Several weeks ago, my human friends Rich and Laura went food-shopping at the Trader Joe's near Fresh Pond in Cambridge, Mass. While returning to the car in the parking lot, they were surprised to see, in a neighboring car, another Westie, a 6-year-old named Ziggy, lying comfortably in an unusual position -- in the space above the back-seat area, screened by the rear window.
At least Ziggy wasn't strapped atop the car like Mitt Romney once did to the family Irish setter Seamus in 1983. And yet Romney, by finally being forthright on the issue, seems to have placed it in the rear-view mirror of his presidential campaign. This is an important lesson for another candidate with some background problems -- Massachusetts Democratic Senate hopeful Elizabeth Warren.Let me first explain how Romney dealt with the dog-on-the-roof controversy. It took some time. At first he was stubborn to admit he did anything wrong, almost as stubborn as I can be when my human friend Rich wants to lead me one way on the bike path and I want to go another way. Incredibly, Romney said on Fox News that Seamus "climbed up there regularly, enjoyed himself." However, in April, he reversed course. Even though his wife, Ann, still defended putting Seamus atop the car, Mitt sounded contrite in an interview with Diane Sawyer. Sawyer asked "would you do it again?" ... and Mitt replied, "Certainly not with the attention it's received." He didn't sound completely remorseful ... but it's a start.
Now, on to Warren. Poor Liz. The conservative press has taken some unfortunate decisions she made, and some things she said, about her Native American / minority background and is having a field day. Basically Warren identified herself as a minority in law school factory directories (1986-95) after listing herself as "white" previously, when she was teaching at the University of Texas. She claimed Cherokee descent by quoting an aunt who regretted Liz did not share a characteristic of her maternal grandfather, who "had high cheekbones like all of the Indians do." She also mentioned her great-great-great grandmother's Cherokee status -- listed on a document that may not actually exist. And she shared Native American recipes in a cookbook, "Pow Wow Chow" ... recipes that turn out to have been taken from other sources. (Two recipes contain crab meat, which reminds me, I hope Laura and Rich take me for seafood on Cape Cod this weekend!)
I like how Warren stands up for the middle class, just as I'm proud to dig in my paws and stand up for my right to chase squirrels when Rich wants me to follow him elsewhere. Yet Warren is doing herself, her campaign and her supporters no favors by digging in her heels on this ("I'm proud of my Native American heritage," she told CNN). She should admit she may have misled the public, even if it was unintentional. Two of her supporters (both trusted sources) have even shared their belief that she should issue a mea culpa.
History shows voters may look kindly on candidates who confess their shortcomings. Look at Mitt with the dog issue ... or, 60 years ago, another Republican, Richard Nixon. During the 1952 presidential campaign, "Tricky Dick" was in trouble over disclosures of a secret-but-legal slush fund. He went on TV, talked about his troubles, and admitted gifts he had received. One "gift" was a fellow canine of comparable size to me, a cocker spaniel named Checkers. "And you know, the kids, like all kids, loved the dog, and I just want to say this, right now, that regardless of what they say about it, we are going to keep it," Nixon said in the now-famous "Checkers Speech." He and his running mate, Dwight Eisenhower, went on to win the election.
Liz, it may be difficult to admit you were wrong. Yet you would not be the first to have done it. Maybe you could 'fess up in a sit-down interview like Mitt, or in a speech like Dick. But you've got to do it. Only then can you put this in the rear-view mirror and get back in the driver's seat.
Daisy is a West Highland white terrier living in Cambridge, Mass. Her column runs regularly. Today is her 10th birthday.
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