Romney's Dog was just enjoying a bit of fresh air
By John Amato Sunday Jul 01, 2007 12:57pmThe dog torturer speaks:
You know, PETA has not been my fan over the years," Romney said. "PETA has been after me for having a rodeo at the Olympics and were very, very upset about that. PETA was after me when I went quail hunting in Georgia. And PETA is not happy that my dog likes fresh air."...
Anna Marie Cox wonders:
So I'll add this: those repeated references to "family pet"? That's a weirdly antiseptic way of talking about an animal that you supposedly love. It's like saying "I greatly honor the male-sexed offspring produced by my spouse and myself," to describe your son. Or like naming him Tagg. And, as commenters have pointed out, the physics of the poo-problem seem wayyyyy off...read on
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PuppyGate and the Mitt Mobile
So it's PETA's fault that strapping a dog to the roof of a car is bad?
Still an Arsehole, Mit.
too bad there isn't a photo of said, sad incident--or in a perfect world, a video--the imagery would have sunk his well-coiffed ass to the back off the wingnutty prez-line.
Just another politician continuing to throw shit against the wall until they see what sticks.
E.g...they hate our freedoms, WMDs, Saddam is a bad man, he tried to kill my daddy, we're bringing democracy...
This is a tempest in a teapot. I wish C&L would let it and other un-newsworthy events reside in the circular file.
Tearing people down for inane reasons is what the right wing spin machine does and is unworthy of Americans who care about real issues. This isn't a real issue.
I'm no fan of PETA, but strapping your dog to the roof of a car for 12 hours proves that you're either a complete idiot, ingrate, inhumane prick, or all of the above.
Nice spin, TomR.
Dr. Matt @ 6:
I vote for complete idiot.
TomR @ 5:
Unfortunately, reich-wing talking heads are able to dominate the "news" using non-issues when it comes to attacking the Left, i.e. Edwards' haircut, Hillary's singing, Obama's country drawl, Rosie's daughter in a US soldier uniform, etc., etc., Fight fire with fire and quit playing Mr. Nice Guy. We'll continue to lose major elections if we don't.
Liberal AND Proud @ 8:
But, inhuman prick works too! ;)
Spin?
Real issues such as the attorney general's illegal actions and incompetence are news.
Waxman and Leahy taking various administration pricks to task for their actions are news.
Powell seeing the KGB in Putin's eyes rather than his soul is telling and in blog terms, news worthy.
All of these things and many more have an impact on the national an international scene.
As much as I love dogs (especially mine), Mit's dog isn't news and in my view, C&L does itself a disservice by covering it as an "issue."
[Sitemonitor: Your "concern" is duly noted]
From the comments on the link above by T Jones, July 2, 2007
" Wow Ana, . . . I'm sure you're pretty proud of the fact you managed to make a big deal about something that happened 24 YEARS AGO!! "
Hey, I admit I snatched that little old lady's purse and knocked her down, but that was 24 years ago! It shouldn't matter now. WRONG!
It goes to CHARACTER
I nominate it for kennel attendant for life, sort of a PLO, permanent latrine orderly (no time for sergeants)
it would allow it to serve that which it is best at. feces and friend.
Bill Clinton's pecker wasn't news either.
Where WAS Romney on that issue by the way?
all dogs like fresh air... that's why you put them in the back seat with a window partly open so they can stick their head out...
My question is, why did Romney think this was such a great idea to bring this up in the first place? No one would have known about this if he hadn't mentioned it. That is another lapse in judgment by Mitty. What a twit for thinking this was a good example of decision making and problem solving and he's a cruel, insensitive fuck wad for torturing his dog. God, every time this gets brought up I wanna pop him in his gob and drive his waaay too pearly whites down his throat
[Please do not advocate violence against the witless on this site].
Maybe when he doubles Gitmo he'll call this an enhanced interrogation technique.
TomR @ 5:
i'm going to have to disagree with you tomr. past insistences of cold, callous, irresponsible and possibly illegal behavior is important. very important. how he treated his dog, a family member, sheds a lot of light on the character of this man. like bill frist adopting, killing and dissecting cats--this story does help one gain insight on mitt. it don't look purty, either. i am an american who cares about "real issues", yet i still find importance in this... go figure...
