Horse News

Wild Horse Czar Salazar Says He Regrets Threat to “Punch Out” Reporter

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as printed in the Colorado Springs Gazette

Secretary of the Department of the Interior; “I’ll Punch You OUT!”

Ken Salazar a puppet of the Cattle industry and Chief executioner of the Nation’s Wild Horses and Burros

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said Tuesday he “regrets” threatening to punch a Gazette reporter for asking him last week about problems in the government’s wild horse program.

Salazar visited Fountain CO on Nov. 6 as part of a tour through Colorado in support of President Obama’s re-election campaign and Gazette reporter Dave Philipps asked him to answer a few questions on video.

Philipps, a prize-winning investigative reporter, had tried to reach Salazar for months through his press secretary to comment on a story Philipps wrote for ProPublica without response. The story detailed how a Colorado man with business connections to Salazar had been sold hundreds of federally protected wild horses despite being a proponent of horse slaughter. The fate of the horses is unknown.

When Philipps began asking Salazar about the program and possible personal ties he had to the wild horse buyer now under investigation, Salazar cut the interview short.

The secretary, dressed in a suit and wearing his signature white cowboy hat, approached Philipps, pushed The Gazette’s video camera out of the way, and got within inches of the reporter’s face.

“Don’t you ever,” Salazar said in a low voice, pointing a finger. “You know what, you do that again… I’ll punch you out.”

After saying he felt he’d been “set up,” Salazar left.

Listen to the audio of the interview here.

“Holding our public officials accountable is one of the cornerstones of our role as journalists,” said The Gazette’s Director of Content Carmen Boles. “We are dismayed that anyone would respond to legitimate questions in such a fashion.”

The Gazette held the audio, hoping that Salazar would agree to a substantive interview concerning  the wild horse program. His press office responded to requests with a simple statement: “The Secretary regrets the exchange.”

The confrontation was made public by the Colorado Springs-based wild horse advocacy group The Cloud Foundation on Monday and quickly spread through major news organizations and social media Tuesday.

Click (HERE) to visit the Gazette and to Comment
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73 replies »

  2. Again he states that there is a ‘huge’ issue concerning mustangs on public domain. Obviously he’s referring to his cronies and not the general public. The so called “public domain” the mustangs inhabit was deemed them by Congress. Who the hell does he think he is to try and force his personal agenda over Congress or the people?

    His ass has to go…

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    • If you peruse this blog below realizing that the author of the blog, Michael Hutchins testified in the House Committee of Natural Resources last year as an expert witness for DOI in the Corolla Wild Horse Protection Act Hearing, you will get a flavor on what Secretary Salazar has decided regarding whether wild horses are going to continue to enjoy their protected stateus under the 1971 Wild Horse and Burro Act. It is difficult to conclude that DOI has any other goal other than the eradication of America’s native wild horses anywhere that they exist where the federal government can destroy them. Notice that the author refers to Pronghorn Sheep as native, but to wild equids as feral.

      http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=3734

      The big issue is climate change. The theory that man is major cause of global warming is being used to instill fear in the American people that if we do not agree to make drastic changes in our behavior, values, and fundamental structures of our society, the world will rapidly become too hot to support human life. We are being conditioned to believe that climatic disaster is unique to our day and time and that our behavior is causing it. The goal of instilling such fear in us is to get us to accept otherwise unacceptable alterations to our American beliefs and values in order to save the planet for our children and grand-children.

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      • But horses on public domain? It’s not like their destructive as deer or goats, or just mill around dumb like sheep.. I’d want horses around on public domain.. Wild Mustangs are a LIVING NATIONAL TREASURE people!!! and it’s sad that people out there are doing them this bad a service.. what poor stewards..

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  3. Yeah yeah yeah blah blah We also regret he ever was Head of the Dept of the Interior, so does the Land , the oceans , and Most of ALL Our Wild Mustangs, they are suffering needlessly under Salaczars Wild Mustang mirror Hitler Holocaust and deceit , and brutal unmerciful Murder !!!!!!! What her needs to do is Publicly apologize to our Magnificent Mustangs , !!!!!!

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    • I agree, Arlene…I regret he is the Sec of Interior, much more a member of the human race.

      I think the apology (sort of an apology) means he still may be the Sec of Interior, or at least wants to be. Outside of Defense, the Sec of Interior is covertly one of the most powerful asset, resource arbiter in the Cabinet….AND NOBODY KNOWS EXCEPT THE WILD LIFE AND ENVIRONMENT ADVOCATES AND CORPORATE AMERICA……

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      • I don’t think I saw anywhere that he actually apologized. The apology came from his office personel as I have read in some of the articiles on news stories. They are just trying to cover his butt.

