Obama: "Girly Dog" Not For Our Family

In his interview with ABC's Barbara Walters, Barack Obama talked to her about her dog and his own puppy preferences. Politico reports that the host actually sent the Obama's a photo of her pet, but it doesn't seem to be the President-elect's type.

Obama: "Cha Cha?"

Barbara: "It's short for Cha Cha Cha."

O: "What is a Havanese?"

B: "It's like a little terrier and they're non-allergenic and they're the sweetest dogs.."

O: [Face suddenly changes.] "It's like a little yappy dog?"

Michelle: "Don't criticize."

O: "It, like, sits in your lap and things?"

M: "It's a cute dog."

O: "It sounds kinda like a girly dog."

M: "We're girls. We have a houseful of girls."

O [with hand gestures]: "We're going to have a big rambunctious dog, of some sort."

Read more excerpts and clips from the Barbara Walters interview.

Comments

[1Marcia1]

Sounds disappointingly like sexist lingo to me. I don't think this is funny. What a stereotype! What are "girly" things? and why are they negative? Obama, of all people, should know better. How disappointing and yes, offensive.!!! Ugh.

[lizr]

Oh please.. he's a boy- with a BIG female side.

He can fool around a little, give him a break.

The poor guy has the weight of the world..

[Territc]

Oh Please. So now everythign is sexist. So what if he doesn't want a girly type of dog. Why do fools like yourself insisting on making things sexists when they are not. It's his opinion it's his like, it' s his family. Get over your sexist self.

You know what - go hand yourself on a banana tree with tissue.

[Jahmekyah]

Get over it. Hypersensitivity is very unbecoming. Besides, Small lap dogs that hold in hand bags ARE girly dogs. You ever seen a guy with those dogs? No. Pointing out a fact that happens to skew in the direction of one gender or another does not make you sexist. With Hillary and Palin this year I've had about enough of this sexism hullabaloo. Its so bad you don't know whats sexist and whats not anymore...­ridiculous

[LittleChickMotel]

Yes!

I've groomed many dogs and see many stereotypically macho straight guys with so-called girly dogs. Even military men.

And they love them like sons and daughters.

[SneathLane]

Did you watch it? He was kidding with his wife, not making serious sexist innuendos. It was quite nice - sweet and funny.

You really should go to the source for these things - a transcript isn't sufficient to make a valid judgment, it misses out on tone of voice, body language and facial expressions.

All that wasted dudgeon!

[camanokat]

I don't favor handbag girlie dogs either. I have big dogs with lots of personality.

[Jaybot]

So what are they doing, maybe rescuing some of Micheal Vick's puppies?

[mlaiuppa]

LOL!

It's fine for the girls to have a girly dog. Whose dog is it anyway? They'd love to have a little yappy lapdog.

But I think Obama really wants a dog of his own. A big, dog. Like a Golden.

[Smoothsail]

Wow...2 ground wars..and economy fallin apart...who the heck cares what kind of dog they get...
just so long as the tax payers don't have to pay the dog walker...who cares!

[ricitizen]

There is a person that takes care of the first families pet. And he has been there for decades. As a tax payer, considering the responsibility the President has and what we pay him to do it, I don't begrudge paying for him to have the peace and companionship of a dog or pet on my tax dollars. Try to be a little compassionate. In these times you might find yourself in need of it. And you're sure to have need of it some day.

[Smoothsail]

Given our economic situation I think they should pay fo it themselves..it's the least they can do after we paid for their Greek Columns...where are those now..did they sell them so we can get the $$ we donated back??

[lizr]

get a grip.

In crazy intense times we need some comic relief, some humanness.

Maybe you dont but the rest of us sure do!

[bubbuh]

Actually, I think the dog gets a security detail to prevent dognapping in addition the staff member who "gets the duty." Please free to air your grievances. It's almost festivus.

[CTtransplant]

Because of Malia's allergies, then either a Shepadoodle or a Native American Indian dog would be good choices - protective, yet playful, not 'yappy' 'girly' dogs...and cuddly for kids!

