The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) considers Colorado’s U.S. Senator Wayne Allard a legislative hero for his on-going willingness to stick his name on virtually any piece of legislation sought by the multi-million dollar animal rights and environmental activist group. The American Humane Association (AHA) named Allard its 2002 Legislator of the Year. Yet, even with such accolades issued by leading NGOs, Senator Allard’s reelection bid is running into turbulence from yet another prestigious NGO, the Sierra Club. It seems the Sierra Club not only thinks of Senator Allard as a foe but also as something of an environmental laughing stock.

Since his election to the U.S. Senate in 1996, Wayne Allard has been to HSUS what New Hampshire’s Senator Bob Smith has been to PETA, a loyal legislative water carrier. No matter the issue – elephants in Africa or cockfighting in the United States – Allard has been the “go to” Senator for HSUS.

With the November elections only days away, the Sierra Club is honing the edge of its finest political cutlery in an attempt to depose the Colorado incumbent. “Wayne’s World vs. the Real World” is the headline the Sierra Club uses to lampoon Senator Allard and portray him as an environmental barbarian. So what does this apparent rift among NGOs mean?

It doesn’t signal a splint in non-use animal rights ranks. Rather, it demonstrates the good guy/bad guy game NGOs tend to play.

Senator Allard, a conservative during his days in the House of Representatives, is still a commodity that animal rights groups cherish: a Republican. Liberal Democrats who espouse the animal rights/environmentalist ideologies are commonplace in the U.S. Congress. A conservative Republican is the catalyst NGOs need to gather bipartisan support. But, as eager as Allard is to do HSUS’ bidding, he also has the support of an NGO that is the antithesis to HSUS, namely, the National Rifle Association (NRA). So, ultimately even HSUS sees Allard as expendable.

HSUS’ “good guy” stance in support of Allard ensures that if he survives the November ballot count, the NGOs still have entrée to his offices. If he loses, animal rights/anti-hunting NGOs like HSUS can look forward to an even more loyal political pal in his replacement, a candidate NRA cannot stand. Under that scenario, “bad guy” Sierra Club becomes the instant good guy and instead of HSUS playing the lead, any of the other NGOs can work the new Senator from Colorado.

One lesson this should teach politicians and Senator Allard is this. Despite the public “atta boys” NGOs like HSUS heap upon their shoulders, politicians such as Senator Allard should realize that they cannot buy immunity from the public savaging non-use NGOs inflict upon any one or any enterprise that dares advocate the use by humans of nature’s resources no matter how sustainable or environmentally friendly that use may be. Senator Allard represents big agriculture in his home state. The NGO community, including HSUS, is more and more targeting American agriculture and livestock breeders. These groups campaign against modern agriculture in favor of “organic” farming with the same vigor and venom as they attack killers of baby seals, whales and ivory-bearing elephants.

The truth of the matter is that Senator Allard is learning a very important fact of political life, one that global corporate traders like Unilever learned the hard way. It’s something of a rule of nature. If you pet and feed one predatory creature, such largesse does not provide protection from the hungry pack lurking in the darkness.