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Recent bad publicity for PETA spurs Center for Consumer Freedom to start anti-PETA Web site. By Michael Zitz Date published: 7/2/2005 By Michael Zitz ANDREW PORTER, a "The organization constantly attacks everyone from restaurants to consumers for harming animals. Come to find out, PETA's doing the same thing." Two North Carolina workers for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have been charged with animal cruelty for the manner in which they euthanized and disposed of the bodies of dogs and cats. PETA says the animals were sick or unadoptable. The CCF believes at least some of the pets were adoptable, Porter says. "You can quibble about the means," he says, but he argues that PETA is doing the same kind of thing for which it condemns others. "The group was caught doing something they know is not right, or at least looks hypocritical," Porter says. The Center for Consumer Freedom is run by Washington Richard B. "Rick" Berman, a former labor lawyer and restaurant industry executive who is a lobbyist for the food, alcoholic beverage and tobacco industries. In the late '80s, Berman fought the Americans with Disabilities Act, saying it threatened to cripple the hospitality industry. The CCF has repeatedly attacked PETA in the past in the name of "consumer freedom." "PETA kills animals--and its leaders dare lecture the rest of us," the Berman-connected PETAkills animals.com Web site says. PETA isn't shy about responding on its own Web site, consumer deception.com, saying, "Berman has been called 'a tobacco company whore,' but he's branched out since then." PETA spokesperson Colleen O'Brien says the CCF and its Web sites are funded by big food conglomerates such as Phillip Morris. The CCF's Porter doesn't dispute that, but insists the funding question is "a straw man." Of the CCF, PETA's O'Brien said: "These are the same people who have campaigned against Mothers Against Drunk Driving. They're representing the very companies that PETA's asking to make changes." According to The Associated Press, two North Carolina counties have stopped turning over shelter animals to PETA, expressing surprise that the group euthanized cats and dogs.
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
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