Weasel Words in Wolverine State

Wolverine Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

So let's get this straight. The winner of the GOP Michigan primary is Mitt Romney -- a man who opined against the auto bailouts on op-ed pages. And the second-place finisher is Rick Santorum -- who publicly opposed those bailouts of GM and Chrysler during last week's Arizona debate. (He also pretended to back those bailouts while courting Michigan Democrats' support!) Looks like Michigan Wolverines have some competition in their weaselly ways, in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Should dogs court the cat vote?

By: Daisy

When two groups fight like cats and dogs, the wisest thing for them to do is keep their distance -- unless you're Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum.
Facing a tight battle with his rival, Mitt Romney, in the Michigan primary Tuesday, Santorum reached out to the opposing side: Democrats! From an automated phone call to Wolverine State voters:

"Romney supported the bailouts for his Wall Street billionaire buddies, but opposed the auto bailouts. That was a slap in the face to every Michigan worker and we’re not going to let Romney get away with it. On Tuesday, join Democrats who are going to send a loud message to Massachusetts' Mitt Romney by voting for Rick Santorum for president."

Romney won the primary, but Santorum‘s gamble paid off. First, Michigan lets Democrats vote in its Republican primary. (I see this as akin to letting cats enter dog shows, but anyway…) Second, Democrats voted for Santorum over Romney, 53 percent to 18 percent. And thirdly, it seems Santorum wants to repeat this strategy in future primaries.
Romney reacted to Santorum’s Michigan ploy like a cornered cat. He yowled about "the dirty tricks of a desperate campaign." I agree. Whether it’s cats and dogs, or Democrats and Republicans, two sides with a history of bitter relations usually clash more than they cooperate … and those who try to reach out the to the other side deserve suspicion.
Take the orange cat I saw yesterday on the North Cambridge bike path. I took one step forward -- and the feline hissed and swatted the air with one paw. Moments later, the kitty darted across the bike path and through a fence. Although I am a peaceful Westie, I understand that this cat acted aggressively because in the past, my fellow dogs must have barked at it ... run after it … maybe even chased it up a tree.
Now take those bailouts of General Motors and Chrysler in 2008 and 2009 that Santorum’s campaign call supported. (We associate them with President Obama, but some also occurred under George W. Bush.) Santorum sang a different tune in the Arizona presidential debate last Wednesday:

"I in principle oppose government coming in and bailing out a sector of the economy or an industry with government dollars and with government manipulation of that market … Which is exactly what happened twice -- in 2008 and 2009."

I hope Democrats who voted Santorum on Tuesday slunk home with their tails between their legs. As for Santorum, if you’re going to court the other side, try to find some true common ground instead of pretending to back a policy you don’t really support. Otherwise you’ll look as silly as -- well, as a dog trying to approach a cat and getting hissed at as a result.

Daisy is a 9-year-old West Highland white terrier living in Cambridge, Mass. Her column runs weekly.

Terrier: Romney, Gingrich must defend backyards

By: Daisy

This morning, when my ears detected an intrusive cat near my house, I went into DEFCON-4, barking from my perch atop the bed and then jumping onto the floor to continue my vocal barrage. The feline withdrew in defeat with a "Meow."
Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich face "home invasions" of their own ... in their native Michigan and Georgia, respectively. And if they want any credibility with voters (a tough sell in itself), they must win their home-state primaries next Tuesday.
In Michigan, it's ex-Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum on the prowl. The Detroit Free Press reports Romney holds a slim lead over Santorum in two polls -- and Santorum leads Romney in a third.
Meanwhile, Romney himself is encroaching upon Gingrich territory in Georgia. The Savannah Morning News reports Gingrich's lead has shrunk from double digits to just two points over Romney and three points over Santorum, based on a Monday poll.
Why does a mere Westie like myself know enough to defend the homestead, while an ex-governor like Romney and a former House Speaker like Gingrich don't get this? It shows these guys' policies are as unpalatable to their home states as Alpo is to my taste buds.
In Romney's case, he strayed too far afield, saying he opposed President Obama's bailouts of GM and Chrysler. And this from someone who grew up in metro Detroit!
Meanwhile, Georgians are so peeved with Gingrich that they might throw him to the wolves. Of the 11 "Super Tuesday" primaries, the Peachtree State is the only one where Gingrich leads, and not by much. He should show it more love, like singing his own version of "Georgia On My Mind" on YouTube. If he doesn't, Georgia primary voters will have Romney or Santorum on their mind.
I'm sure Romney and Gingrich want to bask in the sunbeam of their home on primary day, just like I'm doing right now. But you can't do it unless you ward off intruders first.

Daisy is a 9-year-old West Highland white terrier living in Cambridge, Mass. Her column runs weekly.