At the End of an Era, Dog Bites Man

Defying journalistic convention, the First Dog, the Scottish Terrier Barney bit a reporter today (with video).

And again, the Administration’s press people went with a blame-the-media response rather than basic damage control. Laura Bush’s spokeswoman Sally McDonough explained to the AP “I think it was his way of saying he was done with the paparazzi.”

A better way to soften Barney’s fluffy edges–and line him up for lucrative speaking engagements–would be to point to the attributes of the breed. Scotties, while highly intelligent and loyal, are short-legged killers.

Gawker softens the scandal with an adorable Barney restropective.

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