Barack Obama Goes to the Dogs
Some great presidents have had dogs, it is true, but dogs do not a good president make. By all accounts, Fala Roosevelt, FDR’s Scottie, had a wonderful life. But when a dog is sidelined from the action, trotted out only at key photo opportunities to soften a politician’s image — as the late chocolate lab Buddy was near the end of the Clinton administration — all good Americans should feel pity for that pet. Constantly wanting for quality attention, a trophy dog leads a life much sadder than any shelter animal’s, having no real bond with any of the busy, important human who dart in and out of view.
In their imaginatively fictionalized satiric movie Dick, screenwriter Sheryl Longin and director-screenwriter Andrew Fleming present the First Pet as a German Shorthaired Pointer named Checkers. Of course, this is deliberate dog-fuscation: The real President Nixon’s Checkers was a Cocker Spaniel, and the dog that lived with him in the White House was an Irish Setter named King Timahoe. But the movie isn’t fudging anything in its depiction of the First Pet as a dog walked by an endless round of strangers, his bowel movements described with terminology appropriate to his station (“The President’s dog doesn’t poop, he does his business,” an aide explains). Dick, the flick, gets to the sad truth of an unlucky White House pet’s existence: it’s a dog’s life.
Concern for the welfare of the nation’s First Dog is, or should be, bi-pawtisan (if you’ll pardon the pun). There’s a reason poor Buddy ran into traffic and died shortly after the Clintons left the White House: his safety and welfare were nobody’s top priority.
The more important question in this election year is: What are the respective positions of McCain and Obama vis a vis animal issues?
With animal-loving Americans becoming enlightened about serious matters such as “the link,” the well-documented — and frightening — connection between cruelty to animals and crimes against people, a candidate’s record on animal issues will start to have serious significance in years to come. The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the death penalty for convicted child rapists didn’t go over well with animal lovers on both sides of the political fence — this blogger included. There are genuine animal lovers on both sides of the political fence. The first two that come to mind are Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Robert Byrd (D-WV).
In 2005, Senator Ensign — a veterinarian by profession — co-sponsored, with Senator Byrd (famed for delivering an emotional speech to the Senate about his beloved dog, Bobby) an amendment to the Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill to prohibit the use of any federal taxpayer funds to slaughter horses for food exports. “The time to end this slaughter is now,” Ensign said; Byrd appealed to his colleagues to “end the slaughter of one of the most precious American symbols.” Their bi-partisan effort was approved by an overwhelming majority, 68-29. More recently, Senator Byrd denounced Michael Vick on the Senate floor for the crime of dogfighting; as a lover and rescuer of pit bulls, I will always admire the Senator for saying “I am confident that the hottest places in hell are reserved for sick and brutal people who hold God’s creatures in such brutal and cruel contempt.” (Pit bulls are rarely even perceived as dogs, let alone God’s creatures.)
Meanwhile, two very different politicians from Tennessee, Al Gore, and Rep. Marsha Blackburn, have long made a practice of adopting homeless mutts as pets. These political animals from opposite ends of the park agree that a dog is not an accessory but a family member.
It’s high time for Americans to start thinking of animals as serious topics of political discussion — not merely cute critters that bring comic relief to the White House.
One place to start is a visit to the League of Humane Voters website.
Interesting article. But I have to say references to the execrable Sen. Byrd do not speak well for dog lovers and politics. Did Klansmen have dogs?
Ellen K, Mr Byrd renounced his Klan membership and the Klan decades ago, you are such a typical right wing cretin for constantly recycling the same garbage. Sorry, but trash like your post demonstrates nothing but juvenile pettiness.
What is the point of this article anyways? My guess it’s just some more fodder to rile-up the PJ small minds so they’ll have yet another chance to attack Obama. And this is the kind of screed that is sending who down the river?
Hell, I just hope their kids are members of the family and not just political props. Malignant narcissism rarely makes an exception.
Ever visit West Virginia, Javelin? There are statues to the pompous Byrd everywhere. BTW, what makes you think I’m right wing? I happen to favor raising taxes on the rich and I am pro-choice.
Ellen, surely you realize that if you don’t agree with Javelin on every single thing, you are by default “a typical right wing cretin.”
Hmmm, let’s see:
Byrd says, “I am confident that the hottest places in hell are reserved for sick and brutal people who hold God’s creatures in such brutal and cruel contempt.” He and others beg that we “end the slaughter” of these creatures.
