Horse Hockey: The Left’s Rafalca Derangement Syndrome

Rafalca is the name of Ann Romney’s show horse, which competed in Olympic dressage this week. Rafalca Derangement Syndrome is the name of a debilitating partisan disease, which is raging among snotty “progressives” posing as populists.

On Thursday, the George Soros-funded henchmen of MoveOn promoted a new TV ad that “features a talking Rafalca Romney, who tells us Mitt would treat many Americans worse than a horse!”

Interspersed with scenes of a dressage competition, the talking Rafalca mimics a faux British accent and lashes out at the Romneys’ privately earned wealth:

“How do I pull off such grace and athleticism while looking so good? Maybe it’s because the Romneys spend $77,000 a year on my upkeep, and after Mitt Romney repeals healthcare and ships your job overseas, I daresay your life will not be nearly as pampered as mine. After all, you’re not one of his horses.”

You don’t need to be an equestrian expert to understand that the Left’s vicious, class-warfare attack on Mrs. Romney reeks worse than horse hockey. The GOP presidential candidate’s wife began riding horses 12 years ago as therapy for her multiple sclerosis. As Dressage News reported, “Back then, Ann could ride the trot on a horse for not even close to a minute and then have to walk for at least anther five minutes because of the crippling effects of MS.” Mrs. Romney has devoted her time ever since to promoting therapeutic riding programs and clubs across the country.

When Democratic operative Hilary Rosen disparaged Mrs. Romney for having “never worked a day in her life,” First Lady Michelle Obama herself said “families are off-limits. And I think my husband said it, and he was clear on that. And I totally agree with him. I also — and my comment that I tweeted, which was we need to respect all women in the — in whatever positions and roles they play in this society.”

Using Rafalca to smear the Romneys and stoke class envy is vulgar abuse of a political figure’s family member. Don’t take my word for it. The Democratic National Committee itself acknowledged earlier this month that it had crossed the line with its own video mocking Rafalca — although it blamed viewers for misconstruing its slimy intent.

“Our use of the Romneys’ dressage horse was not meant to offend Mrs. Romney in any way, and we regret it if it did,” DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse told ABC News. “We were simply making a point about Governor Romney’s failure to give straight answers on a variety of issues in this race. We have no plans to invoke the horse any further to avoid misinterpretation.”

It’s one thing to question a political family’s use and abuse of taxpayer dollars. Or to scrutinize a political family member’s own public record and rhetoric on the campaign trail. First Lady Michelle Obama has bristled at the few challenges she’s received over the years t o her extravagant jet-setting, pricey fashions, $7,000 tops, $600 sneakers, incessant wealth-bashing, and Nanny State policy meddling. But these are fair game as the White House and its campaign team jointly ramp up their Occupier-style warfare against America’s private sector wealth creators.

What’s out of bounds are ad hominem attacks on a political family member’s private activities to perpetuate bitter stereotypes and clingy narratives. A study of horse owners conducted by Deloitte and Touche a few years back found that horse owners come from all economic backgrounds, own all types of horses for various purposes and live in a variety of places from tiny towns to large cities. “The largest group of horse owners (45%) are drawn from the middle class with an annual household income between $25,000 and $75,000. Only 9% of the population earns greater than $150,000 yearly and a full 11% of horse owners have an annual income of less than $25,000.”

But let’s not let facts get in the way of a good Eat the Rich propaganda campaign. As usual, the overwrought Left has stepped in a steaming pile of double standards, hypocrisy, and politics of personal destruction. Let’s hope voters just say nay in November.

I am definately part of the 11%—incomes below $25,000.

I have had horses for over 25 years. They are well cared for, but I don’t have to board them out & have professional trainers. I have them on my own property & I do most of the training of them, along with the breeding & raising.

The horse industry in the USA is much larger than most people realize. The last time I saw figures, it was over $6 BILLION a year, and that figure did not include the betting on horse races nationwide. You might follow NFL, or MLB, but you only buy tickets for about 20 games a year. My horses get fed 2 meals a day EVERY SINGLE DAY of the year. Their water gets changed & tanks cleaned. They get veterinary care & farrier attention. I have acquired alot of tack over those 25 years, and I take care of all of that, also. Those costs don’t change, even if I don’t ride now as much as I used to. My horses on the property represent 3 generations, with grandma being the oldest at 28. She is still the 1st one I grab for a ride. The youngest is 5 and is her grandson.

When I was riding more, I kept up a truck & trailer, spending money on gas-tires-event entries-food & supplies to go to events. The money I spent helped a fairly large part of the community, since most economists say that any money spent hits about 7 places in the chain of services & goods. One year, I chased nationwide points in my discipline & put over 30,000 miles on my truck/trailer.

My hay bill alone this summer for the next 12 months or so will be just under $4000. That money supports my hay grower, along with the people who sell him machinery, seed, fertilizer, fuel, the money paid for irrigation supplies & water, & the tires & maintenance on his truck & flat bed trailer he delivers with.

I know it seems easy to attack someone for having horses, but the vast majority of people I know & have competed against are hard working & often self-employed. They put in lots of extra hours to support such activities & to do their training & conditioning.

When I have talked to others who have boats, they spend more than I do.

It is said there are 3 things you can do from the cradle to the grave: Swimming.......Golfing...... and riding horses. Having your kids attention on horses instead of drugs & gangs & other trouble is a very good diversion.

The vast number of people who are involved with the Therapy horses for people of all ages is staggering.

If the Liberals can only find this kind of item to attack the Romneys about, they surely are getting desperate.

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