No bunnies for the Obama children this Easter: it’s a dog instead. A Portuguese water dog, given to President Obama’s family by Sen. Ted Kennedy.
The dog’s name? Bo… as in Bo Diddley, which is why he qualifies for PopWatch status. (Diddley is also, it’s been reported, a nickname for Michelle Obama’s father.) But being named after one of the great founders of rock & roll is noteworthy, and consider the alternative: Given the young Obama daughters’ musical tastes, that dog could have been named after one of the Jonas Brothers.
The older rocker, who died last year, even had a hit song the family can use when calling the pup: 1957’s "Hey Bo Diddley."
What do you think of the President’s choice of dog?
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Michelle Obama promised they would “adopt a rescue dog” when they were campaigning in October. With something like 7-10 million cats and dats killed in shelters each year because there is no home for them, it’s unseemly and irresponsible for the Obamas to get a pet from a breeder. A terrible example to set and a missed opportunity to teach their kids about compassion and kindness for all creatures.
@linna: It would have been so much better if they got a shelter dog, but they had to get one that was hypoallergenic, as their daughter is allergic to dogs.
The Obama’s made a donation to a DC rescue fund instead. And technically, the dog is a rescue dog – it had to be re-homed, the previous family didn’t want it. So it would have ended up a rescue dog anyway – the Obama’s just saved it the trouble of having to go to a shelter.
The Obama’s made a donation to a DC rescue fund instead. And technically, the dog is a rescue dog – it had to be re-homed, the previous family didn’t want it. So it would have ended up a rescue dog anyway – the Obama’s just saved it the trouble of having to go to a shelter.
EW should be ashamed of themselves for not Laymantz’s comments. DISGUSTING. Maybe I won’t renew my subscription…
for not *filtering* Laymants’s comments, i meant
This dog is good for the economy right? I hope so ’cause SOMEONE’s been talking about it for months now.
what he said was inappropriate but this is a free country. he has his right to free speech.
It was returned to a breeder and would have just been re-sold by the breeder. This is *NOT* a rescue dog. And making a donation isn’t what they promised to do, they promised to adopt. No one made them make that promise.
Aside form the fact that there is no such thing as a hypo-allergenic dog (look up the research on it), dogs that people believe are such are very much available at shelters and breed-specific rescue groups.
What’s the problem with acknowledging they went back on their word? They did. it’s a documented fact so arguing about it seems…odd. They didn’t promise to make a donation to a shelter when camapigning, they promised to adopt a resuce dog from a shelter and they DIDN’T. The end.
WE have had 2 Porties over the last 17 years. They are the best dogs in the world. They are smart, loving and great family pets. Congratulations on a great choice for a great family!
Maybe REX should check out TMZ website, it’s got some really nice & fun comments to read.
I’m glad the Obama’s took their time and carefully researched the right breed of dog for them and then sought out a responsible breeder to obtain one from.
Oh shut up, linna. The Obamas had to make a compromise, which is a common and necessary part of politics. The health of their daughter outweighs setting an example. And while there are no hypoallergenic dogs, the Portuguese Water Dog is a low-dander breed shown to be better for people with dog allergies.
You clearly have an axe to grind. Maybe you should hang out with Laymantz Carter.
They didn’t have to make a compromise, they chose to break their word. Why is it so difficult for you to accept that they did something that wasn’t very nice? I voted and campaigned for Obama — that doesn’t mean I think everything he does is perfect. They screwed up here. You can be rude to me, but they went back on a promise and did the wrong thing and yelling at me isn’t going to change that.
If they wanted to get a dog from a breeder, they never should have promised to adopt a rescue dog when they were campaigning.
Obama’s decision to take a pure bred dog has just signed a death warrant for many dogs around the country. His decision will keep breeders and puppy mills in business for years to come as so many people will be eager to follow their president’s example. And let’s not forget the abuse of the breeding animals as their owners over breed in effort to fill the many orders for this newly popular breed. A lost opportunity for Obama and many lost lives for shelter dogs.
