The dog-eat-dog world of politics got an extra bite today, when Rick Santorum challenged Mitt Romney's character "fitness" for the presidency based on his alleged mistreatment of former family dog, Seamus, reports Arthur Delany, of Huffington Post
Twice last week top Santorum adviser John Brabender reminded voters that Romney once drove to Canada with the family dog, Seamus, in a crate fastened to the roof of the car. And on Sunday, in response to a question from Jonathan Karl on ABC's "This Week," Santorum said the Seamus story is important.
"As far as Seamus the dog, look, all I would say is, the issues of character are important in this election, and we need to look at all of those issues and make a determination as to whether that's the kind of person you want to be president of the United States," Santorum said.
Many dog lovers believe that what is being called "Crate-Gate" thoroughly disqualifies the candidate. An online group called Dogs Against Romney has pushed the story ever since the Boston Globe first reported the 1983 incident in 2007. During the 12-hour trip, Seamus suffered diarrhea and Romney stopped briefly to hose off the car and the dog, then continued driving, according to the newspaper.
Although, the Romney camp thinks Santorum is barking up the wrong tree, some commenters in Delany's story are asking what really
happened to Seamus, the dog, in Canada. Previously, Romney has apparently suggested that Seamus really enjoyed the trip, although, Romney has also reported that Seamus, ran away as soon as they got to Canada. Now, some commenters are now wondering what really happened, saying "we know what that means!"
I had heard rumors of the "run-away," story but not legitimate journalistic confirmation that poor Seamus did not make the return trip with the family.
David Letterman has been riffing on the Seamus story for several months now, showing a video of Romney driving a car, and a cartoon image of a distressed Seamus plopping down on the side window, with his tonque hanging out.
Some may think dicusssion of such a "minor" issue is the tail wagging the dog, but many dog lovers, like myself, do see issues of character in Romney's treamtment of Seamus.
Time will tell whether this story's bark is worse than its bite.