Democratic Operative’s Cat Slaughtered, ‘Liberal’ Painted On Corpse

WASHINGTON — The race for the Arkansas’ third congressional district took a gruesome turn on Sunday, when the campaign manager for Democratic challenger Ken Aden came home and found his cat slaughtered with the word “liberal” painted on the corpse.

According to a press release sent out by the Aden campaign, “The family pet, an adult, mixed-breed Siamese cat, had one side of its head bashed in to the point the cat’s eyeball was barely hanging from its socket. The perpetrators scrawled ‘liberal’ across the cat’s body and left it on the doorstep of [Jacob] Burris’ house.”

Burris, Aden’s campaign manager, told The Huffington Post that it was his 5-year-old son who first saw the atrocity. He had taken his children out to fill the family car with gas before going to church, and the young boy was the first one out of the vehicle when they returned.

Burris has contacted the FBI and is further pursuing the matter with local law enforcement. The police officer who originally investigated the matter, according to Burris, said he wasn’t sure whether the cat’s killing could be construed as a threat. He was planning to file a report and said he would note that Burris was Aden’s campaign manager.

Burris, however, said he had no doubt that this incident was meant as a threat.

“Absolutely,” he told The Huffington Post. “There’s a pretty strong fringe here, but it’s never really been personal like this,” he added.

Aden, a veteran of the war in Iraq, said in a statement, “To kill a child’s pet is just unconscionable. As a former combat soldier, I’ve seen the best of humanity and the worst of humanity. Whoever did this is definitely part of the worst of humanity.”

Aden made clear that he did not believe Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) or anyone involved with his campaign were involved in the incident, and Beau Walker, Womack’s campaign manager, strongly condemned it.

“The thought of brutalizing any animal to make a political statement, no matter what that statement is, is beyond any standard of decency,” he told The Huffington Post. “The person or people, if there was more than one, who are responsible — they definitely need to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. There should be no tolerance in our political discussion here in this nation for this kind of behavior.”

Aden is the only Democrat currently challenging Womack.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is now Chief Speaker in the eyes of the Blood Tribe people.

Harper became an honorary chief of the Blood Tribe in a special ceremony Monday that inducted him into the Kainai Chieftainship on the reserve about 200 km south of Calgary.

The prestigious honour is seen as a bridge between Native and non-Native communities, and recognizes people who have made an impact on the first nation, said Chief Charles Weasel Head.

“It was created to acknowledge persons who have contributed significantly to the wellbeing of the Blood Tribe,” he said.

The Blood Tribe chose to recognize Harper as an honorary chief after being touched by the apology he gave three years ago on behalf of the Canadian government for its role in the residential school system, he said.

“Our view has always been forward thinking rather than dwelling on the (negativity) of the past,” Weasel Head said, adding he looks forward to a new era that builds relationships for the future.

During the ceremony, elders gave Harper the name Chief Speaker and dressed him in face paint and a traditional headdress before presenting him with the Kainai Chieftainship Scroll.

Harper said it was “a great privilege” to receive the rare honour.

“I am particularly proud of this honour given it recognizes the efforts that our government has been taking to help preserve the rich culture and heritage of First Nations in Canada while also investing in the future of Aboriginal peoples,” he said.

“My family and I are deeply grateful for this gift and I will carry my Blood name, Chief Speaker, with great joy and pride.”

The honour comes about a week after the feds took a step closer to approving a self-government agreement with the Blood Tribe.

The Kainai Chieftainship membership is limited to 40 living people.

Past recipients include Prince Charles, Pope John Paul II, author Pierre Berton and former premier Ralph Klein.

Clarence Blackwater said Harper makes a good chief.

“He’s got the experience — he is a good leader,” he said.

He said the honour, which he remembers seeing Prince Charles receive in the 1970s, is a significant symbol.

“It’s the concept of a relationship with a first nation,” he said.

“This is historical.”