George Stephanopoulos reports on events in politics, Congress and the White House for ABCNews, on the air and online. He interviews top newsmakers, discusses the events of the week and looks to the week ahead each Sunday on 'This Week.'
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VIP Puppies for VP-Elect: Biden Family Getting Two Pups
December 19, 2008 4:28 PM
Vice President-Elect Joe Biden is getting another puppy, in addition to the German Shepherd puppy his family is taking with them to the vice-president's residence next year.
"We're going to have more than one puppy," Biden told me in an exclusive interview to air Sunday morning on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."
The Obama daughters have been promised a new puppy when they move into the White House, but Biden and his wife, Jill, beat them to the punch when they got a new German Shepherd puppy from a breeder.
The vice president-elect said his family intends to get another puppy from the pound so that his new yet-to-be-named puppy will have companionship.
"I've had German Shepherds since I was a kid and I've actually trained them and shown them in the past," Biden said. "So I wanted a German Shepherd and we're going to get a pound dog, which my wife wants, who is hopefully a Golden [Retriever]."
Biden said his family has always had pound animals, including a cat from the pound.
"The good news about the vice president's residence is that there's a big fence around several acres," Biden said.
One decision the future vice president won't be making?
The new puppy's name.
"My granddaughters are going to make that clear on Christmas morning," Biden said.
Tune in Sunday for much more of VP-Elect Joe Biden's exclusive first interview.
All that and the "This Week" Roundtable: ABC's George Will, Sam Donaldson, Cokie Roberts, and Donna Brazile on Caroline Kennedy, the Blagojevich scandal, Obama's cabinet picks, the economy and our roundtable's tips of the week.
See you this Sunday morning.
--George Stephanopoulos
December 19, 2008 in This Week with George Stephanopoulos | Permalink | Share | User Comments (24)
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A pedigreed dog from a breeder and a pound puppy? I've got the names; Prince and the Pauper.
Posted by: King George | Dec 19, 2008 4:37:15 PM
I wish you would not get any puppy from a breeder. It only encourages indescriminate breeding of dogs for profit. I supported you as my first choice for president because I thought you were wise. I now think you have lost it. Why would you try to upstage the Obamas? You could have waited two months and quietly enlarged your family with pound puppies.
Posted by: Ann | Dec 19, 2008 4:48:48 PM
Hey Joe, I've got beautiful golden retriever pups at my house. Want one?
Posted by: obamamama | Dec 19, 2008 4:51:36 PM
If Joe Biden's choice of dog is enough to make anyone change their opinion about the man, then they're an idiot.
Breeder does not equal evil. I'm sure the people they got the dog from were vetted within an inch of their lives.
The VPE had sentimental reasons for wanting a German Sheperd. We may live in a You-Tube society, with unprecedented access and exposure to our elected officials, but please keep in mind that not every single thing they do has to be approved by the public.
Posted by: aliceblue | Dec 19, 2008 5:41:31 PM
I hope these animals will help the Bestiality-Rights movement.
See COMING SOON for details: http://www.comingsoon.cz
Posted by: Persipany | Dec 19, 2008 6:13:53 PM
I hope these animals will help the Bestiality-Rights movement.
See COMING SOON for details: http://www.comingsoon.cz
Posted by: Persipany | Dec 19, 2008 6:14:18 PM
Biden has a great smile, especially when he is talking about his new dog.
Posted by: Shockolit | Dec 19, 2008 11:15:31 PM
Hey Alice Blue, you said it just right! I like the way you talk.
Posted by: Mark | Dec 20, 2008 12:37:02 AM
How much taxpayer money do we waste caring for these animals? I bet they have abetter healthcare plan than most working Americans. Do you honestly believe any President or Vice President is footing the bill at the Veterinarian? This may seem menial to most but there is something a bit askew about providing better care for pets than we do our own citizens.
Posted by: dk | Dec 20, 2008 4:18:09 AM
Since the president pays for his own food and clothing, one would suspect that he also pays for pet food and vet care as well.
