Doesn't look like a mutt to me!

Lil, if the dog had come from anyone other than Teddy Kennedy, I might agree with you but, considering his health and his reputation, I don't think it would have been right to turn down Teddy's gift.

The law is not written to say this rule applies to everyone but Ted Kennedy. HE is not above the law. he should have to follow it just like everyone else. TO keep this kind of a mess from happening the Obamas should have just bought the dog themselves.

Is this a present for the president or is this a present for his daughters? I think that would bypass the rules regarding if it's an appropriate gift if it's being given to the girls.

Good one!

This dog is "sort of" like a shelter dog since he'd apparently been owned by someone else previously and it didn't work out for some reason. I can understand it probably is hard to find shelter dogs for someone who is allergic and I certainly think it's sad for a child to be denied and joy and companionship of having a pet due to allergies. Annie

They did? Well, he still opened his big mouth and said it'd be a shelter dog.

I remember that press conference from when he was still just the President-elect. He did say that he'd like to get a "mutt like me", but that he was concerned about his daughter's allergy and that he may not be able to find a hypoallergenic shelter dog.

Then why get a dog? *sigh* It's a prop that'll get ignored, just like Buddy was(Clinton's dog). Poor thing wound up getting run over. When I first saw it, I thought it was stuffed toy, lol.

I think the little girls will play with him, I don't think he'll be lonely or forgotten.