Mitt and Ann Romney's 'dog on roof' responses tellingly tone deaf

[Quantum Windbag]

Ann Romney may have thought Hilary Rosen's "hasn't worked a day in her life" jab was an "early birthday present," but for her husband's opponents, Seamus the dog is the gift that keeps on giving.

Seamus. Remember him? The Irish setter Mitt Romney crated on the roof of the family station wagon before driving from Boston to Ontario for a family vacation? The dog who, hours into the trip, released a stream of diarrhea that trickled down the windows of the station wagon, forcing Romney to make, reluctantly, an unscheduled pit stop?

Both the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals condemned the act. A blog, DogsAgainstRomney.com, has tens of thousands of followers. Public Policy Polling even found 35 percent of voters said they would be less likely to vote for Romney because of what he did to Seamus. Romney has called Seamus-based attacks some of the most wounding of the campaign.

Yet when asked about their dearly departed dog by Diane Sawyer this week, both husband and wife responded with what seems to be characteristic tone-deafness.

"Would you do it again?" Sawyer asked the couple in an interview this week.

"Certainly not with the attention it's received," said Mitt "Backbone" Romney, who apparently never met a public opinion he didn't shape-shift to match.

His wife took a different tack: Indignant defense.

"The dog loved it," she told Sawyer, claiming Seamus would leap up into the carrier whenever the family traveled (suggesting, perhaps, that the roof-strapping technique was employed more than once).

And the diarrhea, which commentators have attributed to the dog's terror?

"He ate the turkey on the counter. I mean, he had the runs," she said, laughing. "He would see that crate, and he would go crazy because he was going with us on vacation.

"It was, to me, a kinder thing to bring him along than to leave him in the kennel for two weeks."

Yes, bringing the dog on vacation may have been kinder than leaving him in the kennel. But allowing him to ride inside the car would probably have been kinder than sticking him on the roof. And if the whole big Romney family didn't fit in one vehicle, perhaps they could have taken two cars. Surely, they had options.

Ann Romney has been called her husband's secret weapon, one with the power to warm her husband's chilly persona and attract female voters who have so far kept their distance. But in recent weeks, her off-the-cuff remarks have given the impression (however fair) that she is out of touch with the challenges of today's working mothers, and that she condones what has been widely described as animal cruelty.

Someone, quick: Get Mrs. Romney a day at an animal shelter, and a list of talking points.

Mitt and Ann Romney's 'dog on roof' responses tellingly tone deaf | NJ.com

Why do city people think dogs stick their heads out the window when they are riding in cars? My dog used to love to ride in the back of the truck. (Come to think of it, so did I.) The only time they ever had diarrhea from the experience was never.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

You would rather have a dog with diarrhea riding in the car with you?

My guess is most of these idiots never took a trip with a dog, they either never owned one, or left them in the kennel.

 

[SniperFire]

I love this subject!

Thanks loads, Libs!!