Cheney to Speak at AMFF Banquet

[nekayak]

Just when you think it can't get any more bizarre . . .

http://troutunderground.com/2009/02/25/american-museum-of-fly-fishing-invites-cheney-to-speak-an-open-letter/


Also, Just FYI, LL Bean is holding its Fly Fishing Expo March 21 and 22.

http://www.llbean.com/customerService/aboutLLBean/newsroom/stories/022309_Fishing_Expo.html?feat=news

[dudley]

http://www.moldychum.com/storage/picture.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=12355331869 69

[Z Fisher]

Good lord. All politics aside, this guy hasn't exactly been a friend of trout fisherman (nor to hunting companions). A pretty bold move. I suppose the big donors to the museum are politically to the right (just look at the hometowns of the trustees) so for the museum this is a safe bet. They'll fill a few high priced seats at the tables.

[dudley]

A letter to protesting members.....
Dear [Name]:

We have received your letter/e-mail expressing concern that The American Museum of Fly Fishing has extended an invitation to Vice President Dick Cheney to be the guest speaker at a Museum-sponsored dinner in 2009. While we appreciate your opinion regarding our selection of the Vice President, and your evident interest in the activities that this Museum undertakes, we are excited to hold this dinner and the Board and staff are honored that the Vice President has agreed to attend. We hope that you continue to support the Museum and its mission.

The Museum’s Articles of Association identify its purpose to include the preservation of fly fishing “memorabilia for education of the general public on the history of fly fishing …” The back cover of our award-winning journal, The American Fly Fisher, confirms this purpose by noting in each issue that the Museum serves as a repository for rods, reels, flies, tackle, art, books, and artifacts relating to the rich heritage of fly fishing.

Among the Museum’s prized collections is one that contains the fishing equipment used by past presidents of the United States, regardless of their performance in office, their political leanings, or their current or past reputations. Our premier traveling exhibition, Anglers All, highlights the fly fishing paraphernalia of former presidents Carter, Coolidge, Hoover, Eisenhower, F. D. Roosevelt, and George .H.W. Bush. Controversy attended the administrations of each of these men. Fly fishing rods, reels, and flies of internationally acclaimed entertainers, writers, and industrialists, among other well-known people, grace our collections. We did not vet any of these contributions using a standard of political popularity nor could we serve the Museum’s overarching purpose had we done so. The Museum’s commitment to the total history of fly fishing is inclusive.

Vice President Dick Cheney is a significant historical figure in this country and the world and an avid, lifelong fly fisherman. The Museum is a nonpolitical institution that seeks to enhance its collections and richly preserve fly fishing artifacts, including those used by major figures in our own country’s history, as we have done for decades.

We hope that this letter assists in expressing our reasons for honoring the Vice President and accepting his fly fishing artifacts into the Museum as a part of its permanent collection.

Very truly yours,

Cathi Comar
Executive Director

[Z Fisher]

I understand their desire to get some of Cheney's items into the collection. Instead of inviting him to the annual dinner a separate ceremony at the museum would have made sense. It would have been less offensive to the masses and you could invite the "right" people to achieve fund raising goals.

[Jon]

Todd - to those who might be offended by this man, it might be tough not to respond with sentiments like (for example) "how about an invite to The Hague instead?"

Respectfully, in fishing,

Jon

[Todd K]

Lets just not even go here. Thanks.

[Z Fisher]

.... "how about an invite to The Hague instead?"

You kill me.

Of course, so would Cheney if I were out huntin' with him.

[dudley]

Anyone notice that the photoshopped picture that I posted yesterday was changed (at the source) ?
Wonder what's up with that ?
Apparently he's still got the force

http://timm84.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/vader_fight_bw_cheney.jpg

[Z Fisher]

Actually, I like the new one better. Halliburton really runs the government.

[Adam Taylor]

hold on Z...your fearless leader is at the right hand of the new president now....

[Z Fisher]

Dang, you've uncovered our secret plan....

[grayghost]

Cheney's visit to the AFFM & the protest got mentioned on MSNBC Morning Joe this AM. They were poking fun at all those angry fly fishers.:mad:

[Z Fisher]

Nothing more dangerous than an unruly bunch of bamboo waving outdoorsmen :P

[Kype]

You might like to read more on this. I made some comments myself here.
If the museum is to be a museum it must not be political. If however it is nothing more than the American Fly Fishing Hall of Fame then simply say so and then they can exclude those that are not part of their Fly Fishing BS'ers Club. That doesn't mean I support environmental degredation. I do support accurate historical record.

http://www.hcn.org/wotr/on-second-thought-mr.-cheney

Bobby