Let's see, we have a guy who strapped his dog to the roof a car running against a guy whose wife's company used to demonstrate surgical equipment on puppies to replace a guy who used to blow up frogs because a guy who used to adopt cats and experiment on them decided against running.
I can't even begin to guess what Fred Thompson does to animals, but I'll bet it's really ugly......
Romney is a fraud.
I have NEVER witnessed ANYONE putting their animal on the roof of a car for travel.
It is against Massachusetts state law to do so. Romney should face sanction from authorities here in Massachusetts for this inhumane act.
If there weren't a statute of limitations, I'd say the Fraud ex-governor should tap one of his many lawyers to help him wriggle out of this one.
This is the same Romney whose Bain Capital caused many to lose their jobs while profits were squeezed from companies Bain acquired and managed.
Former US Senator Mike Gravel got it right at the most recent candidates event when he stated, "If we have a president, he has to have moral judgment." Gravel was referring directly to most of the current crop of Democrats who clearly don't for they voted for and have continued to enable the war and other crimes of the current maladministration.
Romney: Another gem offered up by the Republican "right", and a Haggardist to boot.
Sorry Sitemoniter. But I'm not really advocating, just fantasizing. I just have a hard time with furry critters being hurt.
TomR @ 11:
Perhaps you could start a blog and then you can determine what is and what is not news. It always amazes me when people whine that something is not news and then take the time to comment on this non-news item. During any given day there are numerous items that some will consider to be news, while others will not. Crying that something is not news is merely your opinion. Shocking as it may be, everyone is not required to share your opinion. News is not defined based on your opinion. Should you find an item that you consider to be unworthy of reading; don't read it.
I don't care where Romney was on the issue of Bill Clinton's pecker; but that's a red herring and I'm sure you already know it.
Clinton's impeachment was a travesty of the political system and of the independent counsel law that allowed the investigation of Whitewater to lead up to that impeachment. It was such an abuse of the system that Congress itself allowed the independent counsel law to expire without consideration of renewal; during a REPUBLICAN controlled session. Finally, a BJ wasn't the issue of the impeachment; it was whether Clinton used the power of the presidency to stymie the plaintiff's case. Not what I call a high crime or misdemeanor, but certainly tacky behavior on the part of Clinton. Censure would have been more appropriate in this case.
In some ways, I'm sorry to see the independent counsel gone. Imagine the real work he or she would have to do with all the crooks in this administration...
And as to the character of Romney; where were any of us 24 years ago? Do we have past actions we wish we could do over again? I know I do and I think it's disingenuous to pretend Romney is some kind of self-declared saint who is without sin. While he's unapologetic about the dog episode, I doubt he's the morally reprehensible person some of you would like to pretend he is. A lot more information about the man at large is needed before a reasonable person can make such an assessment.
For what it's worth, I'll be voting against Romney based on the issues and not on the dog.
i find it intersting how mitt, skillfully i must admit, changes the issue to a "PETA versus good ol'boy" fight. damn commie PETA, hee hee. if only those PETA people would leave poor mitty alone then he could be free to do all his amurrican activities. like huntin' and olympicin'
so transparent. so plastic. so mitt.
This is just like Anna Nicole Smith, Paris Hilton. Who gives a shit. How the fuck is this news and why is it on this blog. This really dissappoints me.
William Blake said it well,
"The dog starved at his master's gate
predicts the ruin of the state."
As far as Mitt is concerned
I say,
"Let shitting dogs lie" ...
And,
As for his actions
Regarding the dog,
I say,
"Let ye who have never tied a
family pet to the roof of your car
cast the first stone."...
ashton @ 22:
Hey, you and GWB have something in common; neither of you likes dissent. Congratulations?
Samson- @ 24:
Right. Always the spin. Mitty's another arshole who can't admit a mistake, the surest mark of a coward and dishonest person. I don't know about you, but George Bush has used up all my patience with losers like this.
TomR @ 23:
Speaking of a red herring.
[...] Mitt Romney: Confessions of a dog torturer: “You know, PETA has not been my fan over the years,” Romney said. “PETA has been after me for having a rodeo at the Olympics and were very, very upset about that. PETA was after me when I went quail hunting in Georgia. And PETA is not happy that my dog likes fresh air.” [...]
Better not get any Chinese Peta sandwiches.
27 thepoetryman Says:
I say let Romney pass the first stone, preferably a kidney stone.
