Why arent Animal Rights ever an issue in presidential politics?

[Orrex]

22. Sorry to break the news to you, then.

Until animals vote in large numbers, the issue will be subordinate to just about every human-specific concern on the campaign trail. You can resent me for pointing out this fact, but your resentment changes that fact not at all.

Imagine the candidate who includes a pro-animal plank in her platform and who somehow manages to pass whatever legislation you've fantasized about it. She would then be attacked for every human-focused initiative that she failed to pass, and it would be claimed that she prioritized animals over humans. This is a fact easily inferred from many decades of campaign history.

Further, the candidate who includes a pro-animal plank in her platform would immediately and relentlessly be attacked for being anti-meat, anti-hunting and (by extension) anti-gun. It would be a catastrophic political misstep with very little potential payoff.


But what do I know? Email your helpful suggestions to Secretary Clinton quickly so that she can mention the issue in this weekend's debate.