Update: Watch Sarah Palin's Tuesday TODAY interview.
Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is back in the spotlight, responding to criticism over a photo of her son, Trig, standing on the family dog. In an exclusive statement to NBC News, Palin expands on a Facebook post from Saturday.
PETA needs to chill. At least Trig didn’t eat the dog.
Where have they been all these years? Maybe enjoying a good steak when their Woman of the Year, Ellen DeGeneres, posted the exact same sweet image of a child with her dog. Or maybe they were off moose hunting when their Man of the Year, Mayor Bill de Blasio, dropped and killed a critter at a political photo op? Who knows what they were doing when their Man of All Time, Barack Obama, admitted to actually EATING dog, and enjoying it! C'mon PETA — where's the beef?
No, the double standards applied by hypocrites at PETA make me and every other kid — and dog-lover — say "kiss my okole." They're not attacking me because I showed people a special needs child and his happy, healthy, beloved service dog; they're attacking me because, well, I'm me. So what's new? PETA throws raw meat in front of their attack dogs and says sic ‘em, and we have a choice in how to react to these kind of haters who'll keep on hating. We either accept their attacks as stumbling blocks, or see them as stepping stones to make a point about truth. Ironically, PETA has made my exact point I wrote about in my New Year's Resolution piece. Nice!
I grew up with dogs who were part of the family; a big part. I love dogs and am blessed to see our pets so happy and strong, living life so freely and vibrantly in Alaska’s majestic wide open spaces. Our dogs aren't the only ones dearly loved — we have been overwhelmed by good people all across America sending us proud pictures of their kids interacting with dogs in similar loving, real life ways.
Jill Hadassah was born and trained to help those with challenges most of us will never understand. We adopted her for our youngest son from an amazing friend in Iowa who runs a foundation that raises and trains dogs for our wounded warriors. These dogs can change a disabled vet's life, and that's a beautiful thing! Certainly the Puppy Jake Foundation has changed our life for the better. I am in love with this four-legged family member! So is Trig, and it's so revealing that the Political Left knows no bounds as they attack him and now even good, selfless supporters and trainers at the Puppy Jake Foundation. I hope the foundation is overwhelmed with support from caring Americans now so that good comes from PETA’s bad acts in this.
Again, I'm thankful these double standard bearers proved my entire point in that post: do they think their threats and efforts to shut me down are a stumbling block? Nah, this is a stepping stone for any American with common sense and love for kids and dogs — we just proved the haters' double standard nonsense, and, thus, their irrelevance.
— Sarah Palin
P.S. Should Jill Hadassah have not enjoyed Trig’s playing with her, guess it would have reminded us another important lesson – sometimes life jumps up and bites you in the okole, but you don't stop moving and baby you just Shake It Off.