You mean, like the kind of air he could get by opening your car windows, Mitt?
tomr said: "While he’s unapologetic about the dog episode, I doubt he’s the morally reprehensible person some of you would like to pretend he is. A lot more information about the man at large is needed before a reasonable person can make such an assessment."
i think, in choosing the "leader of the free world" *cough* we should know what kind of person we are dealing with. not the advisor-sanitized version, not the mythical-MSM mitt 2.0, no, i am interested in the man behind the hair.
so, yes, instances of cruel behavior is important--5 years ago, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, you get the point. for instance, let's say idi amin (pretend he's still alive) decided to run for a ugandan office. could he then say, "listen people, all that razzmatazz--the killing, the violence, etc--was sooo long ago, we need to focus on today"? this is an analogy, mitt hasn't had anyone murdered as far as i know, but the analogy stands. past cruelty is a good inidicator that the person is of a cold, callous nature. that, IMHO, IS an important issue to be raised.
you're right though, he was cruel to a supposed family pet, and is unapologetic. and, now, he is using the issue as a red v blue issue. sad and pathetic.
Liberal AND Proud @ 10:
Dr. Matt @ 30:
I was responding to somebody else's red herring. I didn't invent this argument, only responded to it.
Luckily, this very authentic photograph of the debacle has recently surfaced.
Paul @ 38:
LOL
Haha, nice pic. :P
How people treat animals, esp domesticated ones, shows an important part of their character.
And on that count I agree.
So here's a guy who can either put the dog in a kennel where he'll be miserable for the duration of the Romneys' vacation or he can take the dog with him where the dog may or may not have been miserable for the entire 12 hours of the road trip. Sadly, dead dogs tell (nor wag) no tails.
"Tearing people down for inane reasons is what the right wing spin machine does and is unworthy of Americans who care about real issues. This isn’t a real issue."
Nonsense! I think this is pretty indicative of the man himself, doing something this inconsiderate to an animal? This is the same guy who thinks Scooter Libby should be considered for a pardon, yet while he was governor, Romney never pardoned a single person, including an Iraqi war vet who needed the pardon--for a conviction he got as a 13 year old with a stupid BB gun shooting--in order to become a police officer.
http://notforeverjustfornow2007.blogspot.com/2007/06/romney-wont-pardon-...
Mitt said no! I think the more we learn about this guy--even the obscure stuff--helps us look into his mind. Personally, I do think badly of someone who mistreats a pet!
"The Dog Torturer." Good one.
And that's a very disconcerting issue indeed. As I said, I'll be voting against Romney on the issues.
yesyesyes @ 41:
Agreed.
Around 1/3rd of Americans are pet owners. It's safe to surmise that probably
Well, we have the dog torturer, the lobbyist, the one running on the biggest attack in history, the one that got tortured, running for President.
The gop candidates are pathetic.
Geez.
I'd feel much better if he acknowledged the callousness of what he did and why PETA would be offended. It was 24 years ago and it would be nice to see that he's a least a little bit more enlightened. Besides... do you really consider it crisis management to find a hose and to clean up a dog covered in crap? Were there other options?
Due to inherent roll-over risk Romney takes a firm stance against carrying a "family pet" on the roof of a SUV.
Not gonna happen
Dr. Matt @ 46:
errrrr, I was using "" while cite statistics/values so the rest of my text was cutoff....I don't feel like retyping it again.
Massachusetts's animal cruelty laws specifically prohibit anyone from carrying an animal "in or upon a vehicle, or otherwise, in an unnecessarily cruel or inhuman manner or in a way and manner which might endanger the animal carried thereon." An officer for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals responded to a description of the situation saying "it's definitely something I'd want to check out." The officer, Nadia Branca, declined to give a definitive opinion on whether Romney broke the law but did note that it's against state law to have a dog in an open bed of a pick-up truck, and "if the dog was being carried in a way that endangers it, that would be illegal."
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1638065,00.html
How fresh could the air be with the heady scent of dawg runs wafting in the breeze?
Picture it. The Romney-mobile, American Pie on the radio, somewhere outside Toronto. "Honey, wait a minute! Tagg is the dog and Seamus is our son! Seaaaamusss!
Good job guaranteeing the white house to Mitt PETA. Don't you know everyone thinks your crazy and hates you? Hell I'm going to vote for that racist asshole just to piss you off.