Linna and Laymantz Carter are ignorant. Damned if he do Damned if he don’t. These two need some help. Im glad he got them a puppy and Bo is cute.
why does everything on these boarss turn into a damn fight?
its so frustrating! -____-
i think its nice that they have a dog. PERIOD.
I’m so saddened by his choice to make the Kennedy’s happy instead of sending the politically correct message that we are killing 5 million dogs & cats in our shelters a year and yes this costs Americans thousands in taxes. There are plenty of Portuguese Water dogs on Petfinder in fact one is in Dallas under a year old. He just put the puppy millers into overdrive producing PWD’s and the abuse cycle repeats itself, neverending!
LOL Molly. Hyperbole much?
There NO such thing as a truly HYPOALLERGENIC DOG. Do your research. this is just an excuse. I’m disgusted that people continue to think a dog from a breeder is better than from a pure breed rescue or shelter. If you love an animal you love an animal. Also his daughter can be treated for allergies and they can do things to control/restrict the dog from her bed etc… I’ve had animal allergies and I’ve still kept animals. Obama knew she had allergies before he made her a promise of a dog and to get a rescue/adopt from a shelter. There are also OTHER So called hypo allergenic breeds that he could have chosen from that are more available in rescues or shelters. This is all a lie.
awww how nice
Bo (well,Beau) is also Joe Biden’s oldest son’s nickname.
He has a promise to his kids to. Quit thinking about yourselves and move on.
Laymantz you ignorant bastard I’m black and I don’t like pitbulls. But my resoponse to you sense they let you send it is KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU TALK ABOUT BEFORE SEND YOU BASTARD/
I can’t believe people are on here acting like someone has signed a “death warrant’ for shelter dogs. WHAT?!
Yeah, they should throw the dog back in the face of the dying political icon who did a lot to help him achieve his success in order to please you lobby.
My eyes can’t roll hard enough.
“water dog” What a politically correct description of a breed of dogs.I hate to break it to you,but,these are gun dogs. Thats right,they were selectively bred for generations to sit very still or heel by the hunter while he or she bangs away at waterfoul,then bravely swims out ang brings the duck or goose to the hunter. I would guess that sen.Kennedy who gave the Obamas their new pup has spent many wonderful hours in a duck blind with his “water dogs”.Who knows they may be throwin clays on the whitehouse lawn soon!
I’ll wait to hear more of the facts before making a final decision (and I hope I’m wrong), but if this is indeed just a breeder dog, then I am incredibly disappointed.
And I, for the record, am a huge Obama supporter.
You can attack my comments and ridicule people like Linna all you want, but she’s right. When millions of healthy animals are killed every year in shelters, it sends absolutely the wrong message to break your promise and buy a dog.
I realize President Obama has more pressing matters on his mind, but this was a no-brainer. It would have been an easy way to make a big impact on the issue of animal overpopulation. Millions of people look up to him and would emulate him.
I agree that the hypo-allergenic nature of certain dogs has been exaggerated. It’s the dander from skin that causes most of the reaction, and all animals shed skin, period.
But whatever the case, you can find any breed in rescue if you look hard enough.
Sportsman, PWD’s were actually bred to help the fisherman haul in their nets, carry messages from boat to boat and other duties out to sea. There are other “sporting” breeeds of water dogs, but PWD’s are a “working” breed.
I hope the Obama’s have much joy from their new pet. We got our first PWD 19 years ago next week when I was 12 and I had a great time growing up with him. I just cross my fingers the impact on the breed isn’t too big with everyone and their neighbour wanting one.
And while it is a shame they couldn’t get a shelter dog, the reality is it is difficult to track down the right dog in a shelter that meets their allergy needs. We got into PWD’s due to my mom’s allergies, otherwise we would have been very open to adopting from a shelter. I wish more people would consider that option.
FINALLY he picked a dog! Seriously, he got the troops on the way to Iraq before choosing a dog. Prioritize Barack…jeeez
http://tvdonewright.wordpress.com/
EDIT
“on the way OUT of Iraq” i meant
http://tvdonewright.wordpress.com/
You guys should get a life. Why don’t you go out and volunteer in you community, instead of worrying about what dog the Obama’s get.