Pardons as the ultimate ka-ching?

Sept. 8th is National Pardon Day.  Today commemorates our nation’s ideals with regard to political (and perhaps personal) forgiveness.

The very idea that a politician, after the initial shock and let-down we share at discovering their guilt, after having been tried by both the courts (and often the media) before our very eyes, after having been found guilty by both, is then forgiven, or “pardoned” makes many of us cringe.  When the pardon is performed at the last second by our “new” leader (the guilty parties’ replacement) prior to the demanded punishment being carried out, causes many of us to become engulfed in emotional flame. And if you disagree with the political leanings of the new leader providing the pardon, the pain may seem even more egregious.

Some Things Can Never Be Lifted from Us

The burdens of a pardon

Did you know that an official political pardon is not only a lifting of the sentence, but also of the crime itself? Not to rub salt in the wounds of those who feel they have been denied a chance to enjoy public justice of a wrong-doer…  Pardons may also be granted to individuals before they are even found guilty or convicted of a crime.  A little-known fact is that a living person up for pardon must admit guilt in order to receive it, causing the pardon to become a dual-edged sword. Receiving a pardon means you are known to be guilty but forgiven. The pardoned individual resides in a state of limbo, as President Nixon was, publicly known by all to be guilty, yet officially absolved from it. Nixon’s state of guilt resided within his heart and mind, a burden he bore all his life as a personal prison.

The Process of Personal Pardoning

We have all likely “pardoned” someone at least once in our own lives, forgiving our loved ones who transgressed, rather than sticking to our own personal “laws” and punishing them as we would someone less desirable in our lives. The difference may be the personal pain we would feel alongside them, or even the fear that we would lose that individual in our life for having provided the punishment.

In many countries, pardons are offered by leaders to individuals who have committed an offense, yet in other areas of their lives leading up to the event provided a positive or beneficial role to the society in general. We know what they did was wrong, but we also want our children to grow up learning the ideals of forgiveness, as well as the worth of service in balancing the blinded Scales of Justice.

A Short History of the Presidential Pardon

George Washington during the Whiskey Rebellion

In the United States, the power of the Presidential pardon has had issues from the outset, largely due to perceived abuses in early England’s legal system by the royalty.  George Washington provided the very first Presidential pardon, to the leaders of the Whiskey Rebellion. From that day forth, people of various political and/or social leanings have had problems with pretty much every single pardon performed by our leaders, typically stating that the pardon was made due to political expediency, or as a personal favor or payback.

Andrew Johnson pardoned thousands of former Confederates after the Civil War, Jimmy Carter pardoned Vietnam-era draft dodgers, George Bush Sr. pardoned a number of individuals, Bill Clinton pardoned 16 members of FALN, and the list goes on…

Pardoning others helps us to grow

How we feel about pardons also is related to when they occurred. How many of us are angered by George Washington’s or Andrew Johnson’s pardons? With time, the most tumultuous of pardons occurring in the past 20 years will be seen by our descendants with less angry eyes as well.  Our grandchildren just won’t get bothered by the things that once incensed us.

Pardoning as a Reflection on Us

A Presidential pardon is the political world’s answer to our own more personal episodes of forgiveness. And as in our personal lives, the Presidential pardons we agree with tend to be aligned with the Presidents (and/or transgressors) we love(d) and cherish(ed.) It is our emotional tie to the individual that belies our forgiveness of them. It is society’s love of an individual that allows us to forgive them publicly for their transgressions.

May we all, in times of trial, find individuals who will balance our goodness against our mistakes, and find us worthy to forgive and love again.  These wonderful people make it easier for us to look in the mirror, and into the faces of those we come across in life, regardless of our sins.

- AKC Gazette, circa 1924

“If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.”

- Harry S. Truman

Today is Dogs in Politics Day, a commemoration of those ever-faithful sidekicks who stuck by their man, even when all of the rest of us wanted “the bum” thrown out of office.

Past Famous Political Dogs

Washington introduced the American Foxhound

George Washington imported  foxhounds from England, and received a number of them as a gift from the Marquis de Lafayette of France. His 30 hounds became the predecessors of the modern day American Foxhound.

Ulysses Grant’s son Jesse fawned over his Newfoundland, “Faithful,” which unfortunately passed away. Wishing to protect his son’s emotional state during his Presidency, Grant told obtained another Newfoundland and promptly told his staff that if the dog died, “every employee in the White House will be at once discharged.”

