Newfoundland Premier, Ex-Beatle to Spar on Seal-Hunt on Larry King

CBC ^ | March 3, 2006 | CBC Online Staff

[NorthOf45]

N.L. premier, ex-Beatle to spar on seal-hunt on Larry King

CBC News
March 3, 2006

The premier of Newfoundland and Labrador will be on Larry King Live on Friday night to oppose the anti-seal-hunt views of rock legend Paul McCartney.

Danny Williams's appearance on the CNN talk show was to be taped in advance. He was to defend the hunt, which McCartney and his wife, Heather, have been protesting this week during a visit to Prince Edward Island.

McCartney, who visited seal pups in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, claimed Thursday that 95 per cent of the seals killed in Canada are less than three months old. The singer urged the prime minister to intervene to stop the seal hunt.

The hunt of whitecoats, or harp seal pups whose fur has not yet turned grey, has been illegal since 1987.

Federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn said Friday the federal government will not be swayed by McCartney's opinion.

"Let me make it clear. If Paul McCartney thinks he's going to stop the seal hunt, ahead of him there's a long and winding road," said Hearn, who is also Newfoundland and Labrador's federal cabinet representative.

The federal government estimates the harp seal population now stands at 5.9 million, up from two million in the 1970s.

Earlier this week, Williams invited McCartney to discuss the commercial hunt but got no response.

It was not clear if the premier would get a chance to talk to the musician on King's show, even via a remote connection.

A CNN promotional blurb gave no specifics.

"Sir Paul McCartney and his wife speak out against something they call shocking, brutal and horrifying," it said. "What has them so upset? Tune in at 9 p.m. ET."

Williams said in a statement on Wednesday he was frustrated that celebrities "pass judgment on individuals who are participating in an industry that sustains their lives, puts food on their tables, and clothes on their children's backs."

The premier's Larry King Live appearance was to be taped in a CBC studio in St. John's on Friday afternoon.

[NorthOf45]

Ping

[fanfan]

Canada Ping!

Please FReepmail me to get on or off this Canada ping list.

[timsbella]

Popcorn, popping popcorn!

[dfwgator]

Sir Paul is not a Canadian citizen, therefore he needs to butt out.

[ExcursionGuy84]

Personally, I don't see ANY reason at all for the cute pups to be clubbed to death...

...unless of course, you're an Inuit or Eskimo in the Arctic Circle.

[Joe 6-pack]

"McCartney, who visited seal pups in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, claimed Thursday that 95 per cent of the seals killed in Canada are less than three months old."

I thought the first trimester was the preferred timeframe? I guess I don't know enough about killing the young to be an expert like McArtney.

[Richard Kimball]

The fact that Paul McCartney wrote the worst song in the history of pop music (Uncle Albert, Admiral Halsey) does not qualify him to debate on economic and environmental issues.

[RichInOC]

"How can you club those adorable baby harp seals to death?"
"That's easy...you just choke up on the bat a little more."

[reagan_fanatic]

[RexBeach]

But Sir Paul is a smart person because he is famous. Don't believe me? Ask George Clooney!

[domenad]

http://www.ubersite.com/m/30163

If anyone needs a good laugh about the sealhunt, just click the link.

[Wombat101]

Club Leftists, not Seals.

[dfwgator]

The fact that Paul McCartney wrote the worst song in the history of pop

That's true, but you got the wrong song, it was that duet he did with Jacko "Say Say Say" that is the worst song.

[Izzy Dunne]

[Cincinatus]

That's true, but you got the wrong song, it was that duet he did with Jacko "Say Say Say" that is the worst song.

You got the wrong song too. It was "The girl is mine" that was the duet with MJ.

[Richard Kimball]

I'll see your "Say, Say, Say" and raise you a "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time."

[Slings and Arrows]

[dfwgator]

That's right, I forgot he did two with MJ. Both were "deplorably bad".

[Cincinatus]

To my surprise, McCartney and Jackson actually have considerable collaborative history. Detailed here: Macca Meets Jacko.

However, I still think that "The Girl is Mine" is the true nadir of modern musical achievement.

[dfwgator]

That and the duet Jacko did with Mick Jagger "State of Shock."

[dhs12345]

I think of the Cat Juggling scene from the Jerk when I see celebs promoting something like this. Hard to take them seriously.

