Chris Christie To Veto Bill Banning Cruel Treatment Of Pigs By Factory Farms

Posted by | November 17, 2014 08:00 | Filed under: Bob Cesca Contributors News Behaving Badly Opinion Politics

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One of the more frustrating topics we cover here is the National Rifle Association’s remarkable ability to convince Republican lawmakers to routinely vote against the will of their own supporters. Most recently, the NRA has financially coerced Republicans to vote against expanded background checks in spite of supermajority support by Republican voters and, believe it or not, actual NRA members. On top of that, the NRA has convinced the congressional Republicans to sponsor legislation that would block President Obama’s efforts to ban the sale and distribution of ivory inside the United States, thus protecting African elephant populations.

But it looks like Iowa-based corporate pig farmers and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have gathered the strength to wield similar power. Make up your own jokes as we segue from pork products to Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ). This is one of those stories where a fat joke might be deserved given how wimpy, tone-deaf and, ultimately, cruel Christie’s latest veto threat truly is.

Before we continue, I should also preface that, yes, I’m going to be a Debbie Downer for all of you liberals who festoon your Twitter and Facebook feeds with posts exulting in the glory of all things bacon in spite of the meat industry’s grotesque abuses of undocumented workers and, worse, its super-colossal greenhouse gas production, outpacing both transportation and industrial emissions. Sorry, but unless you’re buying carbon offsets, your gratuitous worship of bacon and other factory meats is part of the problem.

Those of you who are still reading at this point may or may not be aware of the fact that nearly all factory pig farms use a contraption called a “gestation crate” or “sow stall.” It’s a narrow, medieval enclosure where sows are kept almost immobile, literally unable to turn around, lay down or generally move. Consequently, sows are perpetually terrified, exhibiting repetitive behavior such as gnawing on the metal crate bars while obviously suffering from elevated stress hormones. Corporate pig growers insist this is the best way to guarantee fertilization and successful pregnancies, but experts and many food service companies have refuted such claims and categorically denounced the practice for what it is: cruel and unusual. But Americans need their bacon, so whatever.

Enter Chris Christie… CONTINUE READING

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Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Bob Cesca

Bob Cesca is the managing editor at The Daily Banter (www.thedailybanter.com) and a Huffington Post contributor since 2005. He's worked in journalism since 1988 as a print writer/editor, a radio news anchor, a digital media columnist/editor, a book author and blogger. He's the co-host of the Bubble Genius Bob & Chez Show podcast and a Thursday regular on the syndicated Stephanie Miller Show. He's appeared on numerous other radio shows including the John Phillips Show and Geraldo Rivera Show in Los Angeles. Bob has been a commentator/analyst on the BBC (TV and radio), MSNBC, Current TV, CNN and Sky News. Following him on Twitter: @bobcesca_go

18 responses to Chris Christie To Veto Bill Banning Cruel Treatment Of Pigs By Factory Farms

  1. Suzanne McFly November 17th, 2014 at 08:59

    This is not only cruel, but it is sick. How does a person justify confining a being to a crate which provides no movement? I just can’t comprehend hurting an animal and this is abuse.

    • Larry Schmitt November 17th, 2014 at 09:06

      The corporate farmers continue to insist that the way they do it now is the only way to do it, because it maximizes profits, and they’re not even willing to look into alternatives. It’s the same mindset that creates strip mining. The only ones that matter are the board of directors and the stockholders. People will always eat meat, but there are better ways to do it.

      • rg9rts November 17th, 2014 at 09:48

        The main pig farm in Jersey is in Trenton

  2. Suzanne McFly November 17th, 2014 at 09:59

    This is not only cruel, but it is sick. How does a person justify confining a being to a crate which provides no movement? I just can’t comprehend hurting an animal and this is abuse.

    • Larry Schmitt November 17th, 2014 at 10:06

      The corporate farmers continue to insist that the way they do it now is the only way to do it, because it maximizes profits, and they’re not even willing to look into alternatives. It’s the same mindset that creates strip mining. The only ones that matter are the board of directors and the stockholders. People will always eat meat, but there are better ways to do it.

