Why Romney's 'dog on car roof' story makes him unfit to be president

[Liberal_in_LA]

This is the ultimate Purple Issue — it cuts across Republicans, Democrats, blue states, red states, liberals and conservatives.

There are more than 78 million Americans who own one or more dogs — about two out of every five households. A Google search of "Romney Dog on Car Roof" brought me 1,080,000 results.

I don’t know how many of these 78 million dog owners (and thus, dog lovers) have yet heard or read about Romney doing this horrible thing, much less making his disingenuous claim that Seamus loved the experience on top of a speeding car for 12 hours, while his bowels turned to water.

But I’m thinking if this story gets out and stays out, there will be tens of millions of Google hits by next October. And I am also thinking that Romney is going to lose a lot of dog-lover votes on this issue alone, regardless of party or ideology.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/01/13/romneys-dog-on-car-roof-story-makes-him-unfit-to-be-president/#ixzz1jMvD1tjP

[snagglepuss]

1. I agree with Davis. THis issue is going to kill Romney's chances with those who love their pets.

Last edited Fri Jan 13, 2012, 07:33 PM - Edit history (1)

This story should be kept front and center.

[roguevalley]

5. what was horrendous was that after seeing the dog's terror he put him

back up there. Mitt Romney is a sociopath

[SoCalDem]

16. After HOSING HIM OFF..

It was SUMMER..and probably quite hot in that kennel/crate/whatever.

Setters are long-haired dogs, and I'd bet anything that Seamus was NOT "quite comfortable" being made to lay in his own waste on top of a vehicle for TWELVE HOURS.

[GoCubsGo]

19. Hosed off at a car wash.

No doubt with filthy, chemical-laden recycled water.

[Motown_Johnny]

2. Compared to protesting in favor of the Vietnam draft that he was exempt from

the "dog on roof" story pales in comparison.


The arrogance needed, to file for and obtain an exemption from the draft and then pick up a sign and protest so that others would be drafted, is beyond the comprehension of most Americans.


This not only plays into the narrative of him being out of touch and playing by a different set of rules, it also speaks directly to his fitness to serve as Commander In Chief.




Don't get me wrong, I am a dog owner and lover (not all dog owners are) but to me even his mistreatment of that poor animal is not as big a political landmine as his actions concerning service in our military. (plus the whole "Mormon Missionary" thing just reminds fundies that he is not one of them.)

And, there are pictures. Low information voters love pictures.

[mdmc]

3. big deal

AS a dog lover, I say.. No big deal

[RebelOne]

7. I can also say no big deal.

In 1999, my Rottweiler died. The person who originally gave me that Rottie said she had another one that needed a home. Well, that Rottie survived a trip in the back of a pickup truck from Florida to Georgia in January. The pickup had a cab, but there were two other people in it, so poor doggie had to rode in the bed of the pickup. She was in a big kennel with lots of blankets, so she arrived with no ill effects.

[saras]

8. So compare driving with your kids in the bed, seatbelted in, versus strapping them to the roof

As a kid, I rode in the backs of pickups all the time. I've seen pickups with seats in the back, with seatbelts.

Nevertheless, if I had been strapped to the roof of our car and driven anywhere, the police would have been on us instantly.

And rightly so.

[nolabear]

9. Big difference between the back and the roof. Try it. You'll understand fast.

[leveymg]

10. As someone who's ridden in both places, I agree.

When I was a teenager, my friends used to play a prank game we called "ditching", where we would drive somewhere, get out and pile back in, leaving the last man stranded beside the road. We being teenagers, stupid, and usually drunk at the time, thought it was funny.

Back then (mid-1970s), we all hitch-hiked a lot. so it wasn't really a big deal. But, one night, after leaving a bar in the next State that served under-age beer, I got "ditched" one summer night. But, being me, and not really wanting to walk and hitchhike home, I ran after the car, caught up, and hopped onto the roof, riding on on my belly for 20 miles or so. Most of that trip was on the Connecticut State Thruway at 3 am. There weren't many cops at that hour back then, and no cell phones. Got the weirdest looks from people as we sped past them. But, cars had rain gutters on the roof back them, and I kept a pretty good grip as my buddy Matt sped along at 90 mph, and the other Yahoos in the back seat thought it was very funny -- or at least it seemed that way at the time.

I can tell you from personal experience, it would have scared a dog.

[Capitalocracy]

4. Because it proves he's a psychopath who has no business holding the football? nt

[Peregrine Took]

6. I plan on keeping that story front and center.

It says tons about him and its all bad.

[Hepburn]

11. I don't give a rat's ass about anything else about Romney...

...but what he did to Shamus alone dis-fucking-qualifies him to be POTUS.

[dragonlady]

12. Add people who live with cats to that assessment

No animal should be treated that way.

[Glimmer of Hope]

13. Animal abuse is linked to psychological disorders. Or he could just be an asshole.

[RockaFowler]

14. Or Both

[joeybee12]

15. I used to dislike him

Now I hate him!

[polly7]

17. What a nutcase.

Along with the cruelty of having the poor dog stressed enough to develp diarrhea and laying in it for 12 hours, I have visions of an accident and the carrier flying off. I just bet he 'loved it'.

[treestar]

18. Republicans will spin it as a mistake

and get photos of mittens with cute doggies

But you may have a point. That will be obvious. And it's just not something that most ordinary people would do. The opposite of "oh I would like to have a beer with him," it would be "what a weirdo."

I've never owned a dog personally - though grew up with them and family has dogs - and I can see the idiocy of Mittens in this, so we can add a lot of non-dog owners.

[Hepburn]

20. Romney Family Vacation