[VRing]

Walking up to a seal that cannot get away and clubbing it over the head is not "hunting" by any stretch of the term.

[Slings and Arrows]

However, I still think that "The Girl is Mine" is the true nadir of modern musical achievement.

Ever heard "In The Year 2525"?

[Cincinatus]

Yes, I have. I stand corrected.

[N. Theknow]

What do seal hunters drink?

Canadian Club

[Always Learning]

Maybe if the seals would just act like other arctic creatures, the "hunters" would just capture them. However, if you do have the heart to club cute little trusting helpless things, HAVE AT IT!!!!!

[Slings and Arrows]

It's understandable that you would repress the memory.

[rlmorel]

"How can you club those adorable baby harp seals to death?" "That's easy...you just choke up on the bat a little more."

[kellynch]

Don't forget "McArthur Park." Talk about putrid! And it's been done TWICE!

[Holicheese]

Its like "hunting" a dairy cow. You could do it with a ball peen hammer.

[headsonpikes]

Quick-witted Premier Danny Williams will pull no punches on the little toff.

He'll do very well.

[Threepwood]

They're worth a lot of money, and there is no shortage of them.

Whack.

Whack.

Whack.

Profit!

[Squawk 8888]

They only hunt the adults now- the hunting of pups was banned in the 1980s.

[joesnuffy]

Let me make it clear. If Paul McCartney thinks he's going to stop the seal hunt, ahead of him there's a long and winding road," said Hearn, who is also Newfoundland and Labrador's federal cabinet representative.

Yeah...and so..(Sir Paul) put that in your pipe and smoke it...you self inflicted..brain damaged..at least at one time drug use advocating... friend of Michael Jackson.. cretin...

[marine86297]

I'm no PETA freak and I hunt all kinds of animals but man does it make me cringe when I see those little things get whacked. I'm not saying they should be forced to quit but it just gives me the heebie-jeebies.

Now terrorist's being hunted like that would be awwwright. LOL!

Semper Fidelis

[doberville]

Sir Paul is smelling his toes; therefore impervious to how truly little we give a rat's about what he thinks.

[printhead]

Baby seal waddles into a bar. The bartender asks "What'll you have"? The baby seal replies "anything but the Canadian Club".

[girlangler]

"Someone's knocking at the door, someone's ringing the bell . . Do me a favor, open the door and let 'em in."

Another stupid song by a washed up singer. His music, after he left the Beatles, was awful.

[Lazamataz]

Personally, I don't see ANY reason at all for the cute pups to be clubbed to death...

Well, there *is* the sexual-gratification issue.

[ExcursionGuy84]

...there *is* the sexual-gratification issue.

Huh??? What brand of cigar are you puffing?

[Lazamataz]

Who can honestly say that they HAVEN'T been sexually aroused by flying bits of brain and blood? I know I have! Most normal adolescents go through a phase of self-pleasuring themselves to grisly death-scenes three or four times a day, but certainly some of them are attracted to the practice by it's very illegality.

I know I was!

[ExcursionGuy84]

Who can honestly say that they HAVEN'T been sexually aroused by flying bits of brain and blood?

I can! And I'm a hog hunter so I KNOW blood, wounds, death & violence....

...but I AM NOT "aroused" by the sight of blood. Hunting is an adrenaline rush naturally occurring during the quest for the tuskers, NOT an aphrodesiac.

[AmishDude]

About time. I've always thought he was pretentious.

[Lazamataz]

...but I AM NOT "sexually aroused" by the sight of blood.

Weirdo.

[ExcursionGuy84]

Weirdo.

Thank-You very much. I consider myself blessed.

[Revolting cat!]

This "Paul McCartney" oughta get back to playing Paul McCartney which is what he can do best and has been doing since the real dude died, when, 1969 or 70.

[weegee]

"Let me make it clear. If Paul McCartney thinks he's going to stop the seal hunt, ahead of him there's a long and winding road," said Hearn, who is also Newfoundland and Labrador's federal cabinet representative.

That's one of those Lennon-McCartney songs, right?

[Lazamataz]

So you are trying to tell me you've never made love while nestled romantically with your woman in a still-warm field-dressed deer?

You *have* to be a liar! *EVERYONE'S* done that.

[weegee]

"Sir Paul McCartney and his wife speak out against something they call shocking, brutal and horrifying," it said. "What has them so upset? Tune in at 9 p.m. ET."

????