And I hate Mitt.
"Personal responsibility" conservative Romney blaming PETA for his animal abuse.
here fido...here fido....arf,arf,arf
I bet Romney likes fresh air, too. He should tie himself up to the roof of his car.
Anyone who loves their dog (or any pet) would never think of doing that.
I have learned through the years that how someone treats animals, and respects them, says alot about their character. It's just as simple as that, no matter how you want to try to spin it.
All animal cruelty aside, (and it was indeed cruel and shows extremely bad judgment) How pathetic is it that the best example they can come up with for "crisis management" skills, is his ability to pull over a car and hose down poo?
Robert B. @ 54:
wow, that is just plain irresponsible. you are going to vote for the man you "hate" just to spite an animal rights organization? america: doomed.
and, PETA is racist? i am not a member, but that just smacks me as fairly nutso.
I can only hope the dog bit Romney's nads when he was finally taken down from the roof of the car!
Shaw @ 58:
He'll keep America's battle fields nice and tidy.
I think Mitt's "Double Gitmo" provides a clearer glimpse of his tendency towards cruel and inhumane actions.
What type of asshole has PETA frequently hassling him? One who wants to make GitmoWorld: The Enchanted Land of Enhanced Interrogation. Throw in the towel, fucker.
scratch the 'peta is racist' question on my last post. i misread. my bad, full retraction on that...
Robert B. @ 54:
So, you speak for everyone?
[...] Mitt Romney: Confessions of a dog torturer: “You know, PETA has not been my fan over the years,” Romney said. “PETA has been after me for having a rodeo at the Olympics and were very, very upset about that. PETA was after me when I went quail hunting in Georgia. And PETA is not happy that my dog likes fresh air.” [...]
Robert B. @ 54:
Kiss my ass, Bob.
And the ACLU and Amnesty International are not happy about the swimming and drama lessons our interrogators are graciously providing to our guests in Gitmo and elsewhere. ---I'll put words in his mouth.
I for one LOVE the fact this story has garnered so much attention in the media. It's Romney's Macaca moment.
“The more I see of the representatives of the people, the more I admire my dogs.”
- Alphonse de Lamartine
I'm not a big fan of PETA, either, frankly. Or Ingrid Newkirk. The woman who was incensed when a suicide donkey-bomb exploded in Jerusalem, killing the donkey, but openly rejects any involvement with people being killed, saying 'It's not my business to inject myself into human wars.' The woman who said during the foot and mouth crisis in Britain, where 6 million animals died, that she hoped the disease came to America and wiped out our farming industry as well; that all farm animals should be exterminated because they only exist for meat and exploitation and shouldn't even exist in the first place. The woman who thought a satirical story that ran in The Onion, headlined, 'Heroic PETA commandos kill 49, save rabbit', was hilarious.
PETA actively euthanizes the majority of the animals it 'rescues', including perfectly healthy animals on the grounds that the organization (with an annual budget of $6 mill a year) doesn't have enough money to care for them, or that the breeds are 'wrong' (pit bull terriers, for example), unwanted cats with kitten, rabbits, hamsters, even roosters they 'rescued' from a research lab. They have run scaremongering campaigns aimed at children, handing out 'trading cards' to children in Tennessee about 'chickens on factory farms [that] never get to be loved by their moms. These birds' lives are awful and scary even before they are killed and cut up for food.' Or that if Daddy fishes, he's a killer, best to keep the family cat and dog well away from him or he might do something bad to them; or that milk causes obesity, heart disease, strokes and - worse, if you're a 13-year-old girl - zits.
The humane treatment of animals and supporting efforts to legislate against and prosecute animal cruelty is fine - but PETA also actively and financially supports extremist groups like ALF, which have waged a terrorist campaign including firebombing houses and laboratories, intimidation tactics, releasing animals like mink into the wild where they are not indigenous and cause incredible damage to wildlife - nearly wiping out native British water voles and several species of songbirds - as well as assault (beating a scientist with axe-handles so badly the police stated they were lucky not to be investigating a murder inquiry).
No, I'm not a big fan of PETA, either.
But if the KKK were to come out and make an official statement that strapping a dog to the roof of a car and driving down the road at 60 mph for 200 miles, then hosing the animal down when it shit itself was reprehensible, do I then - because I don't like the KKK - decide that if they think it's bad, I should take the opposite view?