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      • Yes, Denise and this is how it has been for decades. Little reaches the public. People in general do not pay much attention to DOI or they pay less attention now than they did in the post Vietnam era.

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  4. So what, that he said; “to be sorry”, We all know, he is NOT. This guy Salazar has to go, he has to leave office. He is a DANGER , he is part of the BLM, the Brutal- Lawbraking-Mismanagement . We can not have a person like Salazar in the government, , he should be fired. And why is Obama not listening to the People? What happen to ALL our letters delivered to our President Obama????? I thought, he is WITH and working FOR the PEOPLE ! The American People DO NOT WANT THEIR WILD HORSES beeing taken OFF the Land given to them long time ago, They are the Symbol of Freedom, A president should have respect for that.!! . President Obama should LISTEN to his people,and NOT turned his head, his Government away. . In the mean time, our Wild Horses have been Slaughtered, to end up on the dinner plates in Europe!!!! How can president Obama Allow that??????????

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  5. Wada ya expect~On the MSN home page this morning in big bold letters “Democrats return to DC emboldened by wins.” get ready it is just the beginning.

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    • Geri:

      I EXPECT CHANGE!

      Both parties know this and some will come….won’t come is the FED and State governments’ rape of our lands and wildlife….so far it appears that way.

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      • I sincerely hope we see a change, but given that the horse is considered unsustainable by this administration and their friends in wildlife, conservation, and the NRA, I do not think it will be the change we want. But we will see. I so want to be wrong about this.

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    • Just a little current political humor……OH, but YES!…emails do come back.

      Just ask Kelly, Broadwell, Petraus and Allen. (although, I don’t care squat about penis drama…I care about our country and equines). The media is spending toooooo much time on the “Desperate Housewives of Tampa/NC” and NOT enough on Slaughterczar.

      It is getting F’in STOOOPID!

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  8. Salazar said there was a huge issue with our wild horses and mustangs (he thinks they are a different species?) on public domain. What really turns my stomach is his statement that there is a major effort on the part of BLM to MAKE SURE that a problem that has gone unaddressed for a very long time gets addressed and we are working on it very very diligently.

    We know this and see this but to hear him so proudly imply that our Wild Horses and Burros will be gone soon makes my stomach turn over and bet it makes Wild Horse Annie turn over in her grave.

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  9. Yes, he better regret it because it showed his true colors. This is a prime example of how he and his BLM buddies operate. Run him out on a rail!!! What goes around certainly MUST go go around. Again, why weren’t charges file. They do it in the school system every day for bullying..

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    • I think the Nixon Administration had a covert extermination plan all along.

      They wanted to shut up “Wild Horse Annie”….the 1971 Act was and is Ka-rap; add on the Burns Amendment and we are back to the “Misfits” era.

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    • Times have changed and there are no more Barry Goldwaters’ either. He loved our natural heritage and was a republican. We asked for all the acts that Nixon signed and because he was in trouble up to his ears he signed but he also was proud of those Clean Air, Clean Water, Wild horse, Environmental Acts all getting his signature.

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  11. So will “Regrets” bring back 1700 Federally Protected Wild Horses sold to TDavis and quite probably shipped to slaughter? And will it free 50,000 wild horses locked in storage facilities? And will it remove the cattle from the horse ranges? And bring back those faces we’ll never see again? GIVE US OUR HORSES SALAZAR ! Regrets, Salazar–I’m not buying your words–they mean nothing–it’s BLM talk for more of the same –murder the horses. (some anger here….)

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    • Your right Ann will his regrets bring back Braveheart and the rest of the Mustangs he has had murdered . he and the BLM are responsible for the untimely deaths of our beloved Mustangs. and they should stand trial for Murder !!!!.

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  13. mr. Salazar is under investigation for violation of election laws, in the context of campaigning for the re election of Obama..when you are in charge of and head a dept of goverenment..you are on the record..it is not private time as Mr Salazar trys to pretend..which is also wh yno other head of any gov. agency is seen campaigning..Salazar is too arrogant and ignorant to accept the fact the DOI and BLM are subject to laws and rules…like others before him who ave left this position..he will go on to lobby for or work for energycompanies..in the election furor..a notice was sent out that he released 20 MILLION acres offshore for drilling and wind farms..no media pickedit up because they were glued to the election and “Sandy” ..I got it in a DOI tweet..No mention in this audio of the environmental concerns for public lands or protectons..only his energy policies

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  14. Yes, Kathy, Salazar calls the wild horses and burros a “problem” when the real problem is the DOI/BLM managing them to extinction while our public lands are ruined by millions of cattle and sheep as well as mining, fracking, etc. He is turning millions of acres over to special interests. He is nothing but a crook and should have been fired as head of MMS when the Gulf disaster happened.
    His crimes are a lot worse than what Army officers commit and that’s all there is on the news now.
    Petraus just got caught but many have been and are guilty of adultry including politicians.

