American Idol and Domestic Terrorism

This is the eighth season of "American Idol." Knowing that it was nothing but vacuous eye candy, I resisted watching it for the first three years. Then, during season four, I got caught up in watching country singer Carrie Underwood, who turned out to be my favorite Idol contestant of all time other than Katherine McPhee, who should have won the season five Idol crown instead of the overrated Taylor Hicks. (Obviously, now I'm hooked. Pray for me.)

Imagine my disappointment when I read that American Idol and Carrie Underwood were supporting domestic terrorism. That's right. Ms. Underwood is now donating money to an organization that supports groups the FBI has described as "eco-terrorists."

Since winning Idol, Carrie Underwood has recorded such hits as "Just a Dream," "All-American Girl" and "Jesus, Take the Wheel." More recently, she has recorded her own version of Motley Crue's "Home Sweet Home," a tune American Idol producers thought would be appropriate to play for the remainder of this season whenever a contestant is eliminated.

The problem is that Carrie Underwood has announced that she is donating part of the proceeds from that song to the Humane Society of the United States. But isn't this a good cause? Hardly.

This is not your grandparents' Humane Society. Don't mistake these people for a legitimate affiliate of your local or state organization of the same name, which does good work sheltering, caring for and finding homes for animals. In fact, search your local Humane Society web site. You won't find a link to the radical HSUS. This organization, along with "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals" (PETA), supports violent groups that have been named as "domestic terror threats" by the FBI.

In testimony before a Senate committee on May 18, 2005, FBI spokesman John Lewis stated that extremist environmental activist groups, including animal rights groups, are the nation's top domestic terrorism threat.

"The FBI estimates that the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and related groups committed more than 1,100 criminal acts in the United States since 1976, resulting in damages conservatively estimated at approximately $110 million," Lewis testified. "There is nothing else going on in this country over the last several years that is racking up the high number of violent crimes and terrorist actions."

David Martosko, research director for the Center for Consumer Freedom, echoed Lewis' concerns: "When most Americans hear about environmental activists, they think about picket signs and street corner protests," Martosko said. "But there is a disturbing underbelly to these activist groups that believes that detonating bombs, making death threats, physically assaulting people, and terrorizing through stalking are justified means of confronting people with whom they disagree. The public must realize that terrorist groups such as ELF and ALF receive support and funding from groups like PETA and the Humane Society of the United States."

Rick Story, senior vice president of U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, also criticized Underwood's decision to support HSUS.

"Carrie Underwood has decided to use her talents to benefit an organization dedicated to destroying the rights of thousands of her fans," Story said. "HSUS does not operate or oversee animal shelters; it is a radical organization that seeks to end hunting and other responsible uses of animals in America."

Story points to companies such as Iams, General Mills, Pet Safe, Sears and Ace Hardware, to name just a few, which have ended relationships with HSUS after thousands of sportsmen expressed strong protest.

I intend to contact Fox Broadcasting to protest the use of Carrie Underwood's song on the show as long as she intends to direct the proceeds to the Humane Society of the United States. If you, too, would like to contact them, you can do so via e-mail at askfox@fox.com; by phone at 310-369-3066; by fax at 310-369-1283; or via snail mail to Mr. Peter Liguori, Chairman of Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company, 10201 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90064-2606.

Carrie Underwood may think she is supporting puppies and kittens, but she needs to understand that she is supporting domestic terrorists instead.