8:24 PM Mon, Nov 10, 2008 | Permalink
Aaron Weiss
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Stef’s in Pioneer Courthouse Square right now, getting MOS (man on the street) interviews on the Obama family’s dog dilemma.
Seems like everyone has an opinion about what kind of pooch the first-family-elect should take to the White House.
The Baltimore Sun rounds up some of the coverage so far:
"Wish there was something like 'primaries' for selection/nomination for the 'first puppy,' an iconic member of the first family," one New York Times reader wrote yesterday, responding to one of the newspaper's numerous dog blog entries and articles.
The Chicago Tribune has weighed in with an editorial, urging citizens to let the Obama girls pick their own puppy. Thousands have opined on their personal blogs and at news sites. There's an "obamafamilydog.com" Web site devoted to the issue. This summer, in an American Kennel Club online poll, 42,000 picked a poodle as the preferred presidential pet.
"This is a very, very, very important decision," said Claire McLean, founder of the Presidential Pets Museum, which moved recently from Maryland to Virginia. "There hasn't been a president without a pet since the early days. It'll be interesting to see what they decide. And of course, everyone will have a different take on it."
Hang on… there’s a Presidential Pets Museum!?
Now we know why Cal Coolidge was a terrible president: He had too many animals at the White House:
Calvin and Grace Coolidge literally had a zoo at the White House. Most famous and beloved was the white collie, purchased from Thomas and Olive shover who owned "Shomont White Collies". They also entertained and cared for: Peter Pan, a Terrier, Paul Pry, an Airedale, that was originally named Laddie Buck. and Rob Roy, a white Collie, originally named Oshkosh. Also popular was Calamity Jane, a Shetland Sheepdog. Tiny Tim, a Chow, Blackberry, also a Chow, and Ruby Rough, a brown Collie. They also had Boston Beans, a bulldog, King Kole, a police dog, Bessie, a yellow collie, Palo Alto, a bird dog, and Nip and Tuck, canaries. Snowflake, was also a white canary and Old Bill was a thrush. Enoch, was a goose and they had a Mockingbird belonging to Mrs. Grace Coolidge. Finally there was Tiger, an alley cat, Blacky, another cat and Rebecca and Horace, raccoons. We must not forget Ebenezer, the donkey and Smokey, a bobcat. Given to them by dignitaries from other countries there was also: lion cubs, wallaby,a pigmy hippo, and a bear.
There’s my vote: We need more bobcats roaming the West Wing.
I find it amazing that the American people seem to care more about what kind of dog the Obamas will get, than they do about important issues such as the President-Elect's economic plan or recent statement that he's in favor of bailing out Detroit. I know this is probably sacrilege in pet-obsessed Portland, but seriously folks, what impact does that Obama family's choice of dog have on the average American?