This Excuse Smells of Horse Droppings

Here's a squib from this Journal Sentinel story

Wausau Democrat Dave Obey, who was listed in a voting chart two weeks ago as "not voting" on a bill against horse-slaughtering, noted to us that he cast a vote of "not present." Obey said he voted that way in protest.

"I thought it was ridiculous with three weeks left in the damn session we sit there hemming and hawing about the health of horses and we weren't doing a damn thing about the health of human beings," said Obey.

Does this excuse smell like a horse stall to anyone else?

Let us translate for you . . . OK, the liberals in DC want me to vote for this legislation. They want to take away the rights of people to determine whether or not their old horse goes to the glue factory or to the slaughter house and sold to Europeans (who apparently really like horse meat). Common sense people in Northwest Wisconsin will think, what's next, outlawing cow slaughter because PETA thinks it should be done. I'll just say I'm protesting the context of the vote without having to take a position.

Or maybe Dave got stuck in an elevator or nature was calling . . . whatever, this was lame.

And one final note, come on reporter ask the next logical question, so Congressman Obey, I know you were (snicker, snicker) protesting (ha, ha) but how WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED on the MERITS of the LEGISLATION.

And who says reporters aren't lazy?