Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 29, 1990 TAG: 9003280278
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ben Beagle
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
(I can't remember if Ron and Nancy had any dogs or not. I know they had some horses because Ron fell off one that time.)
This week, Barbara Bush, continuing the saga of her husband's broccoli boycott, was very careful to say they she and her dog Millie eat broccoli.
Well, big deal, is what I say.
My dog Millie eats lettuce and broccoli all the time. Do I get hold of the Associated Press and get this on the national wire - maybe with a picture of Millie eating a salad, which she sometimes does?
You bet I don't, because the Associated Press doesn't care about my dog Millie's diet or her talents.
It wouldn't pay any attention to my dog Millie if she could ice skate and sing "Over the Waves" at the same time - which she probably can do.
No. My dog is a nobody, and I frankly resent that a lot.
The AP doesn't care that Millie also likes to crush and eat ice cubes and that she also is very cute when she runs around with the steak bone somebody gave her.
Listen, if that Bush dog had my dog Millie's skin and allergy problems, she'd be on the front page of every newspaper in the country.
Dan Rather and those guys on the other networks would be interviewing all of these veterinarians who are experts on dog allergies and rashes.
Oprah Winfrey would probably do an entire show on the Bush dog - although I do not mean to suggest there is anything kinky about this animal.
Meanwhile, what does my dog Millie do?
She takes this medicine that gets her sad-eyed and a little crazy, and she scratches a lot.
This medicine also causes certain physiological changes, and my dog Millie often gets up at 4:30 a.m. and wants to go outside.
It is a very good idea to let her outside on such occasions. This is why I fall asleep at my desk sometimes, but this is not about me.
Has any old-fashioned sob sister from any newspaper showed up to write this sad story about how my dog is handling her allergy and how this affliction is affecting the other members of the family?
Nope. As far as the world is concerned, my dog Millie scratches all alone and bravely copes with a condition they've never heard of in the White House.
But she isn't bitter. I can tell that. Besides, she is very retiring and shy and doesn't want publicity.
And she has character. I know she would tell that White House mutt to eat broccoli in the best of health.
by CNB