Conservatives target the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Conservatives target the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals features industry-funded organizations and media targeting the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Ron Arnold & Frankie Trull
In March of 2002, Ron Arnold, the Executive Vice President of the Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise (CDFE) wrote to the a Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to inform them of "a flagrant breach of U.S. tax laws by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)". According to Mr. Arnold:


 * "For a charitable organization that was created to prevent harm to animals, PETA spends an inordinate amount of time inciting and/or encouraging others to commit unlawful acts and justifying these tactics by comparing the plights of animals to some of the worst historical human atrocities. It is a deeply disturbing pattern of activity."

The letter included a "list compiled by the Foundation for Biomedical Research documenting illegal or unlawful activity by groups such as ALF and PETA." The Foundation for Biomedical Research (FBR), is an industry front group. Longtime Washington lobbyist Frankie Trull is founder and president. She was previously instrumental in passing the draconian Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) and blocking reforms to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). See also NABR & the Animal Welfare Act.

Mr. Arnold advocates for corporations, institutions and organizations with long histories of flagrant animal cruelty and welfare violations. They include Huntingdon Life Sciences, Wyeth, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Proctor & Gamble, the March of Dimes and Tulane University. For example, Wyeth's Premarin is derived from pregnant mares’ urine (PMU), and prescribed for "symptoms of menopause". It has been classified as a "dangerous drug" and the number one most likely to cause disability or other serious outcome. Premarin increases risks of uterine cancer, heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer and blood clots. , However, according to Mr. Arnold, the drug is used to "help prevent and treat osteoporosis and heart disease." Furthermore, PETA's "claims" that Premarin horses are kept in "tiny stalls for six months at a stretch" with limited access to water, are factually correct. The letter is a collection of random, out of context quotes, high profile publicity stunts and speculation. See also Richard Berman cares about animals: clients exposed. While he is highly critical of their campaigns and activities, the only legitimate charges against PETA members are a handful of high profile protest related incidents. Not too surprisingly, he also ignores the hundreds of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) charges which have resulted from PETA investigations. See also People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Mr. Arnold has employed similar tactics in his tireless disinformation campaigns against environmentalism. In a September of 2007 response to an on-line issue of NYC Indymedia, Mr. Arnold claimed credit for coining the term eco-terrorism in a 1982 Reason Magazine article. In 1986, Mr. Arnold warned New Zealanders that the U.S. was experiencing a dangerous "upsurge in eco-terrorism." According to an interview with the New Zealand Herald:


 * "We have had power stations blown up, bridges burned, electrical transmission towers collapsed, forest trails booby trapped with wired shotguns, attacks on forestry pesticide application crews, Forest Service officers shot to death and numerous other acts of violence in the name of the environment".

While he often expressed his "fear" that someone will be hurt as a result of 'eco-terrorism', he doesn't shy away from inflammatory rhetoric. In a May 1993 interview with CNN, he described the role of a wise user as akin to a warrior weilding a sword. "And that sword has two purposes: to carve out a niche for your agenda, to reshape the American law in your image; and, kill the bastards." When asked to describe how he would like to be thought of, he replied:


 * "People in industry, I'm going to do my best for you. Environmentalists, I'm coming to get you. ...We're out to kill the fuckers. We're simply trying to eliminate them. Our goal is to destroy environmentalism once and for all."

Incredibly, CDFE founder and director, Alan Gottlieb is an IRS tax felon whose other conservative fund raising cash cows include two anti-gun control groups; the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and the Second Amendment Foundation, which he is also founded. Like anti-gun-control, he realized the potential financial rewards of opposing environmentalism:


 * "For us" said Mr. Gottlieb... "the environmental movement has become the perfect bogeyman."

See also Ron Arnold, section 3.

Penn and Teller
An April of 2004 episode of the Showtime network television show Penn and Teller: Bullshit! was heavily critical of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The program featured the Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise and lobbyist David Martosko of the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) as a "consumer advocate". See also Penn and Teller.

