Barack Obama Goes to the Dogs
If the Obamas adopt a pet, let's hope it becomes a member of the family and not a political prop.
According to an AP-Yahoo News poll, pet owners favor John McCain over Barack Obama 42 percent to 37 percent, with dog owners in particular rooting for McCain.
But does it really matter whether a president or a presidential candidate has a dog? And should the Obama family get a dog?
To hear the Senator’s wife Michelle tell it, his two young daughters think he should, despite the girls’ allergies. And the American Kennel Club is all set to recommend a “hypoallergenic” purebred (memo: no such thing exists) to the Obama family. High on the AKC’s list is the poodle.
Meanwhile, shelter-animal advocates — let’s call them mutt mavens — are hoping the biracial senator will honor his mixed heritage by adopting a mixed-breed dog and, following the lead of his most famous supporter Oprah Winfrey, going to an animal shelter to do it.
As the virtual canine contingent harnesses “Puppy Power” on behalf of its pet politico, an online retailer hawks bumper stickers with the slogan “Wag More Bark Less,” and North Shore Animal League America has actor Richard Belzer, in Uncle Sam costume, “Calling all Demo-Cats and Republi-canines … We want YOU — to adopt,” we are lulled into believing that pets, especially dogs, are synonymous with patriotism.
But when is it NOT patriotic to keep a pet? When you just don’t have the time or inclination to care for one.
“If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” This endlessly quotable quote was first stated (probably with a sarcastic sneer) by one of America’s most famous dog-haters, Harry S. Truman, who, when presented with a sweet Cocker Spaniel named Feller by a dog-breeding constituent, made the dog’s life miserable until the president’s physician kindly offered to adopt the spaniel. Truman’s wisecrack has been relentlessly taken out of context: he was making a statement not about dogs but about capital friends (or the lack thereof) in D.C.
Yet the suggestion, in this election year, is that without a dog one is something other than American. I live with six rescued dogs; does that make me a super-patriot? My harsh critics would say the dog population at my place makes me something other than normal.
Frankly, Senator Obama has enough on his plate without adding a dog to the mix, especially if he and his wife have never had one before. Dog ownership is a project that requires a commitment equal to the lifespan and loyalty of the dog. A dog should be a beloved companion, not a political accessory.
Of course, a candidate who’s intimate with dogs, and has been for many years, is likely to have certain of his or her priorities in order. But this doesn’t mean all dog lovers should automatically endorse McCain just because he happens to have a bunch of pets, including two dogs.
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Julia Szabo produces and writes the weekly "Pets" column for the Sunday New York Post. Her website is Pet-Reporter.com.
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17 Comments
1. My new WordPress MU Site » Blog Archive » Barack Obama Goes To the Dogs:[...] Joseph wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIf the Obamas adopt a pet, let’s hope it becomes a member of the family and not a political prop. [...]
Jul 12, 2008 - 4:50 am 2. test » Blog Archive » Barack Obama Goes To the Dogs:[...] Hollywood Grind wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIf the Obamas adopt a pet, let’s hope it becomes a member of the family and not a political prop. Read the rest of this great post here [...]
Jul 12, 2008 - 7:31 am 3. Ellen K.: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?
Jul 12, 2008 - 10:08 am 4. Javelin: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?
Jul 12, 2008 - 10:55 am 5. Charlie (Colorado):Hell, I just hope their kids are members of the family and not just political props. Malignant narcissism rarely makes an exception.
Jul 12, 2008 - 10:58 am 6. Ellen K.: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.
Jul 12, 2008 - 11:33 am 7. waterford: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.”
Jul 12, 2008 - 12:51 pm 8. Believer: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.
Jul 12, 2008 - 2:45 pm 9. cedarford: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.
Jul 12, 2008 - 3:43 pm 10. Gozer the Carpathian: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.
Jul 12, 2008 - 6:30 pm 11. Keegy United States - Barack Obama Goes To the Dogs:[...] Barack Obama Goes To the Dogs [...]
Jul 13, 2008 - 6:00 pm 12. Kudzu Fire:A good Marxist can not get a dog. It’s too Bourgeoisie.
Jul 13, 2008 - 6:34 pm 13. elixelx: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”.
Jul 15, 2008 - 3:43 am 14. John Samford: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’?
Jul 15, 2008 - 4:05 pm 15. Canine Carnival 37 | pamibe:Change you can count on.
[...] Barack Obama Goes to The Dogs – Julia Szabo, Pajamas Media [...]
Jul 18, 2008 - 3:25 am 16. Robin LeBlanc: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
Nov 7, 2008 - 1:55 pm 17. mad: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.
Nov 12, 2008 - 3:51 pm