General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat could Romney do to ameliorate the "Seamus" issue?
If you were his campaign manager - what would you advise him to do to try to put this problem to bed?
I would recommend the following:
Admit he did it and say it was a terribly cruel thing to do that cannot be justified in any way. Period.
In addition, in Seamus's name and memory, he will make out a check today for ten million dollars to go to the poorest animal shelters in the country for improving their facilities and offering free neutering and spaying.
Also another ten million check for a nationwide program educating people about animal cruelty and advocating for laws across the country making animal cruelty a felony in all states.
I think that might help take some of the stink (no pun intended) from this problem.
Ruby the Liberal
(26,219 posts)Peregrine Took
(7,417 posts)From what I hear they are all over crowded and putting animals to sleep all over the place.
Especially in poor areas like eastern Kentucky where, even years ago, the shelters were full and the strays were out running on the interstate. I believe it was "Corbin" Kentucky. I'll never forget it.
MADem
(135,425 posts)Morning Dew
(6,539 posts)That's all the help I'm willing to offer.
MADem
(135,425 posts)He admits it? He admits he's an idiot with incredibly poor judgment who is cruel to animals.
He makes out a check? He's a rich asshole who thinks he can buy his way out of his poor judgment and cruelty to animals. I think most people would say, pardon the expression, "Fuck that and fuck him." You can't buy your way out of animal torture.
There's no way out. Michael Vick knows that--that guy did TIME in PRISON, did community service, stood up and made a heartfelt public apology, and people still make jokes about not letting him babysit their Shitzhu.
It wouldn't surprise me if Mitt's shitty little privileged adult children dropped that "Seamus ran away when we reached Canada" bomb because those kids know that their lives will be heavily scrutinized, their freedom limited, their every movement observed, and they want to keep the story in the news, so Daddy will lose the election, and instead of being the incompetent leader of the free world, he will go on making private sector money that he will leave to their lazy, piggy asses.
Peregrine Took
(7,417 posts)If it helps him so what?
I want the shelters to get that money and also for animal care protection and maybe to fight factory farms, too.
Lets not cut off our noses here to spite our face.
MADem
(135,425 posts)First, he's too cheap to give that kind of money away altruistically. Second, if he gives money to animal shelters, it will be seen as "atonement" money. He cannot admit guilt, it will make him look weak. Oh, and GUILTY.
His only hope is to stonewall, to deny, to pretend that the dog was an amazingly athletic animal that could "scramble up" into his crate atop a car on his own, and that the dog enjoyed a rocking, loud, terrifyingly unbalanced 12 hour torturous, windy ride, part of which he endured soaking wet after being hosed off after shitting himself.
It won't help him. It will just call attention to his cruelty and make people KNOW that he's trying to "buy off" his critics. It will encourage people to dig deeper, and find out if Seamus really did run away as the Romney boys indicated, as soon as they arrived in Canada.
This has nothing to do with noses or faces. Romney will run naked down Fifth Avenue before he gives a shit about anyone or anything but himself. It's not in him. He's a cretin.
You want money for shelters? Hold a car wash and a bake sale. You're not getting it from Shittsy Mittsy.
eridani
(51,907 posts)I know what you'e thinking. He stood on a chair.
tsuki
(11,994 posts)that picture and story didn't go to bed for years.
MADem
(135,425 posts)And yes, it was "Him" what got lifted by his ears--happened on May 4 1964:
tsuki
(11,994 posts)Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)And get driven around at high speeds until he shits himself and the roof of the car in sheer terror, and then get hosed off and get driven around some more, just to show us it is no big deal.
JI7
(89,283 posts)and regrets it then i think people would be ok. they would say he didn't know .
but there have been too many lies involved in the story. and the way he blew the whole thing off.
donating money or whatever would just come off as phony and done for his own selfish political gains.
qazplm
(3,626 posts)If I am thinking purely from a political pov? Ignore it. He could make a genuine heartfelt apology and it wouldn't help him. He'd do better politically by ignoring it, feigning outrage and indignation when it is brought up, deflecting, etc.
Now morally??
rgbecker
(4,834 posts)Mistreat a dog...make a donation to the humane society.
