TeddyKGB (644 posts) Thu Jun-28-07 12:08 AM
Original message
Romney's Cruel Canine Vacation
Source: TIME Magazine
The reporter intended the anecdote that opened part four of the Boston Globe's profile of Mitt Romney to illustrate, as the story said, "emotion-free crisis management": Father deals with minor — but gross — incident during a 1983 family vacation, and saves the day. But the details of the event are more than unseemly — they may, in fact, be illegal.
The incident: dog excrement found on the roof and windows of the Romney station wagon. How it got there: Romney strapped a dog carrier — with the family dog Seamus, an Irish Setter, in it — to the roof of the family station wagon for a twelve hour drive from Boston to Ontario, which the family apparently completed, despite Seamus's rather visceral protest.
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." And while it appears that the statute of limitations has probably passed, Stacey Wolf, attorney and legislative director for the ASPCA, said "even if it turns out to not be against the law at the time, in the district, we'd hope that people would use common sense...Any manner of transporting a dog that places the animal in serious danger is something that we'd think is inappropriate...I can't speak to the accuracy of the case, but it raises concerns about the judgment used in this particular situation."
Ingrid Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, was less circumspect. PETA does not have a position on Romney's candidacy per se, but Newkirk called the incident "a lesson in cruelty that was ... wrong for to witness...Thinking of the wind, the weather, the speed, the vulnerability, the isolation on the roof, it is commonsense that any dog who's under extreme stress might show that stress by losing control of his bowels: that alone should have been sufficient indication that the dog was, basically, being tortured." Romney, of course, has expressed support for the use of "enhanced interrogation" techniques when it comes to terrorists; his campaign did not return repeated calls and emails about the treatment of his dog...
Read more:
www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1638065,...
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Romney's Cruel Canine Vacation TeddyKGB Jun-28-07 12:08 AM #0
He did. He tortured that terrified dog. aquart Jun-28-07 12:14 AM #1
ah, a prick without a conscience. just what america needs. orleans Jun-28-07 02:25 AM #19
That's correct. The family should have strapped Romney there barb162 Jun-28-07 03:27 AM #22
What also shocks me: The reporter thought it was a nice anecdote... IndyOp Jun-28-07 08:50 AM #45
I'm guessing that at least one of those reporters knew this would blow up. Gormy Cuss Jun-28-07 11:21 AM #60
As he treats his dog DBoon Jun-28-07 10:14 AM #54
He'd Do That To People, Too MannyGoldstein Jun-28-07 12:17 AM #2
I wouldn't go THAT far nothingtoofear Jun-28-07 01:22 AM #9
Really? I would. aquart Jun-28-07 04:42 AM #27
I agree he would. sallyseven Jun-28-07 08:42 AM #44
Don't underestimate Romney's badness. mwb970 Jun-28-07 07:22 AM #35
He SAYS he would do worse to humans! yardwork Jun-28-07 09:34 AM #50
Mitt's one of those guys that puts the "thug" in "rethuglican". GoddessOfGuinness Jun-28-07 12:19 AM #3
No wonder he wants to "double Guantanamo" TeddyKGB Jun-28-07 12:21 AM #4
Didn't Chevy Chase play Romney... TwoSparkles Jun-28-07 12:29 AM #5
The Romney family is now the Griswolds. Pirate Smile Jun-28-07 12:42 AM #6
Nah, the mythical Griswald dad ACCIDENTALLY forgot the dog, Mitt latched it to the roof ON PURPOSE. ShortnFiery Jun-28-07 05:18 AM #28
That was my thought as I was hearing this on the radio this AM. liberal N proud Jun-28-07 07:29 AM #36
K & R. byronius Jun-28-07 12:54 AM #7
Kind of like scrub-yas emotion free crisis management rpannier Jun-28-07 01:19 AM #8
What a sick bastard. The Brethren Jun-28-07 01:28 AM #10
I would for sure describe such a person as sick Skittles Jun-28-07 03:28 AM #23
I'm still amazed The Brethren Jun-28-07 03:37 AM #24
People who are cruel to animals should be shot. Period. maggiegault Jun-28-07 01:37 AM #11
Killing people to punish cruelty jpgray Jun-28-07 01:44 AM #12
Whatever, clever one. I am so sorry that you are incapable of understanding what "facetious" means. maggiegault Jun-28-07 01:51 AM #15
I wasn't sure if you were exaggerating to make your point or not jpgray Jun-28-07 02:03 AM #17
I agree muffin1 Jun-28-07 08:23 AM #42
HELLO??? badgerpup Jun-28-07 01:45 AM #13
#10 of many more K&R's I would think! what a sick thing to do! themartyred Jun-28-07 01:48 AM #14
he could The Brethren Jun-28-07 02:42 AM #20
whew... themartyred Jun-28-07 04:29 AM #25
PETA v Romney flvegan Jun-28-07 01:53 AM #16
why is that a quandry? Kali Jun-28-07 10:12 AM #53
Now, let's see, just which ancient Olympics Sporting tradition whistle Jun-28-07 02:11 AM #18
I wish I could say this suprised me... WindRavenX Jun-28-07 03:03 AM #21
Jesus Christ! 6000eliot Jun-28-07 04:36 AM #26
I assume that's a rhetorical question. Roland99 Jun-28-07 05:51 AM #29
He fits right in with... Sancho Jun-28-07 06:26 AM #30
An Irish Setter? George Oilwellian Jun-28-07 06:31 AM #31
Irish setters are not a particularly calm breed - they're very excitable Divernan Jun-28-07 07:38 AM #38
He's obviously either heartless or an idiot. tbyg52 Jun-28-07 07:03 AM #32
I disagree... whopis01 Jun-28-07 09:24 AM #48
What a heartless, rich creep. nt Vinca Jun-28-07 07:12 AM #33
You wouldn't think Republicans could surprise me any more. mwb970 Jun-28-07 07:21 AM #34
how horrilbe. cwydro Jun-28-07 07:34 AM #37
romney/frist '08- keeping america safe from it's pets. QuestionAll Jun-28-07 07:43 AM #39
KICK bronxiteforever Jun-28-07 07:56 AM #40
Yay another moron running for President Geek_Girl Jun-28-07 08:06 AM #41
So it is true. That dirty rotten son of a bitch! Prosecute him for animal cruelty. lonestarnot Jun-28-07 08:40 AM #43
I don't think Teen Wolf would have a problem with this... tenderheart Jun-28-07 08:56 AM #46
What Romney deserves for abusing his dog Dudley_DUright Jun-28-07 09:08 AM #47
What a great pic KCdemocrat Jun-28-07 10:21 AM #55
I knew he was a jackass B3Nut Jun-28-07 09:32 AM #49
What's the difference between FDR and Mitt Romney? KansDem Jun-28-07 09:36 AM #51
The other day, I got so pissed off when I saw rateyes Jun-28-07 10:12 AM #52
* with frogs, Guiliani's 3rd wife w using dogs for selling equipment for which they mod mom Jun-28-07 10:26 AM #56
Don't forget Frist. They're all freaks. Nasty little creeps. glitch Jun-28-07 12:28 PM #62
...and Judi Giuliani's former employerer tortured dogs... npincus Jun-28-07 10:29 AM #57
Idiot America may not care about "brown people"... TWriterD Jun-28-07 10:40 AM #58
The animatronic candidate "double-guantanmoed" his own dog. nt valerief Jun-28-07 11:11 AM #59
Piece of shit bastard BigDDem Jun-28-07 11:52 AM #