Posted by: jan | Dec 20, 2008 10:19:19 AM
Regarding the Auto Industry. Please look into the point that the banks rule all credit reporting agencies and therefore with all foreclosures etc, people are not qualifying to purchase cars. Cars are needed to have a job. Someone other than banks need to manage the credit reporting agencies. If you can get approved the interest rates are very high which does not allow a person to purchase and make reasonable payments.
Posted by: Susan Solomon | Dec 20, 2008 1:41:13 PM
Who Cares..Biden is laughing at Americans who even care about dogs he buys - it's a big joke to him and amazing to me what insignificant things folks spend time on when Rome is burning !
Posted by: BRIN COUS | Dec 20, 2008 2:45:31 PM
Joe, I saw you when you were in St. Joseph and think you are just great. You remind us that there is lots of life to live after 60 ;-)
Merry Christmas & a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2009 to everyone!
Posted by: ShirleeK | Dec 20, 2008 6:07:41 PM
I love Joe Biden, but he gets a big fat "FAIL!" on Puppygate. It's not that he got a dog from a breeder. He got a dog from a puppy mill. This poor thing is 6 weeks old. If he really is familiar with the breed, or any dog breed for that matter, he would know a puppy shouldn't go home that early. That's the first red flag. According to his quote, he's actually shown German Shepherds in the past? Reeeeally? Because if the puppy's age weren't enough, a lot of the complaints from people who have purchased some of the HUNDREDS of dogs this breeder has churned out in the last year at any one of her THREE kennels, are all over the internet. Not to mention, the violations on record with the AKC and the USDA in PA. No health records? No registrations? 90 dogs on the premises? Dozens of dogs in the house? Oh yeah. Sounds like you're a really experienced dog handler there Joe. And this breeder was vetted? Ha! What a joke. Let's hope Biden does a titch more background research and preparation in his future job than he did on getting this puppy.
THAT'S why it's relevant.
This person's blog does a pretty good summation of all the things wrong here - http://abbyk9.blogspot.com/2008/12/breaking-news.html
Posted by: water_bearer | Dec 21, 2008 12:54:52 AM
what a bunch of ignorant people on these boards, IT IS HIS RIGHT TO GET THE DAMN DOG FROM WHEREVER HE WANTS TO. GET A FREAKING LIFE YOU IDIOTS.
Posted by: Mary | Dec 21, 2008 2:18:09 AM
Why do these politicians always get dogs? Why not a cat or maybe a bird or something? Is like dog the PC animal or somthing?
Posted by: ekoja | Dec 21, 2008 6:37:38 AM
Whatever happened to investigative reporting? God knows there's plenty out there that needs investigating.
Posted by: MadeInUSA | Dec 21, 2008 9:20:16 AM
AS I READ THESE PEOPLE HERE THAT VOICE NEGATIVE OPINIONS ON THE DEMOCRATS, WHERE WERE ALL OF YOU WHEN BUSH CHOSE TO KILL OUR MEN AND WOMEN???? WHY DIDN'T YOU VOICE THE WRONG DOING THERE????? INSTEAD, YOU JERKS GET ON HERE, AND SAY THINGS THAT WOULD NOT SAY IF YOU WERE ON TELEVISION. I HAVE HAD MANY DOGS IN MY LIFETIME FROM BREEDERS, AND EXCUSE ME, THEY ARE NOT "MIS-TREATED", THEY ARE NOT "STARVED", WHAT THE ONE PERSON WAS TALKING ABOUT WERE THE CRULE PUPPIE MILLS, AND I GUESS HE OR SHE HAS BEEN WATCHING TO MUCH "CRUEL" ANIMAL TREATMENT. THESE DOGS THAT ARE FROM BREEDERS, LICENSED BREEDERS, APPROVED BY THE AKC, KEEP THEIR ANIMALS IN CLEAN, FUN LOVING HOMES. THAT IS WHY, A PUPPIE FROM THE BREEDER IS MUCH MORE ALIVE, HEALTHY AND HAPPY. WAKE UP PEOPLE, EVERYONE DOES HAVE TO DO SOME HOMEWORK HERE!!!!!!!!!
