South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has stirred considerable controversy following an admission in her upcoming book where she recounts killing her family’s 14-month-old dog, Cricket, as well as an unruly goat. This stark revelation, contained in her memoir “No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward,” has not only triggered widespread revulsion among pet lovers and animal rights groups but also prompted political backlash from various quarters.
Noem, a potential vice-presidential pick for Donald Trump, writes of her disdain for the wirehair pointer which she deemed “untrainable,” “dangerous,” and “less than worthless as a hunting dog.” After the dog disrupted a pheasant hunt and killed a neighbor’s chickens, Noem decided to take matters into her own hands. “I hated that dog,” she discloses in the book, recounting how she ultimately led Cricket to a gravel pit and executed her.
These actions, which Noem defends as the harsh realities of farm life, have drawn harsh criticism from colleagues and commentators alike. Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump White House staffer, expressed horror over the excerpt, stating, “Dogs are a gift from God… Anyone who would needlessly hurt an animal because they are inconvenient needs help.” Rick Wilson of The Lincoln Project described Noem’s behavior as “unsporting and deliberately cruel,” emphasizing that most dogs are “trainable or re-homeable.”
Public figures, including celebrities and other politicians, have also condemned Noem’s actions. Martina Navratilova labeled Noem a “psychopath,” she addressed Noem directly: “You are so full of shit it’s not even funny. You just couldn’t be bothered to train that puppy. And if [s]he truly couldn’t be a birddog, I am quite sure [s]he would have been a great pet for a family that didn’t need to shoot birds to give [her] something to do.” While actor Mark Hamill stressed that despising animal cruelty should be a bipartisan stance. Political commentator Meghan McCain pointed out that “you can recover from a lot of things in politics… But not from killing a dog.”
Noem’s narrative has alarmed animal rights organization PETA, which called her actions the punishment of a “rambunctious puppy” rather than an attempt at rehabilitation or finding a more suitable home. Moreover, Colleen O’Brien, senior director of PETA, criticized Noem’s failure to grasp “vital political concepts of education, cooperation, compromise, and compassion.”
The political ramifications of Noem’s admission are still unfolding. While it’s uncertain how this will affect her chances of being chosen as Trump’s running mate, the outcry has signaled that voters and political allies may be taking a step back to reevaluate her candidacy. Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee has seized on the moment to draw a stark contrast, urging voters to elect officials who do not “brag about brutally killing their pets.”
Relevant articles:
– We Have Reached the “Murdering Puppies” Stage of Trump VP Auditions: Kristi Noem made a wild admission clearly aimed at Donald Trump., newrepublic.com, 04/27/2024
– Conservatives condemn Kristi Noem for ‘twisted’ admission of killing dog, The Guardian US, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 06:00:00 GMT
– Trump VP prospect Kristi Noem faces backlash as she admits to killing ‘worthless’ puppy and goat: ‘You’re disgusting’, Hindustan Times, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 18:17:33 GMT
– Trump VP candidate Kristi Noem makes shocking admission she shot pet dog she ‘hated’, AOL, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 21:21:40 GMT
– ‘I am boiling with disgust’: Trump VP favorite hammered after boast she shot puppy, Raw Story, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 13:36:00 GMT