Laddie Boy viewing his official portrait

Warren Harding, one day after his inauguration, received an Airedale Terrier named “Laddie Boy.” Harding’s first cabinet meeting was interrupted to deliver the puppy, who went on to own his very own hand-carved chair to relax in during future meetings. Laddie Boy was the first White House dog to receive formal press coverage in the media, sending out invites out to all dogs in houses neighboring the White House to celebrate his birthdays. All comers enjoyed a fine dog biscuit cake. Laddie Boy  was so well-known that his statue has been a fixture at the Smithsonian for some time. Smithsonian curators say of Laddie Boy, “There have been famous dogs since, but never anything like this.”

Him and Her on the Cover of Life

Lyndon Johnson’s Beagles “Him” and “Her” graced the cover of Life Magazine, and we all know Richard Nixon’s faithful Cocker Spaniel “Checker,s” who of course stayed by his side through thick and thin.  George Bush Sr.’s English Springer Spaniel “Millie” authored a dogobiography “Millie’s Book: As Dictated to Barbara Bush.”.

President Obama, in closely-held secrecy alongside, chose a black and white Portuguese Water Dog, as recompense for his daughters Malia and Sasha putting up with the rigors of campaigning.  Bo, a gift from his dearly departed friend Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who owned several of them, has even graced the White House Blog.  Some have stated concern both with his not having previously owned a dog, and with how long it took for Obama to choose one.  If case you were wondering about the name, Michelle Obama’s father was nicknamed Diddley.

Why the Love Affair with Political Pooches?

Warren Harding, previous to his Presidency, while editing The Marion Star newspaper, wrote: “Whether the Creator planned it so, or environment and human companionship have made it so, men may learn richly through the love and fidelity of a brave and devoted dog.”

Why do we care whether or not the leader of the Free World has a dog, and of what breed? Because many of us believe you can judge a man by his companions, and dogs are not excluded from this argument.  Perhaps we fear that a small, scared four-legged animal roaming the halls of Power will be evidence of a leader who consistently barks orders without due consideration to the outcome.

Which would you prefer to see running up to Marine One?

I for one prefer to see a majestic animal gracing the White House lawn, perhaps a quiet and thoughtful Dane or Doberman, overseeing all operations but restraining himself through proper training and intelligence.  I sincerely prefer this over some little, yappy member of the canine species, peering with fear over the deft, tight grip of our leader as he carries the animal past a shouting press, returning from helicopter jaunts.

Dogs That Have Ran for (and Held) Political Office

Whether as a protest vote or humorous ploy, dogs have indeed made it onto the ballot, and have even held elected office. Perhaps at times the populace has deemed the companion of our leaders more suitable than the men themselves?

In 2008, Molly the Dog, a Daschund from the state of Oklahoma, was named a candidate for the Presidency.  Her official campaign website is still up and running. Rabbit Hash, Kentucky has a mayoral office graced by the presence of a black Labrador named Junior Cochran. The mayoral seat is largely ceremonial in Rabbit Hash.  The Mayor of Sunol, California for a whopping 10 years was a black Labrador-Rotweiller mix named Bosco. It would seem that the majestic, faithful and friendly Labrador has won out in most political elections…

What your Dog Says About You

What does Bo say about Obama?

Forbes Magazine ran an interesting article in 2008, decrying the link between certain breeds of dogs and their owners demeanor. According to the American Kennel Club and the ASPCA Beagles (and thusly their owners) are  “inquisitive and willing to learn new things…constantly questioning.”  Cocker Spaniels (and their proud owners) are deemed “family oriented and nurturing…gentle, playful and sweet in demeanor.” Golden Retrievers and their owners are “social butterflies who prefer to be in group settings,” while Poodles and their owners are “detail-oriented and appreciate art and culture.” Hmm, don’t know about that last one, as it would be difficult to ascertain the level of art appreciation of a dog…

How Does this Translate to President Obama?

The AKC considers a Portuguese Water Dog to be “an animal of spirited disposition, self-willed, brave and very resistant to fatigue.”  If the dog one chooses decries much about their own personality, then President Obama, although taking a great deal of time to consider it, may shown us by his choice of Bo that he himself is what this Nation needs in a leader, as we continue to place further demands him to lead us out of emerging problems seemingly cropping up everywhere… Maybe Bo can help him dig us out…

But I still would’ve liked to have seen the image of a majestic Dane, quietly and patiently sauntering up at his own pace, as Air Force 2’s rotor blades chipped down to a slow mutter…