AS FAR AS VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN IS CONCERNED, I AGREE WITH THE PERSON THAT TOLD ALL OF YOU TO KNOCK OFF YOUR BULL, AND STOP THIS FOOLISHNESS ABOUT JOE THIS OR JOE THAT. PLEASE, WE WENT THROUGH 8 YEARS OF "HITLER HELL", HASN'T ANYONE LEARNED SOMETHING????? MY GOD, YOU PEOPLE ARE SO BIAS, ITS TRULY LUDICROUS TO EVEN READ YOUR FOOLISH E-MAILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS THE END OF THE "BUSH/CHENEY" EAR, AND THE END OF MASS MURDERING!!!!!
I GUESS SOME OF YOU FOOLS OUT THERE, FIND TOSSING NEGATIVE CRAP AT SOMEONE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW, OR YOU WON'T KEEP A OPEN MIND TO SEE WHAT DOES HAPPEN AFTER THIS ADMINISTRATION, THE "OBAMA-BIDEN ADMINISTATION TAKES OVER. ITS TRAGIC TO READ THIS NEGATIVE CRAP SOME OF YOU ENJOY THROWING OUT!!!!!! WHAT EVER HAPPEND TO THE "GOLDEN RULE"????
"DO ONTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD WANT THEM TO DO ONTO YOU"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: MRS. SUSAN CHARBENEAU | Dec 21, 2008 10:25:33 AM
George, Cease its hard to even watch you, Will you speak as an understanding person. I tuned in for your interview with VP elect Biden but your constant argumentative manner became droning. VP elect Biden had to answer around your comments, to speak to the point. Your trite comments such as questions were in the way of real issues?
The uncooperative, negative, Republican style dissimulating miss information and lies must end. Republican clowns Sean & Rush, are jokes you really don't want to be in that space, is clear you think of yourself as better then that so stop being so combated. Attempt to be on the wavelength of your interview perhaps real information will be passed on to the viewers.
Instead of the tennis match.
This house TV viewing returns to CNN.C-span.
las vegas voter Jeannie
Posted by: jeannie Ott | Dec 21, 2008 2:22:59 PM
George, Cease its hard to even watch you, Will you speak as an understanding person. I tuned in for your interview with VP elect Biden but your constant argumentative manner became droning. VP elect Biden had to answer around your comments, to speak to the point. Your trite comments such as questions were in the way of real issues?
The uncooperative, negative, Republican style dissimulating miss information and lies must end. Republican clowns Sean & Rush, are jokes you really don't want to be in that space, is clear you think of yourself as better then that so stop being so combated. Attempt to be on the wavelength of your interview perhaps real information will be passed on to the viewers.
Instead of the tennis match.
This house TV viewing returns to CNN.C-span.
las vegas voter
Posted by: jeannie Ott | Dec 21, 2008 2:23:01 PM
Finally something Dopey Joe is
qualified to do! Petminder extradinare.
Joe Biden is the reason even
Republicans are praying that Blago
doesn't bring Obama down!
Posted by: reaganfan | Dec 21, 2008 5:28:45 PM
Mrs.Susan C. needs to be better educated about puppy mills. Their pups are registered with the AKC before being sent off to pet stores to be sold to the unsuspecting public. But I'm curious how water_bearer knows from which breeder Mr. Biden got his puppy. Some of the dubious 'breeders' put up a very nice front in order to sell their pups themselves. The good breeders don't seem to have to advertise.
Posted by: Linda W. | Dec 21, 2008 6:48:49 PM
Mr. Stephanopoulos-
My husband and I watch your Sunday morning show EVERY week and enjoy it immensely. However, we were very disappointed this morning when you signed off wishing everyone a "Merry Christmas" and didn't acknowledge Chanukah (which happens to be TONIGHT)!
Posted by: Joan Tatkow | Dec 21, 2008 7:40:28 PM
Only makes sense that DUMB & DUMBER need a dog.One for the white house and vice president home....
Poor dogs!!!
Posted by: lizzibug | Dec 22, 2008 6:51:57 PM
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