Chris should really look into the HSUS. I think he is confusing them with the actual Humane Societies, which are not the same at all.

I do think the meat industry needs to change their practices, but it is true that the goal of the HSUS is to make all of us vegan.

The HSUS is an organization that i working towards a cruelty free world for animals.  Unfortunately this country is ran not by politicians, but by lobbies.  So for the HSUS to use its money to try and stop the cruel practices of factory farming is acceptable to what they stand for.  Slaughterhouses are not humane anymore, if it takes a lobby to stop these practices and let people see how their food gets on their plate i say go for it.  Most vegans are vegans because of the inhumane treatment of animals.  Therefore the HSUS is doing exactly what it claims to be… Protecting Animals.  Good for them.

Thanks for posting this, David. I left a link about this earlier this morning on the HumaneWatch page. It is frustrating to those of us who are liberal, progressive, leftist, whatever to be treated to a big shovel full of unpleasant rhetoric by people who assume that we must all be of the same political stripe. I would hope that everyone would write the same polite letter to Chris Matthews and his connections that they might write to Pilot, Yellow Tail, Science Diet etc. to help them see the error of their ways. The big difference here is that MSNBC has a pretty wide viewership—and if Matthews can be brought into the fold in terms of illuminating the public as to the truth behind the Humane Society of the United States, then that is a very big win.

Can you point us to more information about the following:
“... HSUS does run two (reportedly overcrowded) horse sanctuaries…”

thanks

James H.. what do you mean “slaughter houses are not humane ANYMORE”??  They are much more humane than ever..

I have to post this in response to the above replies.

First of all I have been involved in animal ag all of my life.  I have to say to the uninformed—you have no idea how much we give and do for our critters. We spend thousands every year on shelter, feed, and the best vet care we can give them.  We enjoy just watching our calves run and play. To us this means they are healthy and happy.

I have also been an employee of a large packing plant.  I worked in the receiving and kill part of the plant.  I was a foreman, and ill-treatment of the animals was not tolerated. We had zero tolerance. I personally kicked out 5 truckers and wrote up 2 employees and these were for very minor things.

NO matter what you see on TV packing plants in the US is on best behavior at all times. We know the PETA people and others are out there, and most of the people who work where I did are producers, and we know how hard folks work to raise these animals.

That is why I get so upset every time people raise the red flag on packing plants. The animals that we received were treated with kid gloves. They all got a rest period coming off the truck and clean, fresh water. They had feed if they were held overnight and the pens were cleaned twice a day. We spent 3 million dollars to put in a more humane method to knock the animals out (“stun”) instead of the already very good method we were using. 

I guess what I am saying is that you should know the facts before you cry Wolf. This is a for profit industry, so the better care we take of our product the better the bottom line. Injury, cuts, stress and bruising are not humane and they are sure not profitable; that is why things like this are not tolerated and are always worked on to be eliminated at the plants and on the farm.

Very well said, Greg.

I haven’t written to Chris Matthews yet, but I sent a nice thank you note to Steve King for his position.

James H is an awesome vegetarian! He should be a politician with his completely convincing support statement for HSUS!

What an idiot.

I think it is abusive to catch chickens in those jungle gym type of free range chicken housing.  It is so much harder to round them up and there aren’t any monkeys to help.  Also, the eggs go to the breakers because they are filthy!

Greg- exactly right!  Hardly anyone has ever been inside a packing plant.  I also worked in the industry, as a production manager, and also for a SHORT time as a USDA inspector ( I know, boo,hiss). If all anyone has to go on are the propaganda films, they should become more educated.  Don’t know where you work Greg, but isn’t it strange that most of their “undercover films” are shot in smaller plants?  For one, these plants might not have the most up to date technologies, AND these smaller companies don’t often have the funds for a legal defense, so HSUS can shut them down and claim a “big score”.  We need to commend all those that work in the meat industry, I know first hand it isn’t pleasant standing next to a scalding tank in 130 degree heat.  Great comment Greg!