In the latest publicity stunt aimed at reelecting Obama, pet owners are posting FaceBook messages indicating that they “bark for Obama”.
The Obama campaign-inspired pandering plethora includes “Women for Obama”, “African Americans for Obama” and now “Pet Lovers for Obama”.
“Launched on BarackObama.com on January 30, the Facebook page says, “This page is dedicated to showing the Obama 2012 spirit of our favorite animals and those of us who love them. While this page is run by the Obama 2012 campaign staff, our honorary host is Bo Obama, first dog.” (The Blaze, March 11, 2012).
The page even has its own advertisements.
The “Pet Lovers for Obama” publicity stunt is the first anyone has seen of Bo in ages.
It can be safely assumed that the Obamas, who spend so much of their time away from the White House, hardly dote on Bo or give two figs for anyone else’s pet. The only known time the Portuguese water dog, given to the family by Ted Kennedy, joined them on holiday was the one where Bo was the sole passenger on a flight belatedly joining the Holiday Family in Martha’s Vineyard.
Except for elections, hedonists and Marxists do not top the dog lovers’ list.
Many presidents had dogs and cats during their time in the White House.
The Clintons had feline Socks and dog Buddy. Hillary Clinton even wrote a children’s book called Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids’ Letters to the First Pets, in 1998. It included more than 50 letters written to the First Pets by children.
Socks was the only pet of the Clinton during the early years of the administration, and his likeness hosted the children’s version of the White House Website. (Wikipedia).
But only the George W. Bush’s dog Barney had his own website, and only Barney had the idea of a First Pet website that was swiped by Obama.
When Bush was in office, two inky black Scottish terriers, Barney and Miss Beazley (Bea) had both the run of the White House and people’s hearts.
Miss Bea, a presidential present to Laura Bush who joined Barney in the White House was introduced by Mrs. Bush in 2005 as “our new little baby”.
You hardly saw George and Laura Bush without Barney and Ms. Bea.
You hardly ever see the Obamas with Bo.
The Facebook page “Pet Lovers for Obama” apparently has more than 10,000 “likes”.
The count for Women for Obama must surely trump the Bo page “likes” department count.
Meanwhile, the Obama campaign’s swiping the idea of a First Dog having its own website could be the only thing Obama cannot possibly blame on Bush.
Judi McLeod——Bio and Archives
-- Judi McLeod, Founder, Owner and Editor of Canada Free Press, is an award-winning journalist with more than 30 years’ experience in the print and online media. A former Toronto Sun columnist, she also worked for the Kingston Whig Standard. Her work has appeared throughout the ‘Net, including on Rush Limbaugh and Fox News.