      • rg9rts November 17th, 2014 at 10:48

        The main pig farm in Jersey is in Trenton

  3. tracey marie November 17th, 2014 at 09:04

    why would he want the cruel treatment to continue, are they offering him a free side of pig daily to fill that big bullies maw and stomach?

  4. tracey marie November 17th, 2014 at 10:04

    why would he want the cruel treatment to continue, are they offering him a free side of pig daily to fill that big bullies maw and stomach?

  5. rg9rts November 17th, 2014 at 09:47

    Christie is the man to see about treatment of PIGS

  6. rg9rts November 17th, 2014 at 10:47

    Christie is the man to see about treatment of PIGS

  7. FrankenPC . November 17th, 2014 at 11:52

    Ughhh… I hate to even think about the way pigs are treated. I’ve seen the videos covertly taken in pig processing plants. There is no place on earth closer to resembling a medieval version of hell.

    Watch at your own risk. This is the stuff of nightmares.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T83ewTeF5wY

  8. FrankenPC . November 17th, 2014 at 12:52

    Ughhh… I hate to even think about the way pigs are treated. I’ve seen the videos covertly taken in pig processing plants. There is no place on earth closer to resembling a medieval version of hell.

    Watch at your own risk. This is the stuff of nightmares.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T83ewTeF5wY

  9. Ol Blue November 17th, 2014 at 13:46

    I used to think he was just a jerk with the bullying and all. Now I think he is evil. He has traded the suffering of thousands of animals for a few votes.

  10. Ol Blue November 17th, 2014 at 14:46

    I used to think he was just a jerk with the bullying and all. Now I think he is evil. He has traded the suffering of thousands of animals for a few votes.

  11. alpacadaddy November 17th, 2014 at 14:08

    Once again proving that they care more about big-corp profits & lobbyists than what is right and humane, as well as ignoring the will of their own constituents. Republicans are consistent if nothing else, and it’s sickening!

  12. alpacadaddy November 17th, 2014 at 15:08

    Once again proving that they care more about big-corp profits & lobbyists than what is right and humane, as well as ignoring the will of their own constituents. Republicans are consistent if nothing else, and it’s sickening!

  13. Kick Frenzy November 18th, 2014 at 22:59

    Motherf*r.
    Blocked by “pay to read”… again.

    But I went and read some over here:
    http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/11/chris_christie_tells_iowa_voters_hell_veto_nj_pig_bill_thats_unpopular_in_2016_presidential_battlegr.html

    …

    I’m stewing.
    How can he be “pro-life”, with the reasoning that you shouldn’t be allowed to kill a defenseless, living, feeling, thinking being… and yet advocate for the torture and killing of a PREGNANT defenseless, living, feeling, thinking being?!?!?!?!?!?!?
    AAAAAAHHHH!!!
    *pulls hair*

    [Insert extremely creative and long string of expletives]

    His decision on this is disgusting and shameful.
    I wonder what his kids would say if he explained exactly what he’s allowing to continue.
    Would they say, “Yay daddy!” or something closer to, “That’s horrible! NO! DON’T!”?

  14. Kick Frenzy November 18th, 2014 at 23:59

    Motherf*r.
    Blocked by “pay to read”… again.

    But I went and read some over here:
    http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/11/chris_christie_tells_iowa_voters_hell_veto_nj_pig_bill_thats_unpopular_in_2016_presidential_battlegr.html

    …

    I’m stewing.
    How can he be “pro-life”, with the reasoning that you shouldn’t be allowed to kill a defenseless, living, feeling, thinking being… and yet advocate for the torture and killing of a PREGNANT defenseless, living, feeling, thinking being?!?!?!?!?!?!?
    AAAAAAHHHH!!!
    *pulls hair*

    [Insert extremely creative and long string of expletives]

    His decision on this is disgusting and shameful.
    I wonder what his kids would say if he explained exactly what he’s allowing to continue.
    Would they say, “Yay daddy!” or something closer to, “That’s horrible! NO! DON’T!”?

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