So, if Obama was like a dog, what kind would he be?

The peripatetic President Obama, who's off again today to Ohio of all places to talk more personally about spending even more billions to help the economy, may have made an unintentionally revealing personal comment during his last speech on the subject. (Listen for him to cite the same grandparents he brought up in last year's healthcare townhalls.)

On Labor Day in Milwaukee, having doffed his coat and tie just like a real working guy, the Democrat tried to launch the fall election campaign by listing his many accomplishments and his fights for real Americans. (See full Milwaukee text here.)

And as is the Democratic party line between now and Judgment Day Nov. 2, the chief executive who promised before the last election to take us all beyond the old-style partisan politics, warned....

...that the sinister folks on the other side want to turn things around and go backward. Easily doable in even an American-made car. But not a good thing in political symbolism, in case you want to know.

But then Obama told the union crowd something that was not "in his prepared remarks," an alarming phrase that makes nearby political aides suck air anxiously because public spontaneity at carefully-staged events often has a way of backfiring badly. Obama said:

"They talk about me like a dog. That’s not in my prepared remarks, but it’s true.”

That strange line, possibly uttered to elicit sympathy from a sympathetic crowd, puzzled many other Americans. Unless they're Jimi Hendrix fans; the line is an uncredited verbatim quote lifted from his song "Stone Free." (See video below.)

So, a desperate Obama played the dog card. But three-quarters of his countrymen have pets of some kind, mostly dogs and cats.

Why would Obama allege that his political opponents talk about him as affectionately as so many millions of Americans talk about -- end even to -- their dogs? "C'mere, you big furball. Are you happy to see me? Well, yes you are. Yes, you are! And I love you too. Yes, I do. Do you want some food, baby? And then we'll go for a walk?"

Americans love their nearly 80 million dogs so much they make them family members. They spend billions on them every year and are even willing to pick up the creature's South Side aftermath from those walks.

Now, Obama didn't have a dog as a senator. Young, stylish urban couple shopping for arugula and all that. And to be fair, walking the sidewalks of Chicago's Hyde Park or Washington nightly is not something that many wise folks do willingly without a Secret Service contingent.

But as soon as it came out in the 2008 campaign that Republican John McCain had several dogs and more pets than houses, word came the Obamas would acquire a dog with the White House. Which they did. Or which Sen. Edward Kennedy did for them.

Press secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday he'd not talked with Obama about the increasingly famous doggie quote. "I assume," Gibbs said, "that if you look at some of what is said about the president and matched them up against the facts, on occasion dogs get a better representation.”

As to who the “they” is who talk about Obama like he was a dog, Gibbs added, “I think there’s probably -- we could probably find you several hundred thousand quotes.” But he provided none.

No one except maybe Bo himself expects the president of the United States to walk behind with a little plastic bag. Americans would, however, expect a president to at least talk fondly about a pet, even if it was a prop.

But the context of Obama's canine comment reveals that he thinks allegedly being talked about like a dog family member is a bad thing. Is it also perhaps a little whiney?

All of which prompted amusing exchanges on The Ticket's Facebook page about what kind of dog breed the unidentified "they" were likening Obama to. Loyal Ticket reader Pete provided the best candidates:

TeleprompTerrier. CHE-huahua. Open Border Collie. And Labrador Deceiver.

Already the Democrat's dog quote has made it into late-night comics' repertoire. Tuesday NBC's Jimmy Fallon mentioned the canine line, adding when Vice President Joe Biden jumped up to agree with his boss, Obama barked, "Joe, sit! Stay!"

Another reader, Howard, listed famous phrases from previous presidencies -- "I did not have sex with that woman" and "I am not a crook." And he wondered if perhaps "They talk about me like a dog" will become the trademark dogtag for Obama.

 

 

-- Andrew Malcolm

Speaking of family members, join the 52,000+ global readers who follow The Ticket with Twitter alerts of each new Ticket item. Or follow us @latimestot. Our Facebook Like page is over here. We're also available here on Kindle now.

