PETA in a buzz over "execution style slaying."

[Tev]

So our president killed a fly on nationial television. Really PETA? Of all the things you could be going on about you chose this? Don't you guys have some kittens of the sea to attend to?

Our President, the fly slayer! (http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE55H4Z220090618)

POLITICO (Washington) - The president has been getting lots of kudos for a lightning-fast, Mr. Miyagi-worthy swipe he employed to slay a pesky house fly that was buzzing him in mid-interview during a taping with CNBC that aired Wednesday.

"He stopped the interview to track and kill the fly," said talk show host Conan O'Brien.

"That's some pretty impressive hand-eye coordination right there," Jimmy Fallon gushed. "Makes Obama look like a bad ass."

But now People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, calling it an "execution," wants the commander-in-chief to show a little more compassion to even "the least sympathetic animals."

"Believe it or not, we've actually been contacted by multiple media outlets wanting to know PETA's official response to the executive insect execution," a blog on the group's website explained. "In a nutshell, our position is this: He isn't the Buddha, he's a human being, and human beings have a long way to go before they think before they act."

The group has sent Obama a device that traps a fly so it can then be released outside.

"We believe that people, where they can be compassionate, should be, for all animals," PETA spokesman Bruce Freidrich explained.

So yeah, has PETA drawn a new line in the sand to cross at this point? Or are we as Americans just getting too damn entertained by the fact that our leader can kill a fly?

[Marc v4.0]

You forgot the other option, where PETA is getting out of hand entirely in their little animal crusades and people should stop giving them so much money.

I like this version of the video better, by the way

Ninja Obama (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sV3_LUBGTU&feature=fvst)

[Tev]

Well to be fair it's PETA. If they didn't have something to crusade against then what else would they do all day?

[Marc v4.0]

Well to be fair it's PETA. If they didn't have something to crusade against then what else would they do all day?

-Productive- animal rights related activities?

They're only hurting themselves by listening to people who say things like "Hey, our President just killed a fly, lets grab that and run with it in a negative light when everyone else is just having a bit of fun with it!"

[bluestarultor]

Well to be fair it's PETA. If they didn't have something to crusade against then what else would they do all day?

Killing animals comes to mind. Either indirectly by "liberating" them to die of starvation and exposure or directly by euthanizing the ones they "take into their care."

Seriously, PETA is full of crazies. They're turning into Anonymous wannabes with masks and stuff, only Anonymous does some stuff that's actually pretty cool or shows the glaring flaws in society. PETA just makes themselves look like the insane whack-jobs they are.

[krogothwolf]

PETA must protect the Air Kitties!!!!

I envy Mr. Obama fly killing skills though. But seriously, PETA is out of its mind lately. They should go back to grading Mr. Vick's tests and publicly showing them for all to see.

[Tev]

PETA must protect the Air Kitties!!!!
Flies are the next big "kitties of the ______?"

Oh goodie. I can see the website now.....

[krogothwolf]

Flies are the next big "kitties of the ______?"

Oh goodie. I can see the website now.....

Oh it would at least reflect how most of the world feels what PETA is full of.

[Meister]

Or are we as Americans just getting too damn entertained by the fact that our leader can kill a fly?
Discussing this question might be more suitable for Discussion than a round of PETA bashing.

"Believe it or not, we've actually been contacted by multiple media outlets wanting to know PETA's official response to the executive insect execution,"
And if it happened like that, so would discussing the question why, if the media absolutely have to discuss the President of the USA swatting a fly, they do it by getting quotes from the guys they know are seen as nutjobs by the vast majority of readers/viewers.

[krogothwolf]

I think no one would have cared about him killing a fly if it had been quietly ignored by the media. Its more of the media is entertained by it and runs away with the story. It's not like no one has killed a fly before, even on TV for that matter. Seriously, if the Media hadn't have gotten a hold of the story, would we even be talking about it?

[Tev]

That's mostly why I mentioned it. It seemed silly for news organizations to actively seek out PETA to see how riled they were about the whole thing. And really, the man just killed an annoying fly. I do that at least three or four times a week and you don't see news outlets with cameras on me.

Also, they have traps that "safely capture flies for easy release later?" Why would anyone want to do that?

[krogothwolf]

Because they feel that they wish to feed the spiders?

I mean its not like the fly population is suffer a serious decline or anything. There seems to be more of them lately then usual. They also can be carriers for diseases and such. They hang around droppings and then come into contact with humans and what not.

[Aerozord]

"He killed 20 with a single stroke" comes to mind.

To the OP both are true, yes PETA is insane for caring, but the media is retarded for making a big deal out of it. Its the kind of thing you'd hear joked about on a forum not on cable.

For the record, I often trap flies myself. But even I have my limits and have actually punched them in mid-air. In any case this is an insect that spends a good amount of time on poop, even looking at it from a strictly logical standpoint its still wiser for you to kill it.

[Archbio]

It seemed silly for news organizations to actively seek out PETA to see how riled they were about the whole thing.

The quote provided in this thread really doesn't make the PETA representative riled up at all.

[Fifthfiend]

I seriously care less about this than I think I have ever not cared about anything.

[Regulus Tera]

I love how the media, not just PETA, focuses on Obama's swift killing of a fly instead of, y'know, actual news that matter and affect the world's political, environmental, and social issues everywhere.

[01d55]

And if it happened like that, so would discussing the question why, if the media absolutely have to discuss the President of the USA swatting a fly, they do it by getting quotes from the guys they know are seen as nutjobs by the vast majority of readers/viewers.

Your question is your answer.

[akaSM]

Also, they have traps that "safely capture flies for easy release later?" Why would anyone want to do that?

Some other bug, maybe, but a fly? I could swear flies got a "kill me" symbol above their heads, on the other hand, why can't I have a ninja president like yours :(.

[Eldezar]

The trick is to come from behind, and attack when it is not rubbing it's legs together. Still haven't figured out catching them in mid-air, only caught one once. Invisibility seems to work though.

I love how the media, not just PETA, focuses on Obama's swift killing of a fly instead of, y'know, actual news that matter and affect the world's political, environmental, and social issues everywhere.

That's what I am wondering. I'm still trying to find out what that particular interview was about.

[Mirai Gen]

Wow, PETA is insane. Never would have guessed.

[Rejected Again]

They sent him a trap to safely catch and release flies? Oh come on! Their life span is, what, 3 days? Kudos to you Mr. Obama, your political and hand to hand combat skills are quite impressive.


Wow, PETA is insane. Never would have guessed.

Not nearly as bad as these guys. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Shepherd_Conservation_Society)

[Osterbaum]

Wow, the media is stupid. Never would have guessed.