Kill a bunch of innocent children...pay off the parents.
Kill innocent drivers with a car that catches fire like a tinder box...pay off the estate.
Romney will fit right in. And it would be a miracle if he did as you suggested....which I hope he does.
Peregrine Took
(7,417 posts)And that makes me happy.
MADem
(135,425 posts)And no, I am not kidding. Apologies and money work brilliantly over that way.
You can avoid jail if the blood money paid is sufficient and the apology is heartfelt.
You can even be forgiven if the circumstances support it.
Romney will never part with a dime for animal shelters. Not happening.
hayrow1
(198 posts)begin filming commercials with the rehabilitated Michael Vick, stating, unlike Michael Vick's victims, Seamus had no chance, so Romney is an even tougher hombre than Vick.
Karl Rove would have him make this perceived disaster a strength.
UTUSN
(70,779 posts)Plus, if Mittens has dogs NOW or if he gets them in future photo ops, the dogs will RISE again, over and over.
UTUSN
(70,779 posts)grantcart
(53,061 posts)It would fix the Seamus problem but he would lose Utah which right now is about his only really safe state.
Those Episcopals are well known for lavishing gifts on their dogs.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)nolabear
(42,001 posts)Because Seamus is all of us.
rocktivity
(44,583 posts)as it does his character.
He tried to defend himself by explaining that the dog carrier had been "airtight." Which means that either the dog suffocated, or shouldn't have been ABLE to soil the back window of their car!
Keith Olbermann describes Mitt as "stepping on one rake after another." And that's not desirable in a leader of any kind.
rocktivity
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)authoritarianism. His sons said he mapped the trip out (Boston to Ontario) and picked places
where he would stop for gas. Then he warned the kids that that would be the absolute
ONLY stops - no exceptions.
As it turned out, the only other time he ended up stopping was when Seamus pooped and it
ran down the back window.
MADem
(135,425 posts)the open wire ones.
He's just a stupid asshole who was cruel to a dog, was pleased with himself about it, realized he fucked up, so he bullshitted and lied some more to try to mitigate his cruelty. The "rake stepping" analogy is right on the mark.
PCIntern
(25,627 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)tsuki
(11,994 posts)picture and comments went on for years.
sad sally
(2,627 posts)tsuki
(11,994 posts)Cleita
(75,480 posts)inhumane. Then there are hundreds of animal charities that rescue abused animals out there, which he could make some generous donations too. Finally, he should agree to get some counseling on how sentient animals are to be treated. I don't know if this would be enough, but it sure is better than what he is doing now, defending his callousness and trying to justify why he did it.
CK_John
(10,005 posts)carrier used by airlines today were roof mounted like ski racks back then. Not often but not unusual either.
dsc
(52,172 posts)that is nothing short of absurd. No airline ever flew with any carrier mounted anywhere.
CK_John
(10,005 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)highway miles in the eighties.
The only thing I saw on roofs was skis and luggage racks--not dogs. Dogs rode INSIDE, even back then.
briv1016
(1,570 posts)You know Fox will never bring it up and that's the only audience he needs for the nomination. In the general they'll just call it old news.
ThisThreadIsSatire
(786 posts)Response to Peregrine Took (Original post)
Warren DeMontague This message was self-deleted by its author.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)his shoes.
But, to be honest, I would have to agree - there is nothing that wouldn't look
disingenuous.
Vinca
(50,323 posts)opihimoimoi
(52,426 posts)jsmirman
(4,507 posts)It would be a great, great thing.
And it would still be a great thing for reputational rehabilitation even after the election!
get the red out
(13,468 posts)But I would also know that he only did it for a political campaign so I would still see him as totally incapable of empathy, and a complete selfish asshole.
wandy
(3,539 posts)A man who 'likes to fire people'. The type of corporate vulture that brought America to it's knees. A rich boy blue blood having less in common with you or I than we have with ducks. And the most likely reason that this vermin will not be the next president is a dog.
Got nothing aginst dogs. It was a bad thing. But what would he do with the rest of us.
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)Brad Pitt could carve a dog into R-Money's forehead so he'll forever carry the shame.