PETA wants prez who wouldn't hurt a fly

WASHINGTON, June 18 (UPI) -- Some animal rights activists have a message for U.S. President Barack Obama: Leave those poor flies alone.

Obama's swatting and killing a fly during an interview with CNBC Tuesday got a quick response from the high-profile animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

ABC News quoted Bruce Friedrich, vice president for policy at PETA, as saying the group supports brushing away flies instead of killing them. He expressed disappointment that the president had killed the fly.

"We support compassion for even the smallest of animals," Friedrich told ABC. "We support giving insects the benefit of the doubt."

PETA Wednesday sent the White House a "Katcha Bug" kit that traps bugs so they can be released into nature, the network reported.

Friedrich acknowledged Obama has supported animal rights and said the group's glad the president has denounced factory farming and Canadian seal hunting and that Michelle Obama opposes wearing fur.