Posted on 04/14/2009 6:07:22 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
President Barack Obama showed off his latest policy initiative - the new family pet - on Tuesday as he and his family paraded their six-month-old Portuguese water dog across the White House lawn.
The hotly-anticipated animal, who has been renamed Bo by the Obama children, made his debut in front of massed ranks of reporters and photographers.
"He's got star quality," said Mr Obama as he, his wife and daughter Malia took turns holding Bo's lead.
"I finally got a friend. It took some time," the President joked, referring to Harry Truman's famous line, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog."
Dog experts have warned that the rare breed can be temperamental and need firm control. Some are worried that the Obama link will prompt a surge in popularity among owners who will not be able to cope with the dogs.
But Bo - prepared for presidential life by dog trainers working for Senator Edward Kennedy - provided no evidence of bad behaviour, even if he broke into a run when the 10-year-old Obama daughter, Malia, took the reins.
Mr Obama had promised his two daughters a puppy during the presidential campaign. He had also pledged to the wider public that they would find a rescue dog.
However, the search for a puppy was complicated by the fact that Malia is allergic to dogs and the Obamas chose a breed which is supposedly hypo-allergenic.
The dog was given up by his previous owner but never spent time in a shelter before he was snapped up by Mr Kennedy, who owns three of the dogs.
The Obamas made a donation to the Washington Humane Society in an effort to downplay the row over Bo's less than humble lineage.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
He got a Water Dog from a Kennedy?
And the late night comedians can’t find anything to joke about.......
I wonder if he will force TARP bucks upon the dog so he can get him to obey his every command???
Bo reminds me of what a metrosexual dog would look like.
Yeah ... a gift from the swimmer ... and the friggin’ dog can’t swim !
I’m beginning to doubt Obamas Kenyan roots. Most of those guys don’t run like girls. Even their GIRLS don’t look as feminine on the run as THIS candy@ss quisling
Who cares?
What do you wan’t him to have? A pit bull?
I think a president should have something docile and maybe even a little bit lethargic but excels at obedience. Golden retrievers come to mind.
I’m with you. I bet the comidians are thinking the same thing.
“He’s got star quality,” said Mr Obama as he, his wife and daughter Malia took turns holding Bo’s lead.
“I finally got a friend. It took some time,” the President joked, referring to Harry Truman’s famous line, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.”
After the novelty wears off and a prop is no longer needed....Buddy II.
Tip Toe Through The Tulips...LOL!!!
“A ‘Boy’ and His Dog”.
Doggie-dew Offsets
Still, it's fascinating watching bo’s thin skin twitch so reactionarily as he exploites his own daughters’ innocent delights for the sake of soothing his ever bitter, ever bruised ego.
May as well get started calling the pooch "Buddy" or "Speed bump"...just like the last DUmocrat White House pets. They are easily discarded when the need for a new prop has subsided.
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