Today GOP candidate Dino Rossis camp expresses outrage that Democrat Chris Gregoire would impune his faithful dog, much as Gregoire rallied to the defense her dog Franz a couple years ago.
First, Rossis claim:
Gregoire said during her speech: "In fact, he is so enamored with George W. Bush he has named his dog [Dubya]. I feel sorry for the dog. "
"People in Washington want a candidate who will fix problems in our state, not an incumbent Governor who spends her time attacking her opponents dog. Were going to keep talking about issues that matter like controlling spending, fixing our traffic congestion problem, and improving our schools," said Jill Strait, Rossi spokesperson.
Responding to attacks on one's pooch is actually a important skill set for a politician. Compare Rossi's play to the opening shots in Gregoires 2006 State of the State:
Some have not been content with attacks on me, or my spouse, or on my daughters. No, not content with that, they now include my little dog, Franz.
Well, of course, I don't resent attacks, and my family doesn't resent attacks, but Franz does resent them.
You know, as soon as he learned that the fiction writers had concocted a story he couldnt defend himself and was a cost to taxpayers, his Pomeranian soul was furious.
He has not been the same dog since.
Our family dog Franz has a real kinship with FDRs dog Fala.
This was in response to Republican criticism of efforts by the state to protect the Pomeranian from fierce coyotes in the neighborhood of the mansion. Sadly, Franz was killed while the Gregoires attended the Seahawks Superbowl game that year.
The family was given a new dog, a shiba inu named Trooper. He was related to Republican Sen. Cheryl Pflugs dog Jack, who was also killed tragically, by a bobcat. And there was a Dogs of the Republican Caucus wall calendar in 2007.
Thats a lot of canine crossfire. But the most famous dog defense may have been by President Nixon, in his Checkers speech.
"The kids, like all kids, love the dog and I just want to say this right now, that regardless of what they say about it, we're gonna keep it, Nixon said.
