1.0HappyCowhttps://www.happycow.net/blogcookiemhttps://www.happycow.net/blog/author/cookiem/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="7ApD2JuSVc"><a href="https://www.happycow.net/blog/barack-obama-and-animal-rights/">Barack Obama and Animal Rights</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.happycow.net/blog/barack-obama-and-animal-rights/embed/#?secret=7ApD2JuSVc" width="600" height="338" title="“Barack Obama and Animal Rights” — HappyCow" data-secret="7ApD2JuSVc" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); /* ]]> */ </script> With the recent debate between Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama reaching beyond the mere caviling typical of everyday political discussion, one subject was absent: the senators’ positions on animal rights. The optimist in all of us might wish to believe that there is simply nothing to discuss, addressing animal welfare is essential to civilized society.In fact, when the Associated Press recently quoted Senator Obama in his response to one such question, Senator Obama went on the record in support of the issue, by saying: “I think how we treat our animals reflects how we treat each other, and it’s very important that we have a president who is mindful of the cruelty that is perpetrated on animals.” Although the Las Vegas town hall meeting did not have as wide an audience as media broadcast debates, Senator Obama’s comment was at least a sign of recognition that the issue of animal rights deserves our nation’s attention, even if for now, it is only a brief spoken acknowledgment. Nonetheless to have his comments published on-line via mainstream media outlets is refreshing. With a panoply of topics regularly reaching the presidential candidates, let’s hope that the debates will soon broach the issue of […]http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/o/barack_obama/index.html?inline=nyt-per