Originally Posted by FlDebra (Post 3795044)

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.

Originally Posted by Nancy1999 (Post 3795263)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he's evil, and I throughly agree, we've all made mistakes; I'm saying that this is a dangerous trait to have in a world leader.

Originally Posted by FlDebra (Post 3795044)

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.

Originally Posted by Nancy1999 (Post 3795263)

Where does he admit to his mistake, not in this interview, Mitt Romney Admits Family Dog Rode on the Roof of His Car for 12-Hour Trip | Petside he laughs and says Shamus loved it up there on the roof and climbed up there regularly, :rolleyes: he says it was a good ride and Shamus enjoyed himself. He might be admitting in recent interviews that it was a mistake, but not in earlier ones, I don't know, is he? :confused: I'm concerned because at first he wouldn’t admit it was a mistake. This is a dreadful trait in a leader. As I said earlier, those who can admit to making mistakes are much more likely to be able to stop and adjust their positions and correct their path. Someone who cannot admit to a mistake will not do this. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he's evil, and I throughly agree, we've all made mistakes; I'm saying that this is a dangerous trait to have in a world leader.

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan (Post 3795844)

Since some people here are only able to be sarcastic- I never said it was the dark ages- but yes, as a whole animals were viewed differently even 20 years ago. You can tell me personal anecdotes about YOUR pets but that doesn't mean it changes the idea that AS A WHOLE animals were treated differently. I know people who fed their dogs only scraps or left overs from their meals, people who let their dogs out into unfenced yards, people who didn't take their dogs to the vet at all. That doesn't mean these same people can't own animals now or aren't extremely bright, qualified people.

I am sure we can find a story in ANYONE's background that would make us shudder.

Now feel free to respond with immature, sarcastic, thoughtless comments.

Originally Posted by Bitsy (Post 3793948)

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.

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan (Post 3795844)

Since some people here are only able to be sarcastic- I never said it was the dark ages- but yes, as a whole animals were viewed differently even 20 years ago. You can tell me personal anecdotes about YOUR pets but that doesn't mean it changes the idea that AS A WHOLE animals were treated differently. I know people who fed their dogs only scraps or left overs from their meals, people who let their dogs out into unfenced yards, people who didn't take their dogs to the vet at all. That doesn't mean these same people can't own animals now or aren't extremely bright, qualified people.

I am sure we can find a story in ANYONE's background that would make us shudder.

Now feel free to respond with immature, sarcastic, thoughtless comments.

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan (Post 3795844)

Since some people here are only able to be sarcastic- I never said it was the dark ages- but yes, as a whole animals were viewed differently even 20 years ago. You can tell me personal anecdotes about YOUR pets but that doesn't mean it changes the idea that AS A WHOLE animals were treated differently. I know people who fed their dogs only scraps or left overs from their meals, people who let their dogs out into unfenced yards, people who didn't take their dogs to the vet at all. That doesn't mean these same people can't own animals now or aren't extremely bright, qualified people.

I am sure we can find a story in ANYONE's background that would make us shudder.

Now feel free to respond with immature, sarcastic, thoughtless comments.

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan (Post 3795844)

Since some people here are only able to be sarcastic- I never said it was the dark ages- but yes, as a whole animals were viewed differently even 20 years ago. You can tell me personal anecdotes about YOUR pets but that doesn't mean it changes the idea that AS A WHOLE animals were treated differently. I know people who fed their dogs only scraps or left overs from their meals, people who let their dogs out into unfenced yards, people who didn't take their dogs to the vet at all. That doesn't mean these same people can't own animals now or aren't extremely bright, qualified people.

I am sure we can find a story in ANYONE's background that would make us shudder.

Now feel free to respond with immature, sarcastic, thoughtless comments.