The political landscape has been upended following South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s startling revelation of killing her family’s dog and a goat, as chronicled in her forthcoming book. The episode has fueled a bipartisan wave of criticism and may have torpedoed her prospects as a potential running mate for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Noem detailed in her memoir, “No Going Back,” the unsettling incidents involving the young dog, Cricket, and a family goat, both of which she killed in a gravel pit. The Guardian obtained an advance copy of the book in which Noem describes Cricket as “untrainable” and aggressive, recalling an incident where the dog disrupted a hunt and later attacked another family’s chickens.
The Democratic National Committee, seizing upon the excerpt, released a statement as the “dogs of the DNC, aka the Dogmocratic Party,” denouncing Noem’s actions as reflective of the “extreme and dangerous” ethos of Trump and his allies. They urged voters, “If you want elected officials who don’t brag about brutally killing their pets as part of their self-promotional book tour, then listen to our owners — and vote Democrat.”
Colleen O’Brien of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sharply criticized Noem, stating that the governor “obviously fails to understand the vital political concepts of education, cooperation, compromise, and compassion.”
The repercussions of Noem’s admissions are not limited to the realms of animal rights and opposition parties. The anonymous social media account @catturd2, which has amassed more than 2 million followers for its MAGA posts, posted, “There’s nothing you can say to justify shooting an 18-month-old puppy in the face and killing it. NOTHING! I don’t give AF what it did.
Meghan McCain also jumped on the South Dakota governor’s atrocious anecdote. “You can recover from a lot of things in politics, change the narrative etc.—but not from killing a dog,” McCain wrote. “All I will distinctly think about Kristi Noem now is that she murdered a puppy who was ‘acting up’±which is obviously cruel and insane. Good luck with that VP pick lady…”
Even the betting markets have responded, with Polymarket’s odds of Noem being the next Republican vice president dropping dramatically in the aftermath of the reports.
Governor Noem has attempted to stand her ground amidst the backlash, defending the killings as tough decisions “that happen all the time on a farm.” However, this has done little to quell the furor.
This controversy arrives at a particularly sensitive juncture for Noem, who has been openly vying for Trump’s favor and a potential VP nomination. Her ardent campaigning and close alignment with Trump’s politics had positioned her as a strong contender, but her chances now seem to have been significantly compromised.
Noem’s narrative, rather than underscoring her political fortitude as presumably intended, has instead exposed her to a maelstrom of political and public outrage. The governor’s account, meant to draw a parallel to her readiness to make tough decisions in politics, may now symbolize a profound disconnect with a key aspect of American life: the humane treatment of animals and the values voters see reflected in such actions.
Relevant articles:
– Democrats, political figures dogpile onto Trump VP hopeful after story of animal killings, washingtonpost.com, 04/28/2024
– Trump VP contender Kristi Noem writes of killing dog – and goat – in new book, The Guardian, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 09:09:00 GMT
– Trump VP contender Kristi Noem responds to backlash over story about killing her dog, NPR, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 21:53:58 GMT
– Republicans Pile on as Kristi Noem Cripples Her Shot at Being Trump’s VP, The Daily Beast, Sun, 28 Apr 2024 08:13:16 GMT
– MAGA Names Turn on Kristi Noem Over Dog Killing, Newsweek, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 16:55:06 GMT