Obama has no problem with late term abortions. That would be the destruction of fully formed human beings. A cruel and brutal procedure. In fact, he goes further than that. Further than almost all other radical lefties. He has opposed, both verbally on the floor of the state senate and with his vote (we know how rare that was for him), to disallow life-sustaining aid to an infant that survived an abortion.
I’ve always thought it odd that some people seem to care more about the treatment of animals than human beings. Obama doesn’t mind treating babies cruelly and brutally. Perhaps he shares Byrd’s concern, though, for animals.
Obama would benefit from a dog politically.
But his kids would more, and if Obama is a man, he would base his decision on whether or not a dog was good for his kids..If he does, it should be a well-dispositioned critter like a lab or a loving family pet mutt abandoned by poor owners…Nothing “elite” like a Shar Pei, wolfhound, or hyper like a damatian.
Even the arrogant Michelle could use a little beneficial humbling from having to clean up pet messes.
Seriously a dog is a family decision. If the family isn’t going to take care of it don’t get one. Period.
Now can you be allergic to dogs but not cats? I’d suggest a cat over a dog any day.
How about a snake or a lizard. Those are great pets that don’t require huge investments of time. Very appropriate for a politician family.
A good Marxist can not get a dog. It’s too Bourgeoisie.
I´m reliably informed that virgins prefer Obama over McCain by 98% to 2%, just one point below Obama´s approval rating among “ladies of the night”.
Now if these two subgroups alone made up an electorate, it would be a landslide.
However the Obama campaign has welcomed one group´s endorsement as a sign of political maturity and eschewed the other´s as a distraction.
Just for you Javalin;
“A Christian, a Jew and Barack Obama are in a rowboat in the middle of the ocean. Barack Obama says, “This joke isn’t going to work because there’s no Muslim in this boat.”
As Riggo told Justice O.Conner “Lighten up Sandy babe`”
Jav, Ohhhhhh……BAMA is just another two bit politician. After you grow up you will learn to recognize one and not get too excited about them.
Any ‘Change” will have to come from Congress. Right now America has the best Congress money can buy. And they are almost all bought. Putting a President over them who is more interested in out-stealing Congress is NOT going to change anything.
Ohhhh….BAMA cannot end the War. That is because the war was started by a bunch of terrorists. They will go on fighting as long as they are alive. If we surrender it will just make things worse.
There are things worse then war.
Ohhhhh…..BAMA cannot lower the price of gasoline at the pump. It is about 10 years to late to do that. All anyone can do is lower the price 10 years down the road. That will require DRILLING, which Congress won’t let happen. So this November America can get a new Congress, one that will allow DRILLING and in 10 years the price of gas will go down.
Ohhhh……BAMA cannot provide universal health care. There are not enough Doctors and Hospitals for that. All the government can do is change the selection method for medical care.
Right now the market selects. If you have the money or insurance, you get care. If you don’t you die. ALL Ohhhh……BAMA can do is take that choice out of your hands and put it into the hands of some government bureaucrat.
Jav, there is this thing called supply and demand. You liberals pretend there isn’t, but you are wrong.
Gas is up because there is a limited supply and more and more people want it. Those people are outbidding Americans. In Asia gas is OVER 10$ US a gallon. Europe too. If the gas was yours would you sell it for 4$US or 10$US?
http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/reporter/july01/physiciansupply.htm
“The number of physicians per capita is plateauing, while the population is expanding,” Dr. Cooper says. “We have an upward trend in the number of nonphysicians who are performing advanced clinical services, but when you add it together, the economy and the population are growing more rapidly than the combination of physician and nonphysician clinicians.”"
In most countries with Socialized medical care, Waiting times for access to a physician are weeks longer then in the USA. Medical equipment is ancient and they don’t get the latest drugs. As the joke goes ‘Where will the Canadians go for health care if the USA socializes it’s medical system’?
Change you can count on.
I really believe that the new president elect and his family should serious consider finding a homeless puppy. So many puppies out there that have no home. A mixed breed dog can be the best pet ever. Why do people continue bying dogs and cats, when they could go to a shelter and adopt a puppy or kitten. It would be something to think about. Sincerely, Robin
I am confused, what is the point exactly of this original blog? what are you talking about. Its like your rambling….on and on…
if we are buying in on what the new President should do re: a dog/ well yes get one its great for kids and its a historical precedent. I hope they get a mixed breed, as we all are…and mainly part poodle. Thanks.
If someone is going to vote based on dog ownership, you have a stupid voter, especially with a politician with kids who are allergic. After all, there is no “hypoallergenic” dog unless you develop a genetic engineered hairless dog. I guess if dog ownership is a prerequisite for office, you disqualify every postal worker – who are mistaken for Klingons by dogs.