Imo, it doesn't matter whether it was 1983 or 2033...it doesn't change the action. Also, the PR statement released afterward by HIS team indicated that no learning had taken place since, no remorse felt, no regret that they wish they'd done it differently.

That's not a moral compass I can get on board with...not in the past, not now, not ever.

Agree!! :thumbup::thumbup:

I completely agree with both of you.
For the record, I'm about as Republican as you can get. In my opinion, this crosses all political lines. It's not about if you are left or right....it's about judgement then and now.

Well when I first read this story I thought well we know how things can get twisted and exagerated in politics and it was a long time ago so I just dont know. I do think it would have fared alot better for him to show some regret over the situation.

I agree with you. It's bad enough what was done was done, but now in 2012!!! not to say "yeah that was wrong"!!

He's a jerk of a human being.

I guess 1983 sounds like the Stone Age to some of you. :p I can assure you, pets weren't viewed any differently. There will always be those who think, "it's just a dog" and there will always be those who know it's not. Look at all the old Lassie movies and when I was growing up we had two dog TV shows, "Rin Tin Tin" on Saturday and "Lassie" on Sunday. :D


I'm actually more bothered by the fact that he continues to joke about it, make excuses and justifies it. Sometimes, people with huge egos, can’t admit they made a mistake; some mistakes, if caught early enough, can actually be fixed without too much damage being done. However, if the person isn’t the type to own up to it, he will continue along the same path and not question his choices. This can be a disastrous quality in a president, of course, he should be confident in his choices, but he should be able to see in hindsight where some things were not good decision’s. If he had said, that was not a good decision, and we’re lucky the dog made it safely or something like that, I could deal with him. Of course, now whatever he says, will just be the PR people talking.

The way he was chortling about it in the interview with Chris Wallace was disgusting.

Thank you for being the voice of reason Ann! You always come in at the right time and say what needs to be said.

I don't think anyone is debating that it was a poor choice. Of course it was. But the idea that it is being dredged up now almost 30 YEARS later just because he is running for office, is crazy. The truth is we do not know the details, what sort of carrier he had to prevent wind issues, how secure it was, how shielded from the elements it was, how fast he was driving, how often he stopped to check on the dog, etc..... so guessing about the exact details of the ride, is silly. Animals are transported in open air vehicles ALL THE TIME. In farm country, you will see the way they put cows, sheep, etc... in the back of open vehicles for transport. This was not a little dog like our yorkies. It was very large. He said the dog got up there himself and liked it. Don't doubt it -- I have seen MANY DOGS that want to stick their heads out the window at all times when in a vehicle. They LIKE the sensation of the wind in their face. His container was "air tight" and I'm sure he did not mean completely so that he would suffocate, but rather "WIND-PROTECTED" so that the dog was not continually subjected to the air currents. My little Ben gets in his tiny kennel on his own in anticipation of "getting to go" so I have no doubt a large dog would excitedly get in their car-top carrier for a ride too. I think this is one of those cases where it probably sounds a lot worse to us than it actually was.

I still think it was wrong but I also don't think it means he was evil -- he just fell in to the same actions as many people at the time, and even many in the south today. I see dogs in the back of an OPEN pick up truck almost every day. That is much more reckless than being in a secure carrier on top of a car. And these good old boys LOVE their dogs. They just are making poor choices. He made a poor choice and admitted it. Better than trying to pretend to be perfect. He made a mistake that he would not make today. ME TOO (different mistakes but I've made plenty of my own).

If everyone here NEVER made a poor choice in the last 30 YEARS then jump on him with both feet. I know I do not want every poor decision I have made in the last 30 years paraded and dissected!

There is no way to defend the act, but to make it more than it is after all these years is not productive either.

To me - it shows an outstanding lack of judgement and concern for another living creature; this is something I would be factoring in as I look at any potential candidates.

I grew up in the South as well and am trying to imagine my parents tying Sparky's crate to the top of our car while we traveled for 12 hours.

Nah, they were smarter than that! I maintain - No Excuse - and no remorse.

And while I don't like to see dogs in the back of a truck either - certainly I would prefer that to seeing one on the ROOF.

Exactly....that right there ^^^.

I don't feel for him at all...if he does not want things dug up from the past, then he should not run for office. It is part of the territory.

Nope...he would not do it again but not because he feels remorse and/or knows better. He knows how it would be looked upon.

I remember my mother reviving our beagle that had chewed a plug and was knocked out...and sitting up all night with him with a clothespin in his mouth to help him breathe because his mouth was burned. He actually survived...his name was Sparky...fitting eh? :D That was in the 50s!!!!

David Letterman poked a jab at him last night. Showed a cartoon campaign airplane with Romney written on it and a dog crate strapped to the top and the dog was barking as the plane was flying.
I remember 1983 (well) people rode around with dogs in the open backs of their trucks (some still do) but I never saw anyone with one strapped to the top of their car!

I am a hick kid from the farm and we would never think of transporting any animal this way or that was unsafe for the animal. Our farm animals were not treated any different than our pets and calves were often in our house if they were sick and I slept on the floor with thier heads on my lap watching for any sign of improvement or worsening. Being from the farm, the south, etc, doesn't mean you haven't seen questionable things as I have seen my share (never a dog on the roof of a car) but it doesn't mean you approve or accept the acts either. Very poor judgement and I am disappointed by his lack of remorse.

:thumbup::eek: :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: