Gov. Scott's public Facebook page
It's not unusual to find politicians who'll use props to convey carefully crafted campaign messages. Shortly before the 2000 presidential campaign, George W. Bush bought a ranch in Texas, presumably to make him look more rugged. In 2010, Scott Brown used a pickup truck, largely for the same reason.
But Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has offered the political world a valuable lesson: if you need a campaign prop, don't use a dog.
Shortly after winning the GOP nomination in 2010, Rick Scott announced to the world through Facebook that his family had rescued a Labrador Retriever.
And, with help from his Facebook friends, Scott gave it a name: Reagan.
It was just a few months before the gubernatorial election, and Scott seemed to think this was a smart idea. Adopting a dog -- a rescue dog, at that -- made the Republican look compassionate, and naming the dog "Reagan" helped him pander shamelessly to his base. It was a big p.r. win, which rewarded Scott with lots of positive attention that he sorely needed after a rough GOP primary.
So what's the problem? As it turns out, no one has seen Rick Scott with his dog since the day before he took the oath of office. Asked about the dog, the governor's aides initially refused to discuss the matter. Aides to the governor's wife also ignored requests for information.
You can probably guess where this is headed.
It took several days, but eventually, the governor conceded that he got rid of the dog about a month after taking office. Apparently, Reagan "barked like crazy'' around the governor's photographer and made people in the mansion uncomfortable, so the lab was sent back to All Pets Grooming and Boarding, a business in Naples.
Scott already has a painfully low approval rating; I don't imagine this will help.
And while it's safe to assume next year's gubernatorial race in Florida will focus on a wide variety of issues, I have a hunch we'll be hearing about Reagan's departure, too. Stories like these have a way of lingering -- and if you doubt that, consider whether you heard anything about Mitt Romney's Seamus over the last year.
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vote for me,, I can make farting noises!
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physical comedy stinks
What a perfect metaphor on campaign promises.
Even if you're a decent, sincere human being, adopting a new dog while you're running for political office would be a terrible idea. Let alone if you're like Rick Scott.
Rick Scott is subhuman filth. This offends me on so many levels.
I am outraged that he would use a shelter dog as a campaign prop, and then discard it once he'd gotten his political mileage from it. I'll be sure to remind everyone what a slimeball he is during the next gubernatorial race in Florida.
November 2014 is getting closer and closer and time is running out for Scot to bleed Fla dry and line his pockets before he's kicked to the curb,, his approval rating is around 21%,, too bad there isn't a recall amendment in Fla constitution,, but I'll bet Scot knew that before he ran for Gov... he's an embarassment to the state....even the GOP voters would vote for another candidate,, One can only hope the next Gov or Attorney General will put this crook under a microscope and throw his ass in jail,, but Scott will probably grant himself immunity from prosecution before he leaves office,,,, he is the worst,, bought the election,,relying on T party hacks to vote for him,,, 21 more months of putting up with this crook
I'm not a dog person really. Much more of a cat person. But when I was a kid I had a golden lab. My chores were to feed her and walk her, so she pretty much became my dog until I left home. Till this day I still love golden labs. As if I needed another reason to despise Gov. Scott.
What is it about Republicans' insensitivity to dogs? The Governor doesn't like it that the dog barks? He named it Reagan! What did he expect???
could have been a really dumb dog so the moniker would fit... English Labs are really smart but a lot of US Labs are inbred. Still, I would have to keep the dog because it as my responsibility.
I have two Australian Cattle Dogs now - they're crossed with the Dingo so they're very smart and aggressive. The loud barks are very useful but I can quiet them when I need to by calming them down. They are not props, though so the governor was a dope!
How is this a story?
How are Democrats unlike Republicans when it comes to jumping to judgment?
What is it about Republicans' insensitivity to dogs? The Governor doesn't like it that the dog barks? He named it Reagan! What did he expect???
still waiting for those 70,000 jobs Ric
"HERE, Checkers! Here, boy! Henry! Go find that #&@!!*!^% mutt! The Press is almost here!"
what a pathetic excuse of a human being. I'm glad he didn't drop the dog off at a kill shelter, although i seriously doubt he bothered to even personally show up, I'm sure the drop off was left to a staffer. Scott, like many of these so called 'new' republicans, are nothing short of sociopaths...using all living beings for their own shallow gain.
They should have sent Rick Scott back to the grooming salon and kept the dog. I am quite sure the dog has a higher I Q than Scott!
What a d!ck!
What a douchebag! They should have kept the dog in office and sent Rick Scott back to the shelter. No, wait! The dogs there have enough troubles.
Rick Scott has binders full of dogs to replace it.
recalls that all dogs recognize and bark at "terminators". Who can think of a better characterization of a millionaire indicted for the Medicare/Medicaid fraud that made him those millions and active racist who worked tirelessly to suppress the 2012 vote in Florida for a total scumbag like Gov. Rick Scott?
So he wants us to trust him with the big problems of trying to help run the Government that provides us with services, protection, and order in our lives... and when faced with the 'big problem' of a barking dog his answer is to just get rid of it. Yeah, that's showing loyalty to an animal known for it's loyalty.
You will excuse me if I don't find this an encouraging sign.
Don't like this at all. I'm an animal lover and every pet I get is with me for life. They are part of my family. Very sad and disappointing. I hope this dog gets a loving home.
I didn't think it was possible to hate this bald headed turd anymore than I already did. But there you have it!
lets hope the people of FL return Scott in the next Gov election
Barked like crazy around the around the Governor's photographer and made people in the mansion uncomfortable?
Was this poor dog really named "Nancy" Reagan?
Why didn't he just get the Dog Whisperer?
Wait, am I missing something? How is this even news? I am a dog lover and Rick Scott disliker, so I am loath to defend anything the man does, but not all rescues are a good fit with the families who choose them. Another article I read said the dog was agressive to strangers. No public figure can have a dog like that. Better to return the dog and have the shelter find a family better equipped to handle the dog's issues. C'mon Rachel, I expect better from you than this and I HATE when the left stoops to the right's tactic of sussing out an insignificant factoid and blowing it up.