Strapping a dog to the roof of a car and driving down the road at 60 mph for 200 miles, then hosing the animal down when it shits itself is reprehensible and the act of a man without a core of empathy. PETA is an extremist animal rights group that operates well outside the same boundries of common decency that Mitt did when he strapped his dog to the roof of his car. The two have nothing to do with each other.
w.smith @ 69:
I thought it was his dog's caca movement.
a guy @ 67:
Ya kiss your donkey? Keep your tongue to yourself.
Dogs have trouble with 'punch card' ballots, many of them can't even deal with 'touch screen' voting machines. But dogs have their own way of coping, and Mitt's dog voted by crapping all over the 'box' his owner was driving below him.
I would regard that as an 'early primary' vote, if I were unfortunate enough to be a republican these days.
They're both equally hateable
nonny mouse,
hence why mitt wanted to get 'PETA' into his news release. PETA in america, and i imagine in the UK too, is quite the lightening rod for controversy. so it definitely helps him change the angle of the story. and, as i said earlier, instead of having to defend his cruelty, he can spin the story as a disgreement between a true amurrican conservative versus a bunch of dirty, tree-hugging, hippies.
this story has nothing to do with PETA. this only has to do with mitt and his actions. everything else is a distraction.
[Deleted]
Lead by example I always tell my kids.
[So you are forgoing the example of manners, I see-Sitemonitor]
Those are public debates on broadcast media, not private websites.
Actually, come to think of it, specialists always say the most dangerous psychopaths start off by torturing animals. Once we discover whether that's true or not in this case, it may be too late.
Do you want to wait until we see a mushroom shaped hydrant?
Dennis,
Go back to redstate. You're not welcome here.
If there's nothing wrong with it...
Why doesn't someone ask him to do it now? ON CAMERA!!!!
You mean that if they treat animals badly they will do other bad things like send our kids to die when theirs don't? Whoops, they already do that. The Republican party has already proven that they are low on moral character in any number of ways. Listening to them or their pundits or supporters claim that they are the right thing for America on anything stretches the imagination just a bit to far.
dennis @ 76:
Fascinating. You should write a book, like Bill Cosby or Paul Reiser.
Asked about the dog kennel later on, Mitt said:
"I wish there were two dog kennels on my roof!"
Rusty Shackleford @ 82:
Or William Bennett?
jay severin has a small pen1s @ 83:
ROFL. :)
ysbaddaden @ 84:
"How to be a Big Fat Hypocrite with a Gambling Problem."
jay severin has a small pen1s @ 83:
Would that be "double kennel"? Just like double gitmo? That would show consistency. *snark*
Romney’s Dog was just enjoying a bit of fresh air
He put his cold wet nose into Romney's ear?
[Deleted. PETA is not the topic of the thread]
PETA should not even weigh in on this matter. They are just as much a fringe group as any Right Wing Nut-Job group. Back at law school we had a group called SALDF (Students Animal Legal Defense Fund) and they would do and say anything to make a case, even if it meant being dishonest about facts.
Romney is just a calloused individual who obviously has no sympathy for animals. I don't see anyone making a big deal about the fact that he really does nothing to discuss how he can help the two legged popualtion other than, "double Guantanamo" I am more fearful of his calloused nature and how that could work against people who are not his constituents or campaign contributors.
It was a criminal act you fucking idiot Mitt!
A man should not abuse or torture his wife, his children, his neighbor, his dog, or any other living creature.
Anyone who excuses the torture of animals because they are animals are sick and not capable of empathy. They are to be feared for there is always a time when they would torture a human if conditions were right.
Don't worry Mitt. The news reports today indicate that the FBI is following up with Scotland Yard to see if there are any US links to the latest British car bombers. The FBI should be raiding PETA headquarters any minute now.
After all, no less than our Congress has declared PETA as terrorists.
Okay, I decided it just had to be done...
Irish Setters for Anybody But Romney
Wow, Dems must be scared and desperate.
[No, just entertained-- Sitemonitor]
a guy @ 67:
Kiss my ass, Bob.
For hating PETA or for voting for Mitt. I wouldn't really vote for Mitt. And I have yet to meet a PETA supporter. *KISS*
Putting a dawg on top of a car for several hours, and another who used to vivisect them for hearts, what's with the Repugs today?
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