural practices which can’t be sustained when predators are allowed to decimate moose and caribou populations,” Palin said in the statement.
She added: “Shame on the Defenders of Wildlife for twisting the truth in an effort to raise funds from innocent and hard-pressed Americans struggling with these rough economic times.”
Palin addressed predator hunting on the campaign trail last September in off-the-cuff remarks at an Ohio fundraiser, calling the practice “kind of a big darn controversial deal up there in Alaska.”
"A lot of the far east coast politicians think it's just so politically incorrect," she said.
From CNN Politics
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I think Ashley Judd is a beautiful and talented actress; however, I wish well-known people who speak-out against things would do their homework first. Just because you are a famous actor or singer doesn't make you smart and/or educated. Unfortunately most of them don't understand that.
Watch the videos about how they hunt down animals from helicopters and kill them........if your going to hunt animals then hunt where the animals have at least a chance to get away...........Palin has taken part in this kind of hunting and it is unsportsmanlike.........so I hope this group is a thorn in Palins predator control program
Another example of Palin's neocon agenda. Hopefully we can put leave the neocon era permanently in our past. Obviously she views caribou and moose as a cash crop much like tomatoes or carrots. Sad really.
I agree with Lisa M, what has the wolf done wrong to be shot and killed..That's a sad choice of sport, killing an animal that's caused no harm to you...OMG.
Unless she is eating dog meat for dinner, protecting another human life, or protecting livestock hunting wolf especially from a helecopter is senseless. I'm sure moose and caribou populations are not really in danger as the population of the largest state is smaller than Seattle.
Ashley should concentrate on her profession of acting and stop using it as a political platform on subjects she certainly is not an expert but just an animal lover. The hunters have permits to thin herds for conservationist reasons.
Ashley needs to stop worrying about Palin and start worrying about Billy Clyde's inability to get Kentucky to the promised land...
Kevin in Ohio (and he is NOT..) If you have nothing profound or intelligent to write, STAY OFF the comment board. Tip-read Lisa M's thoughtful comment.
Palin has demonstrated she has no foresight nor real experience in policy implementation. For "We the People" to allow the destruction and eradication of wildlife on any level without scientific accounting is just plain irresponsibility to perserve nature for future generations!
Left wing and perverted in the same sentence? What is wrong with you? You must miss your Prez Bush, awwww too bad, he's gone!!
Hey, Sarah, you disgusting hypocrite, shame on you for trying to raise funds for your PAC from innocent and hard-pressed Americans struggling with these rough economic times.
Seriously, how do you release a statement like that? Doesn't the blatant spin make even YOU cringe? You are an absolute disgrace. I look forward to your continued failures. Palin for Republican Presidential Nominee in 2012! pleasegodpleasegodpleasegod. You are insurance for us democrats. As long as your stink hovers over the Republican Party, we are guaranteed to win another four years. I'll even donate my time working the phones to get you nominated!!!
Sarah Palin really needs to step out of the limelight and take her of her family and the citizens of Alaska. Her eldest daughter, special needs son and her other children need her now more than ever. Alaska, a state struggling with poverty and education issues even in the best of times, needs her focus in the face of declining oil revenues. Maybe, just maybe, Palin's 2012 ambitions and need for the spotlight, should take a backseat to the troubles facing her state and her family.
Alaska is large enough that wolves have plenty room to roam ergo any hunting is pure sport and until the animals are armed and can protect themselves and can fly in helicopters, it is senseless slaughter. No wonder Senseless Sarah supports the hunts. She still thinks the VP rules the Senate no doubt!!!
Anyone and any group against Palin I'm for. It is the choice between knowledge and utter stupidity.
Watch CNN will allow over 400 comments on this post.......Only 25 for the Messiah making a "Mistake" 3 times in a row
Sarah, who is the predator to the moose? Don't you eat moose? What about the moose chili you love so much and the moose hot dogs? What about the stuffed moose head hanging in your office? Please. Explain, how the wolf is a bigger threat to the moose than you. Good work Ms. Judd!
Ashley Judd will find herself on a terrorist watch list now. Better not speak out against the all-powerful, better not rally around a decent and just cause, lest you be a zealot and a traitor!
You should have shown a picture of Governor Palin. She is prettier and a whole lot more intelligent.
How many leather shoes do you own Ashley??
quote:
This is nothing more than a manifestation of the left-wing hatred of anything and anyone who doesn't agree with their perverted viewpoints.
you're a nut.
cnn is sarah palen all you have to print.with bank exec STEALING FROM AMERICAN PEOPLE.YOU WOULD THINK PALEN IS THE LEAST OF OUR WORRIES.
Does Ms. Palin not realize that she is, again, defeating herself with her own arguments? If Alaskans depend on wildlife for food, then why disturb the eons-long balance between prey (wolf) and predator? This argument is as circuitous and nonsensical as her arguments usually are. Logic is definitely NOT her strong suit. However, this must have hit a nerve; otherwise, why try to come up with a response?
Dear Kevin in Ohio,
You are obviously the perverted one if you think what Sarah Palin is allowing in her state is okay. She is full of it if she actually thinks this is an acceptable method of protecting moose and caribou. What I don't understand is how the people of Alaska are okay with this. Why don't the people rise up and exclaim, "We are tired of this stupid woman embarrassing us!" Wise up and throw her out of office Alaska!!! She's damaged goods.
Lisa M and Eric, do your homework about hunting before making stupid remarks on the internet that the world can see. Wolf populations are getting out of control in some places, especially in Alaska. By cutting down the population it allows other herds to grow and prosper. You don't eat Wolves you idiot, but if you eat what Wolves eat, then in some places where the wolves have no natural predators, their numbers need to be kept in check so they don't decimate other species, such as Moose and Caribou which are actually quite tasty. We do the same thing in New York with Fox and Coyotes. Too many of them, you can barely find a wild phesant here anymore, so shoot the predators and other species can try to make a comeback.
No Kevin, I would say that palin calling the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund an "extreme fringe group" is a manifestation of the right-wing hatred of anything and anyone who doesn't agree with their perverted viewpoints.
Alaskans (2 legged predaters) depend on wildlife for food and cultural practices which can’t be sustained when (four legged) predators are allowed to feed as they always have.
McPailin is a bushmeat hunter and kills Wolf Families. DESPICABLE