[Bellanova]

A perfect solution: get a mutt.

[bluegreen]

I have had dogs of all shapes and sizes so don't you folks gang up on the little "girly dogs." I love my sweet and funny little Bichon Frise as much as I have my big wonderful mellow pooches. But yeah, I know what he means.

The thing is, though, neither of them sound like they are that into dogs. Yet. I give them a year or two. I am betting they will be walking that dog as much as their kids, and enjoying it! Just watching the dog play with their kids or laughing at its antics...that's how it starts!

This couple might never have had a dog. They talk a lot about the chores and responsibilities associated with dog ownership. Yawn. Wait till they get their pooch. I predict these level-headed grownups will be hit by the power of doggy love, and not a moment too soon, 'cause they have had a lot of stress dealing with this ridiculously long election process, filled with a crazy cast of characters, only to win with everything in crisis. Yep, these people need a dog. They just don't know it yet. They need a dog to lower their blood pressure and gaze at them adoringly and make funny slurping noises when it drinks its water and barks, all surprised, at its first snowflake. They need a dog to offer them its innocent, sweet, generous, noble, forgiving heart every single day. It's gonna be just great! They'll see.

[CTtransplant]

You got that right!!! :)

[lizr]

You speak the truth, sistah!

[sopwithcamel]

Two words: wiener dog.

[2Dark2Matter]

He sounds so normal! It is awesome to have a president so grounded. They should get a medium to large dog. I don't get the whole "pocket rat" craze.... I cannot stand small dogs. I am a girl..and I think they are girly...
My husband and I love taking our big dogs hiking with us for miles.... Places where "low clearance" models just won't cut it. Stand firm Mr. Pres-Elect!

[Smoothsail]

Narciissist often look "normal" on the surface...but watch out below! Yikes.

[classc 1]

Projecting much?

[Bruce4Change]

Obama Needs a Boxer! Short hair, great temperment with Kids and People. And it wont bite people like Barney :) And VERY majestic looking. I love Mine.

[RoXXanne]

Yes, a Boxer or else a Coc ker Spaniel! Great dogs. Wonderful with kids.

[Smoothsail]

Be careful with the Boxer suggestion.
Boxers are excellent judges of character...could lead to problems.

[RoXXanne]

Why, did you plan a visit to the White House?

[blacklily]

Oh gawd....you are pitiful...lol

Cheer up dude! Its Thanksgiving!

[HowietheScreamer]

They need a Golden Retriever. Best family dog around

[oldmilitant]

Black Lab (I know, I know. The Clintons had one). They're great w/children and HIGHLY protective.

[HowietheScreamer]

Let's split the difference... Flat Coated Retriever.

[oldmilitant]

Works for me!

[MeiLing]

Clinton's Lab was a chocolate lab not black. He was brown.

[dsbathome]

If Hillary becomes SOS, Obama will have Bill on a leash so maybe that is the big rambunctious dog he is speaking about.

[lizr]

LOL- good luck w that one!

I see him slipping the leash..

[ILikeH00ters]

"We're going to have a big rambunctious dog, of some sort."

Thank you Mr. President. I hate dogs like Barney. Get a black lab. I have one and that's my boy.

[mapleaforever]

Belgian Tervuren - variation on the sheppard. A great, beautiful and child friendly herding breed. Don't mess with the kids while on his/her watch.

[jacqmac]

Hello all you breed fans out there! I'd put in for a Collie myself-a SMOOTH COLLIE, however, Malia is ALLERGIC and any double-coated variety of dog, like all the HERDING dogs is out. About the only 'big rambunctious dog' that fits with Malia's condition is a Standard Poodle (big enough and rambunctious enough) or a Standard Schnauzer-maybe even a Giant Schnauzer, except that Schnauzers are notoriously 'one-person' dogs and tend to be a tad less congenial than even Barney. Havanese are Cuban actually-are singelcoated so they fit the prescription for a hypo-allergenic variety. I wish the Obama's all the luck in the world finding a 'big rambunctious dog' for companionship!