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Peta fires back after Sarah Palin says: 'Chill. At least Trig didn't eat the dog' Peta fires back after Palin says: 'Chill. At least Trig didn't eat the dog'
(about 17 hours later)
Sarah Palin has responded to criticism from the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) over a photograph she published of her son Trig stepping on a family pet.Sarah Palin has responded to criticism from the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) over a photograph she published of her son Trig stepping on a family pet.
“Dear Peta,” the former governor of Alaska and Republican vice-presidential pick in 2008 wrote in a statement published on Facebook. “Chill. At least Trig didn’t eat the dog.”“Dear Peta,” the former governor of Alaska and Republican vice-presidential pick in 2008 wrote in a statement published on Facebook. “Chill. At least Trig didn’t eat the dog.”
In response, in a cutting reference to the politician’s infamous struggles with questions on world affairs, Peta president Ingrid Newkirk said Palin’s words showed she “knows Peta about as well as she knows geography”.In response, in a cutting reference to the politician’s infamous struggles with questions on world affairs, Peta president Ingrid Newkirk said Palin’s words showed she “knows Peta about as well as she knows geography”.
Palin also claimed hypocrisy from Peta over its treatment of the comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and President Barack Obama, saying the latter “revealed he actually enjoyed eating dead dog meat”.Palin also claimed hypocrisy from Peta over its treatment of the comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and President Barack Obama, saying the latter “revealed he actually enjoyed eating dead dog meat”.
The Facebook post that caused the initial controversy showed Trig, 6, who has Down’s Syndrome, stepping on the family’s black labrador, Jill.The Facebook post that caused the initial controversy showed Trig, 6, who has Down’s Syndrome, stepping on the family’s black labrador, Jill.
“May 2015 see every stumbling block turned into a stepping stone on the path forward,” Palin wrote. “Trig just reminded me. He, determined to help wash dishes with an oblivious mama not acknowledging his signs for ‘up!’, found me and a lazy dog blocking his way. He made his stepping stone.”“May 2015 see every stumbling block turned into a stepping stone on the path forward,” Palin wrote. “Trig just reminded me. He, determined to help wash dishes with an oblivious mama not acknowledging his signs for ‘up!’, found me and a lazy dog blocking his way. He made his stepping stone.”
In response, Newkirk said: “It’s odd that anyone – let alone a mother – would find it appropriate to post such a thing, with no apparent sympathy for the dog in the photo.”In response, Newkirk said: “It’s odd that anyone – let alone a mother – would find it appropriate to post such a thing, with no apparent sympathy for the dog in the photo.”
In her reponse to Peta, Palin said: “Hey, by the way, remember your ‘Woman of the Year’, Ellen DeGeneres? Did you get all wee-wee’d up when she posted this sweet picture? Hypocritical, much?”In her reponse to Peta, Palin said: “Hey, by the way, remember your ‘Woman of the Year’, Ellen DeGeneres? Did you get all wee-wee’d up when she posted this sweet picture? Hypocritical, much?”
The picture Palin referred to was posted on the Facebook page for The Ellen DeGeneres Show in July last year, and showed a toddler stepping on a dog. The accompanying caption reads: “Well, that’s one way to reach a sink.” DeGeneres was Peta’s Woman of the Year in 2009.The picture Palin referred to was posted on the Facebook page for The Ellen DeGeneres Show in July last year, and showed a toddler stepping on a dog. The accompanying caption reads: “Well, that’s one way to reach a sink.” DeGeneres was Peta’s Woman of the Year in 2009.
Palin continued: “Did you go as crazy when your heroic Man-of-Your-Lifetime, Barack Obama, revealed he actually enjoyed eating dead dog meat?”Palin continued: “Did you go as crazy when your heroic Man-of-Your-Lifetime, Barack Obama, revealed he actually enjoyed eating dead dog meat?”
In his autobiography, Dreams From My Father, the president wrote about eating dog meat – which he said was “tough” – in Indonesia, in his childhood.In his autobiography, Dreams From My Father, the president wrote about eating dog meat – which he said was “tough” – in Indonesia, in his childhood.
“Peta simply believes that people shouldn’t step on dogs,” said Newkirk, in a statement, “and judging by the reaction that we’ve seen to Sarah Palin’s Instagram photo, we’re far from alone in that belief. ”“Peta simply believes that people shouldn’t step on dogs,” said Newkirk, in a statement, “and judging by the reaction that we’ve seen to Sarah Palin’s Instagram photo, we’re far from alone in that belief. ”
Palin was John McCain’s running mate in his defeat by Obama in the 2008 election; she quit as governor of Alaska in 2009, to become a star of reality TV and the extreme right of US politics.Palin was John McCain’s running mate in his defeat by Obama in the 2008 election; she quit as governor of Alaska in 2009, to become a star of reality TV and the extreme right of US politics.
In her statement to Peta, she continued: “Aren’t you the double-standard radicals always opposing Alaska’s Iditarod – the Last Great Race honouring dogs who are born to run in wide open spaces, while some of your pets ‘thrive’ in a concrete jungle where they’re allowed outdoors to breathe and pee maybe once a day?”In her statement to Peta, she continued: “Aren’t you the double-standard radicals always opposing Alaska’s Iditarod – the Last Great Race honouring dogs who are born to run in wide open spaces, while some of your pets ‘thrive’ in a concrete jungle where they’re allowed outdoors to breathe and pee maybe once a day?”
For Peta, Newkirk said: “Palin’s Facebook response shows us that she knows Peta about as well as she knows geography. Yes, we campaign against the Iditarod because when the dogs aren’t being driven – sometimes to death – most live chained or inside cages for their entire lives.For Peta, Newkirk said: “Palin’s Facebook response shows us that she knows Peta about as well as she knows geography. Yes, we campaign against the Iditarod because when the dogs aren’t being driven – sometimes to death – most live chained or inside cages for their entire lives.
“And we’re a vegan organisation, so we sit on pleather couches, wear stylish vegan kicks and consider fish friends, not food. (Also, by the way, we just sent a case of vegan caviar to Vladimir Putin – and no, you can’t see his house from yours, Ms Palin.)”“And we’re a vegan organisation, so we sit on pleather couches, wear stylish vegan kicks and consider fish friends, not food. (Also, by the way, we just sent a case of vegan caviar to Vladimir Putin – and no, you can’t see his house from yours, Ms Palin.)”
Peta did not doubt the care given by Palin’s family to Jill who, Palin concluded, was “Trig’s best buddy … loved, spoiled and cared for more than some people care for their fellow man whose politics may not mesh with nonsensical liberally failed ways or don’t fit your flighty standards”.Peta did not doubt the care given by Palin’s family to Jill who, Palin concluded, was “Trig’s best buddy … loved, spoiled and cared for more than some people care for their fellow man whose politics may not mesh with nonsensical liberally failed ways or don’t fit your flighty standards”.
“Jill is a precious part of our world,” she said. “So is Trig.”“Jill is a precious part of our world,” she said. “So is Trig.”