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  16. I believe Kenneth Salazar is as arrogrant as they come. This man doesn’t give a hoot about the Wild Horses and Burros, it is all about his and Cattlemen’s profits. He needs to be booted out of his high place. He is part of the problem and not part of the solution. He has to go now!

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  17. HOUSTON, (Horseback) – Horseback Magazine has learned that wild horse advocate; Emmy Award videographer Ginger Kathrens, will appear with conservative powerhouse Sean Hannity on his television program Wednesday.

    Kathrens is the CEO of the Colorado Springs Based Cloud Foundation. She is the producer of three PBS Nature series specials on wild horses.

    Kathrens witnessed Interior Secretary Ken Salazar threatening a reporter who had exposed a possible federal Bureau of Land Management sale of protected wild horses to a known killer buyer for the horse slaughter industry on election night. Kathrens was attending an Obama victory celebration.

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  18. BUT WAIT….WHAT HAPPENED?

    HOUSTON, (Horseback) – Horseback has learned that the appearance of Ginger Kathrens of the Cloud Foundation on the Sean Hannity television program has been canceled. We have not heard if it will be re-scheduled.

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      • It was cancelled because 4 star penii and “Desperate Housewives of Tampa/NC/West Point” are a much better feature and more salacious than the f’in’ mess that is our wild equines and public lands rape…err, policy.

        In fact, DOI/USDA DOES cut penii OFF when it comes to wild equines (just not a man’s)….plus the equines don’t use email that the FBI can invade…err, investigate.

        What a waste of time!

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  20. The Government doesn’t want the general public to know what is going on with the Wild Horses and Burros. The Government wants to keep the American people dum dum dum. I want to know what Ginger Kathrens has to say about what is happening to the Wild Horses. This is important that she communicates to the all of the people and not just the horsey set. I know myself that just the average Joe will not like what is going on with the horses. This is underhanded and dishonest what they are doing. This guy Salazar is a disgrace to the U.S. Government and to the American people. I hope Salazar actions comes back to haunt him big time. Greedy …….

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  21. Maybe if someone can find some hidden sexual encounter in his closet he will either drop out or be fired. That seems to be the only way these days to get someone out of office. Sadistic Greed does’nt appear to count for much or he would be gone already.

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      • Someone should check his closets for those high water boots that he’ll need to do the sheep. If we can find him even with that, we may have a case.I hate that bastard.

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      • Heheheheheheheheheheh Thank You !!! first real laugh I have has about any of this !!!!!! Poor sheep !!! It would have had to have been something defenseless !!!

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  22. today at press conference, Obama was asked if he was going to take up the issue of climate change..the answer../NO…his focus is on jobs and the economy…well what the hell does he think the downside side is to climate change..the loss of crops jobs housing..huge FEMA bills..he did indicate that if “we the people” demand it..he will rethink it…and that is why we absolutely have to keep on hammering the politicians about our public lands policys and our wild horses..I having been asking all enviromental groups to jin together in this..its the only way to get this madness under control….that answer to my way of thinking means the energy expansio will continue onb public lands until they are all industrialized zones and off limits to wildlife and citizens

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  23. I have brought the question up to Western Watersheds Project..would they take the lead in pulling all the environmental groups together in a joint effort, to get rid of Salazar??…there are discussions going on-on their FB page

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  24. my brother, who works for government suggested we get this story out to all media..the more that pick it up the better

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  25. Does anyone here know where the Mustang named Freedom is ????? i have been trying to find for a year , the BLM claims they have him, I believe he is not there , can anyone tell me where he is?????? ,

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    • tracie from the texas mustang project blog flew out to nevada a few months after the Calico roundup..she rented a 4 wheel drive..toured around the HMA looking to find wild horses left after the roundp..she only found sign of a mare with a newborn…at almost dark..a huge black stallion stepped out in frount of her rig..black as the night she said..she almost hit him..he was alone..probably trying to track and hook up ith that mare.we both believe that was in fact freedom..I doubt they could have ever caught him..they would have had to shoot him…Tracie took a tour of the pens and he wasn’t there after the roundup

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  26. Sent this to Hannity: The phone number listed there is 800-941-7326

    The Colorado scandal and Salazar’s irrational threats are getting national exposure.
    The disappearance of hundreds of federally protected mustangs into possible slaughter for lucrative, illegal side incomes is getting the attention it deserves. Claims by those under scrutiny in this latest shocker on the whereabouts of approximately 1700 horses in this tanked economy… are bewildering. Salazar’s violent threat to the reporter leaking the story are yet another surreal twist in the decade long failed BLM program whose regime of course denies any such allegations. A higher investigation is long overdue on lies and plotted cover ups for which Americans have paid top dollar in tax funds to sponsor gruesome cullings, illegal under the table dealings, deceptive propaganda and covert operations that have been used for the total eradication of our last wild horses and burros.
    BLM corrupt – Obama ignorant.. all mustangs are at serious risk – please air Ginger Kathrens of the Cloud Foundation and reschedule her to tell America the tragic story how this government/Salazar wipes out our last wild horses – we know the truth, we have worked this campaign for years. Salazar’s latest outburst must be noted !
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/13/ken-salazar-dave-philipps_n_2124212.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003&ir=Green

