The First Dog Is A Furry Beast
Day in and day out, the White House press corps wrestles with matters of war and peace, the visits of kings and queens, the great ebb and flow of human accomplishment, misfortune and need, as told through the often lonely life of a single man in an oval office. We are, as far as it goes, decent scribblers and lenses, observers and recorders, capable of responding to just about any eventuality with some immediate attempt to explain what it all means.
But such talents are no match for a fuzzy white-pawed creature with webbed toes, spring-loaded legs and a clear desire to sniff the whole world.
"The latest addition to the family," President Obama announced proudly Tuesday, as he walked out on the south lawn of the White House, with his wife and daughters. Michelle Obama hung onto a leash, trying to hold back the enthusiasms of Bo, the nation's new first dog, which couldn't have cared less about the more than 100 reporters, photographers and videographers, who had been waiting hours to glimpse the pooch.
Bo was focused on the smells--of the grass, the driveway, the feet and gear of the photographers. [See photos here.] He also wanted to run, across the great expanse of the White House grounds, with the fence line clear of spectators on orders of the Secret Service. But the first family would not let go of the leash. So the president stood by, offering to answer some canine questions, buying Bo some time to smell the ground.
Who will walk the dog? "We all have to take turns walking the dog." Is Bo neutered? The president nodded. Where will the dog sleep? "Not in my bed. We set down that rule a long time ago." Do you remember what Truman said about dogs in the White House? Obama smiled. "I've finally got a friend. Took some time," he joked.
The rest of the family took turns wrangling the First Beast. "I love him. He's perfect," announced Malia, 10. "Are you doing okay? Yes you are," purred Michelle as she rubbed the puppy's head. "He doesn't know how to swim," advised Sasha, 7.
Hours earlier, before the FDOTUS stakeout had begun, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs had fielded a question about the dog. " I don't know what I'm supposed to tell you about the dog," he said. "I don't know the exact movements of the dog." This was of little help for reporters seeking a storyline beyond the warm and fuzzy existence of the creature.
Before the great dog reveal, some reporters made game attempts to find in Bo some broader significance. There was the family storyline--Bo's name referred both to a nickname for Michelle's father and the name of a cousin's pet. There was the political integrity storyline--the president had once suggested that the first dog would come from a shelter, but this one had not come from a shelter. There were even conspiratorial mumblings--the White House might use the Bo reveal to conceal some other news, like for instance the release of Obama's tax returns. But alas none of these attempts ever amounted to much.
For, in the end, Bo is just a dog, a cute fun thing with a world around him that needs to be smelled. After a time, the Obama family decided to go for a walk across the south lawn towards the vegetable garden that Michelle had planted. They walked as a group, with no particular order or care, daughters sprinting ahead or falling behind, parents sometimes draping an arm around a child, passing off the leash, trotting with the puppy. They looked just like any other happy family, the sort that does not have a White House press corps watching its every move, trying to figure out what it all means.
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1
Scherer:
You've finally found your mojo and hit your stride.
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Remember this moment, as it's likely to be the high point of your career. -
2
Do Portuguese Water Dogs eat linguiça?
See
http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/04/12/bo-obama-first-dog/
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3
We are, as far as it goes, decent scribblers and lenses, observers and recorders, capable of responding to just about any eventuality with some immediate attempt to explain what it all means.
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You're bullsh!tters who make sh!t so that everything can fit into your tiny myopic world. -
4
Guys, get a life. It's the first-ever dog for these four members of a wonderful family. Celebrate with them, and don't grab on it as just another excuse for being hateful.
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5
@michelestapleton:
Good on the Obamas, but this feckless and mindless drivel from a so called White House reporter is unacceptable.
.What a tool...
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6
"FDOTUS" is funny.
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No objection from me to a blog post about Bo. If you don't care about the dog, don't read a post titled "The First Dog ... "
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I do have some objection to CNN running this story 24/7. Or I would if I thought CNN was a serious news outlet. -
7
It's nice for the family, but hardly justification for a piece of this length. Think "furry object." We get more actual reporting from MS (as opposed to concern trolling and Publican parroting) than we've seen for some time, and it's about a puppy.
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8
I know this is fluff, but this story brightened my day so thanks MS. I love dogs, especially puppies (who doesn't)? With all the depressing news as of late, seeing pictures of the Obama family play with their new puppy definitely helps to life spirits if only for a few minutes.
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9
I truly, deeply despise the national political press corps.
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There should be Nuremberg trials for them. -
10
Stu-You have to admit Bo is kinda cute. No?
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11
The dog is adorable. This is a nice feel good story. As crappy as this world is, sometimes little stories like this are nice to read.
No complaints on my end, just envy. I would like a puppy for myself.
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12
My day really, really needed this. I imagine there may be others who also needed a break. Thanks, Michael.
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13
I think everyone should read the piece again. I take it as a heartfelt and sincere commentary on the state of Michael's profession. The bottom line:
Sometimes a dog is just a dog! -
14
I understand the anger toward MS and the WH press corp in general, but I enjoyed the piece too and think maybe the constant hostility thing is not helpful in creating productive political discourse.
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15
This piece is just doubling my desire for a Maltese puppy even more!
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16
Thanks, Michael. Nice little, sweet story. It certainly fits for a blog. Don't let the bitchers and moaners get ya down.
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17
Fine, the dog is cute and I'm glad they got it.
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But remember, this comes the day after Scherer's "ZOMG Korean Missles!" post. -
18
This is a great, feel-good story, and one that brought a smile to my day. Thank you so much.
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And yes, FDOTUS is hilarious! -
19
spinmd
Let's review the bidding – we complain about MS's failure to contribute to productive political discourse, and this hostility is what keeps him from substantive reporting?
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Your suggestion, I gather, is that we should plead for more fuzzy puppy pieces, whereupon he'll start real reporting just to spite us.
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Sorry – not buying. -
20
FDOTUS is hilarious...
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I think the spelling should be FIDOTUS. -
21
Ah hell its a good post. Doesn't mean he won't have a sh*tty one tomorrow but lets enjoy today. And again I reiterate that thats one big ass puppy!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERljfG0U3co
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Somebody has got to teach them that they walk the dog, the dog doesn't walk them. But then I bet PETA would sh*t a brick if they actually tugged on the collar. But when the dog gets bigger he is going to be dragging the kids all over the place. Can you just imagine if Bo trashes the WhiteHouse? LOL that would be HILARIOUS! -
22
I had as much fun reading this as I bet you did writing it. Thanks, Michael. FIDOTUS. Perfect.
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23
I like MS's take on heartstring subjects - they have a sincerity that isn't as aparent in some of his other writing. The journalistic style mixed with the light subject matter is fun. Good job MS - you did Bo proud.
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24
What a furry first dog!
Countries that value dogs more than humans will likely go to dogs eventually. If one has nothing else better to do than keeping dog as a pet or partner, one would probably develop a dog mentality subsequently. And that could be most counter-productive in any society in every sense of the word.
Why would dogs in rich countries be enjoying a much better life than most poor people around the world? One wonders -- quite a disturbing thought.
(Ven-ze & btt1943) -
25
quite insightful MS. thx. quite a few of our readers don't understand that this piece isn't exactly about the dog, but about the prism through which the media views and interprets the world around them. I think you've been doing some quality work lately and you've reached jake tapper-like consciousness about your work, minus the ultra self-awareness.
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I'd still love to get a feel for the post-structuralism stuff you talked about the other day, even though you concluded that it wasn't quite what obama might turn out to be.
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