An unscripted Romney moment

The Boston Herald ^ | 01/07/08 | staff

[Baladas]

On the campaign trail, audience questions often prompt the kind of candor and off-the-cuff comments that reporters savor.

At the Nashua Country Club today after Gov. Mitt Romney delivered his stump speech, one of those unscripted moments unfolded as the director of the Humane Society for Greater Nashua wildly waved her arms to signal she had a question.

“I’d like to ask you a question that has not been asked throughout this whole campaign of any candidate so far,” said Karen D. Bill, as the room braced for the unknown. And then it came: “There is an extreme overpopulation crisis of pets in this country. Millions upon millions and there’s very few solutions … I’d like to get your thoughts on over maybe some creative solutions … outside of giving each (illegal aliens) a cat and a dog as they go back home,” Bill said to roaring laughter.

Romney, for his part, kept eye contact with Bill. He never showed any hint of taking her question less than seriously, but also reacted with a degree of good cheer.

[Baladas]

Giving the illegals a cat and a dog upon deportation would still be rewarding bad behaviour, IMO,

[Mr. K]

I LIKE THAT!!

Call it a ‘parting gift’ or ‘consolation prize’

[Resolute Conservative]

A snack for the road or when they get home.

[DBrow]

Karen D. Bill is the executive director of the Humane Society for Greater Nasuan (NH), which would explain her interest.

[rfp1234]

Giving the illegals a cat and a dog upon deportation would still be rewarding bad behaviour, IMO,

The illegals may even EAT the animals, depending on their country of origin...

[CASchack]

I have to wonder about these overpopulation questions. On C-SPAN yesterday, there was a moonbat in Peterborough who asked the same question (without the cat/dog reference). I think McPain got that question.

[BubbaBasher]

Why didn’t she ask Willard about putting his dog on the roof of the family car?

[vrwc1]

It's a stupid question - why should a presidential candidate pay any attention to it? The POTUS (and his staff) has more important things to think about than dogs and cats. It's an issue the Humane Society should be dealing with and coming up with "creative solutions" for, not something to ask candidates about. Only an idiot would think that's a good question to ask a presidential candidate.

Some people just can't see beyond the end of their own nose. Unfortunately the rest of us just have to put up with them. Romney did an OK job of handling this particular doofus - a candidate can't exactly say "What a stupid question - please go stand in the corner and suck your thumb until the adults in the room finish talking."