Basset Interruption

As you know, I'm a basset hound owner who works with basset rescue. This article (and accompanying video) was passed on to me and I couldn't resist. Since Barack Obama mentioned that his daughters will be getting a dog, everyone seems to be wanting to have an opinion about what breed they should get.

No political commentary here, folks. Just basset love...

Bassets want to be Obama's dog

November 9, 2:09 PM

by C. Y. Bermant, Seattle Political Satire Examiner

Obama, and his waddling mate.

Less than a week after the election, President-elect Barack Obama has learned that everyone who supported his election wants something in return and some of the requests are out of proportion with the significance of that support.

One of the first to come calling was a group that is eager to place a basset hound in the White House.

“Bassets are a dignified breed, and ready to handle any diplomatic tasks,” said Gretchen Shelby, president of the Society to Land Obama with a Basset Rescue (SLOBR). “And it is true that basset owners’ votes pushed him over the top this year.”

Well, not really. A scrubbing of the voter numbers showed that most basset owners voted for Obama, but were offset by their girlfriends and wives who hate the dogs and all they stand for. Said one source “It was a wash, which is a pretty appropriate word to use when talking about bassets.”

Obama exacerbated the situation last week, when he actually said that he wanted to get a dog for his daughters. He first milked it for political advantage, saying he would prefer to adopt a shelter dog, but soon backtracked, His eldest daughter has some allergies, and the chosen pup will need to have smooth skin that can be easily cleaned, and not a lot of hair.

Obama tried to make light of the situation by referring to himself as a "mutt," but it was too late. He was already in trouble on two fronts. The basset advocacy organization protested because you never see bassets in a shelter. And an independent group immediately accused Obama of discriminating against skin type.

"This is unacceptable," said pet activist Pete Bisket. "It's unbelievable that one of our new presidents' first important appointments is based on race. There is a reason that bassets should be disqualified. They smell."

“You shut up,” said Shelby. “They don't smell.”