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    • I should send this in to eyeopener… or with my luck it’s already happening but there needs to be more attention brought to this issue.. and Obama needs to come down off of his high horse long enough to know about it… if he takes care of this issue.. whether I didn’t want him back in office or not, he’ll still have earned some respect from me. Some..

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  28. seems to me..it would be easy enough for BLM to release the transport info which is documented thru private contrators who work for the BLM and paid by taxpayer dollars..there are at least 7 semiloads that went toDavis…I know from buying 1 semi load of that same group of adobe town horses prior to his taking the rest of them..I had to provide written directions to the destination..basically..these semis are private contractors..there has to be an invoice and brand certificate indicating their destination..exact addess..Salazars ranch..which would explain why he lost his temper..the walls are closing in..or the border of Mexico..either way..Lucy has some splainin to do. Everyone invoved is at their shredders

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    • But not me..I have 4 months of e-mail comunication from Sally at the DC office that show how rigorously they demanded information from me about where and what was going to happen with my semi load of Adobes who were going to be released on 66,000 acres of private land..ungelded and un PZP’d,returned to the wild…so I can prove they are lying about their protocols..right after I finally got them to OK the sale( only after I threatened to turn it over to my Senator Wyden who sat on their fricking appropriations comittee..to find out what the hell was going on..did I get them..its all there in those e-mails as well as the fact she cc’d all the correspondence to all the “higher ups” in the BLM..sortly thereafter.Davis took the rest of th horses..but they had already contracted him to take all of the adobe town horses by Dec 10, 2011 shortly after they had been rounded up

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      • There are still Adobe Town horses at Canon City and they are up for adoption. Davis did not get them all and if you were to call Lona I bet she could tell you how many are left.

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  30. There might still be time to sign and comment:
    http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6931/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=11999
    Comments Due November 16, 2012.

    Known as “Timber Horses,” the wild mustangs in the Murderers Creek Herd Management Area (HMA) and Wild Horse Territory live deep amongst the conifers and ponderosa pines in the Malhuer National Forest in eastern Oregon. Descendants of Native American horses, New World Iberian breeds and horses that helped early settlers develop the West, these mustangs are genetically distinct from other Oregon wild herds thanks to their isolated geography.
    Despite the uniqueness and small size of this herd (an estimated 213 adult horses on 223 square miles!), the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is planning to remove 113 of these horses in 2012 and 100-150 additional horses over the next two to three years from their homes on the range in the Murderers Creek HMA.
    The agency is seeking comments on a Preliminary Environmental Assessment for its plan to remove 338 horses from Murderers Creek over the next 10 years through a combination of helicopter stampedes and bait trapping. The BLM hopes to reduce the Murderers Creek wild horse population down to just 50 horses, while authorizing over 5 times that number of cattle to graze this designated wild horse area.
    Please take action below to oppose this costly and cruel plan. Remember that by delivering thousands of comments opposing each and every BLM wild horse roundup, we are creating a powerful record of public support and demand for change!

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    • Yes!!!
      Working on my comment letter right now.
      BLM needs to know we are watching them.
      The wild horses and burros have not given up and neither can we.

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    • WWP won a lawsuit on this HMA removing cattle from allotments there a couple of years ago..the last time they tried to round up this herd wth helicopters..they nthousands of dollars (catoors)-and only got 1 very old stallionj..My brother has lived his whole life there and spent tons of time in the mountains and never seen them..there has been ongoing baitrapping there…there are tons of mountain lions there as well..right on the edge of town..this is such BS

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      • What I think is funny, reading this, Sandra, is that the mustangs know what they are doing. They know the crap that is going on. And if they could only catch one little old stallion the last time even by helicopter round up, haha! that proves it! They’re fighting back in their own little ways. Horses are very smart lets not forget. They understand who they can trust and they can see the scumbags for who they really are. I’m sure they’ve come to recognize what bait traps look like. And a mountain lion wouldn’t dare even stalk a band. =/ A band may have a matriarch leader but a stallion is its guardian. Always. And a stallion is good at what they do. Killing things that threaten his herd. ._. mean little devils when they have to be! I think if Salazar was stupid enough to get close to a herd he’d get a hello all right.. and by hello i mean gtfo my land! *hoofs to the face*

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