Photo: Jason Reed / Reuters (Air Force personnel stand at attention as First Dog Bo Obama debarks Air Force One after his vacation last month); Rick Wood / MCT (Obama speaking in Milwaukee).

Comments

[chris arcari]

R U Nuts? If there is a person anywhere who did not understand the meaning of what the President said they should seek an interpretation from their child provided that child is at least 13 and smarter then it's parents about today's common expressions.

[Debra]

It may become a trademark dogtag, but I bet there'll be more competition for that distinction escaping his mouth before this wild ride of a Presidency is over.

[car detailing clearwater]

Not sure they felt the need to get a dog when moving into the white house. I'm no a dog person, in fact, I'm allergic to them. I'd have to have the white house disinfected if I were to become president.

[Artrenai]

Are you serious, are you really that out of touch with middle class and lower class americans.... That's a common idiom used to denote the vitriol that is encouraged when there is a conversation about a person... The fact that you had to find a song that had the phrase in it is sad... Where did you think Jimmy Hendricks got it from?.... it wasn't formed in that song. This is just too much and this is a prime example of what he's talking about. But obama shouldn't complain it's not becoming of him. And obviously, him complaining about his struggles as a president is not of any importance to the media at this point. This is what he signed up for and he should accept that. But this article is a waste of words. Ohhh whoa is him that dare uses an African American Idiom... You act like he's speaking Ebonics for christ sakes. I have to believe that you are playing dumb for the hopes of agitation. Enough to get people to read the pity of this article. You can do allot better.

[sinz54]

During World War II, those K-9 war dogs gave their lives to defend America. I have more respect for them, than for Obama.

[TR]

A chihuahua - nervous, high strung, demanding and never stops barking.

[Mike]

FDR: I don't mind, and Eleanor doesn't mind, but, by God, Fala minds.

[You missed the point]

Whomever wrote this article missed the point completely and brought attention to concepts that are completely moot. The president wasn't referring to the "pet" dogs we all love, yet this author spends many sentences exploring this off-topic idea.

[dmzrn]

I thought this guy was supposed to be such a brilliant public speaker? Take him off teleprompter and he can't help but spew self-centered, childish, peevish, immature rants.

I would give my entire world fortune to listen in on his and michelle's private rants. Now THAT would be entertainment (and enlightenment).

And, I'd likely get a heck of a book deal out of it to replace that personal fortune that I so unselfishly gave.

[John Plunket]

He'd be a cross between a Bulldog and a Shizsu.

[Bill Fabrizio]

Possibly a "Cavalier King Barack Spaniel" or maybe a "Ruskie" or even a "Bull Castoff". But even more likely, politically he'd be a "Dead Dog"!

[Yogi]

Lenin's Poodle

[bob white]

Dalmation--and a hyper one at that

[Rose Leon]

To the tune of "Who Let the Dog Out?", let's sing, "Who Let Barack Win?"

[Girl with the bushy armpits]

I dont recall any of the president's numerous opponents making any remarks
to justify this odd comment. But to answer the question of what kind of dog,
I would say a dog with fleas ,based on all the dem incumbents running away
from the president's agenda

[Rose Leon]

I don't love Barack Obama like I love my dogs. I call Tina my little sweetheart, the love of my love. She is adorable, too cute for words. The president should be so lucky that I would talk about him like I talk about my dogs.

But seriously, folks, the president is a human being, made in the image of God. As such, he deserves a level of respect that dogs do not get. I think the president was saying that some people show him profound disrespect. That is sad. I can relate. I have felt the sting of rididule and profound disrespect. Nobody should deny the president the respect that any human being deserves.

I just wish the president would show respect for the youngest most vulnerable image-bearers among us--preborn children in the womb. President Obama is the most pro-abortion president in history. Bad, bad, bad dog. Er, I mean bad policies.

[HAhahahaha]

So, if Obama was like a dog, what kind would he be?

First choice: I'd have to say road kill!

Second choice: The lost, three legged, one eyed, missing one ear and half his tail, neutered, mangey mongrel that goes by the name of Lucky!! LOL!!!