Richard Berman
Richard Berman dedicates funding from clients in the tobacco, processed food, meat & dairy, pharmaceutical and animal testing industries to "exposing inconsistencies" of "malicious animal rights activists". See also Richard Berman cares about animals: clients exposed.

National Animal Interest Alliance
The National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA) is a front group and industry funded lobbying organization for animal commerce and agribusiness based in Portland, Oregon. Agendas include financial interests, legislation and public relations for animal agribusiness, commercial breeding, hunting, fishing, trapping, fur ranching, animal testing, and animals in entertainment. Since June of 2001 the NAIA has circulated an unsuccessful petition to revoke PETA's 501(c)(3) status (featured on a site owned by the Fur Commission.)  According to National Director, Patti Strand, the NAIA is:


 * "an organization of animal professionals and enthusiasts, (who) today called on the Bush Administration to investigate the exploitation of IRS charitable tax-exempt status by certain animal rights groups that use intimidation, harassment and deception to raise money."

The Discovery Institute
The Discovery Institute (D.I.) is a think tank and conservative political, policy, economic, religious and industry lobbying organization. It is best known as the driving force behind the Intelligent design movement. The Discovery Institute's views and editorials are reliably corporate and industry friendly. Wesley J. Smith, a Senior Fellow, is known for his diatribes against the animal rights movement. Mr. Smith and his spouse, Debra J. Saunders promote D.I.'s positions through editorials featured on D.I., , , and other conservative publications. Member organizations of D.I. include the Fur Commission. See also Discovery Institute.

The National Review
Editorials featured in the National Review are reliably corporate and industry friendly and/or reference industry lobbies such as CCF. , See also Wesley J. Smith.

The Weekly Standard
Editorials featured in the Weekly Standard are reliably corporate and industry friendly with frequent use of excessive rhetoric. Editorials also source and reference industry lobbies such as CCF. See also Wesley J. Smith.

Americans for Medical Progress
Americans for Medical Progress's (AMP) board of directors consists of senior executives and other representatives employed by the pharmaceutical and vivisection industries. Board members represent multinational, billion dollar corporations as well as universities and institutions receiving government grants for vivisection. Four of the universities represented by AMP board members are listed on PETA's list of the ten worst laboratories according to: worst violations of the Animal Welfare Act; largest numbers of animals killed; most painful and invasive experiments and least willing to make improvements.

AMP also funds the "campus oriented" astroturf group, Speaking of Research. See also Americans for Medical Progress.

National Legal and Policy Center
The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) is a conservative political and industry lobbying organization. NLPC targets labor unions, health care reform, environmentalism, animal rights, activists, liberal and reform oriented politicians. See also National Legal and Policy Center.

Financial statement & salaries
PETA reported $34,568,954 dollars in total revenue for the fiscal year ending in July 31, 2009. The breakdown for this amount was $32,242,134 in donations; 1,033,519 in gross merchandise sales and $1,293,301 in interest, dividends, royalties and other income. According to their financial statement, PETA is funded almost exclusively by member contributions. Funds are utilized in the most effective and efficient way possible. 80.87% of operating expenses went directly into programs addressing animal exploitation. Only 15.09% was spent on fund raising and 4.04% on administration. 32% of PETA's staff earn annual salaries of between $14,383 and $29,999; 44% earn $29,000 to $39,999 and only 24% earn over $39,999. PETA's president, Ingrid Newkirk, earned $36,997 in 2009.

A detailed breakdown of expenses is available on their financial statement, which was independently audited.

SourceWatch articles

 * Animal activists who have been injured or killed
 * Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act
 * Animal Liberation Front
 * Animal testing
 * A Visit to the ActivistCash.Com Web Site
 * Criminalising civil disobedience
 * Disinformation
 * Humane Movement
 * Intimidating democracy
 * Intimidating public interest groups
 * NABR & the Animal Welfare Act
 * Propaganda techniques
 * Richard Berman cares about animals: clients exposed
 * U.S. animal rights legislation
 * U.S. Government's War on Animals
 * War on Animals