This type of politics is why we lost the vote 5 to 4 for C&R on all wild steelhead here in Washington. That vote should have been 6 to 3 in favor of all wild release but politics played hard those last two weeks before the vote and won.

The WSC, TU and every other group must come together to form a true coalition. A coalition that is not only conservation groups but non conservation groups that would be willing to support our efforts. If one dug deep I think they could find many organizations that have not been recognized as conservation groups willing to help. Reason for a good mix is obvious when you have politians stating and getting away with it that it's the enviro groups who are out to screw the average farmer, developer, and Joe public etc, etc. Without getting the non conservation crowd involved we will never have a chance because we have let our conservation stands on all issues become a defensive stand in the last 10 years.