Barking up the right tree (2024)

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Barking up the right tree (1)

Barking up the right tree (2)

Spike the Romney Attack Dog

stated on January 2, 2008 in a mailer from the Romney campaign to Iowans:

"Mike Huckabee raised taxes on dog groomers!"

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  • National
  • Taxes
  • Spike the Romney Attack Dog

By Amy HollyfieldJanuary 7, 2008

Who sends a dog to do their bidding? A cute, ribbon-in-its-hair Yorkie named Spike, at that?

Mitt Romney.

Yes, in his latest round of yapping with rival Mike Huckabee, Romney sent Iowa voters a mailer that assails Huckabee's tax record and, more notably, features many adorable pictures of Spike:

"Dear Iowa Republican ... " it begins, "At the risk of making Chuck Norris angry, I must disagree with his endorsem*nt of Mike Huckabee for President. (Please stick with me here. If putting Chuck Norris in a television ad makes sense, a dog responding in a mailing makes just as much sense.)"

It's signed: "Bow wow, Spike" with a paw print.

Now we know Iowa is passe, but given New Hampshire's antitax climate, we wouldn't be surprised to see this attack ad in a few Nashua mailboxes. And we can't help but give Romney points for humor. This is the joke attack ad style the Hillary Clinton campaign missed out on when it dug up quotes from Sen. Barack Obama's kindergarten teacher to prove he's been aiming for the White House longer than he admits.(True!)

But, back to Spike. He attacks Huckabee for "all the different taxes" he raised as governor of Arkansas, including the one that really gets him: the tax on dog groomers. (We checked Huckabee's record on the other tax increaseshere.)

"Sales tax. Gas tax. Groceries tax. Even the tax on nursing home beds. Fine," Spike writes. "But he went too far when he taxed the people who make me beautiful!"

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Donald Trump

stated on April 16, 2024 in statement to the media in New York City

“This trial that I have now, that’s a Biden trial.”

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Would you believe Spike is barking up the right tree?

A number of services were made subject to the Arkansas state sales tax with Act 107 of the 2003 legislative session. Wrecker and towing services. Body piercing, tattooing and electrolysis services. Locksmith services. And, pet grooming and kennel services.

As of July 1, 2004, charges for those services and nine others named in the legislation are subject to a 6 percent state sales tax, all part of an effort to generate revenue to balance the budget in the face of a dramatic projected budget shortfall.

"Like most states at that time, revenues were dropping, so they levied (additional taxes)," said Tom Atchley, excise tax administrator for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.

Act 107 became law on Feb. 12, 2004, without a signature from then-Gov. Huckabee, who has said he had little choice but to accept the tax increases because Arkansas state law requires a balanced budget.

Still, no bones about it, Spike makes a solid case. And Romney scores a funny jab. If you'd like to see the mailer, which is worth a peek, it's posted at theWashington Postblog "The Trail"here.

But because Huckabee didn't sign the law, we can't say Huckabee himself put a tax on dog groomers. But he didn't stop it either, so we rule Spike's statement Mostly True.

Read About Our Process

The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter

Our Sources

Washington Post blog "The Trail,"Romney's Attack Dog,by Matthew Mosk, Jan. 2, 2008

New York Times,Huckabee's Stature Rises, Mobilizing Tax Criticsby Leslie Wayne, Dec. 2, 2007

Bureau of Legislative Research,Summary of General Legislation,84th General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, Second Extraordinary Session 2003

Arkansas State Revenue Tax Quarterly,Volume X, No. 4,October, November and December 2004

State of Arkansas,Act 107 of the 2nd Extraordinary Session,2003

Interview with Tom Atchley, excise tax administrator for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Jan. 4, 2008

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Amy Hollyfield

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Marco Rubio

stated on March 28, 2010 in a U.S. Senate primary debate on FOX News Sunday:

"Since that famous day in February where the governor campaigned with Barack Obama on behalf of the stimulus program, 211,000 Floridians have lost their jobs."

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Hillary Clinton

stated on May 12, 2008 in Logan, W. Va.:

"If West Virginia had voted for our Democratic nominee in 2000 and 2004, we wouldn't have had to put up with George Bush for the last 7 years."

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Chain email

stated on April 18, 2008:

"His true name is Barak Hussein Muhammed Obama."

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Chain email

stated on March 19, 2008 in a chain e-mail:

"According to The Book of Revelations the anti-christ ... will be a man, in his 40s, of MUSLIM descent ... is it OBAMA??"

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Mike Gravel

stated on March 13, 2008 in a YouTube video:

"I am a candidate. I have not withdrawn."

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John McCain

stated on February 20, 2008 in a news conference in Columbus, Ohio:

"I committed to public financing; (Obama) committed to public financing."

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Barack Obama

stated on February 19, 2008 in a campaign rally in Houston, Texas:

"When we've got CEOs making more in 10 minutes than ordinary workers are making in a year ... then something is wrong."

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Hillary Clinton

stated on February 26, 2008 in a debate in Cleveland:

"Could I just point out that ... I seem to get the first question all the time?"

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Republican National Committee

stated on February 11, 2008 in an RNC Web site feature where you can send a GOP valentine from your favorite Democrat:

RNC version of a Hillary Clinton valentine: "Roses are red, violets are blue, I'll raise your taxes and there is nothing you can do."

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John McCain

stated on February 6, 2008 in a TV ad airing in Virginia, the District of Columbia and Maryland:

"One man sacrificed for his country. One man opposed a flawed strategy in Iraq. One man had the courage to call for change. One man didn't play politics with the truth. One man stands up to the special interests."

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Citizens United Political Victory Fund

stated on February 1, 2008 in a TV ad:

"(John McCain) was even mentioned as a running mate with John Kerry."

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Spike the Romney Attack Dog

stated on January 2, 2008 in a mailer from the Romney campaign to Iowans:

"Mike Huckabee raised taxes on dog groomers!"

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Barking up the right tree (65)

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Barking up the right tree (67)

Mitt Romney

stated on December 16, 2007 in "Meet the Press" interview:

"I just talked about guns. I told you what my position was, and what I did as governor, the fact that I received the endorsem*nt of the NRA."

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    Facebook posts

    stated on May 4, 2024 in a post on Facebook:

    “Voter fraud investigations are being banned by Michigan lawmakers!”

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    Viral image

    stated on May 6, 2024 in a Facebook post:

    Video shows CNN report about actor Robert Downey Jr.’s app “to earn money.”

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  • Barking up the right tree (78)

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    Viral image

    stated on May 8, 2024 in a Threads post:

    South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said, “At least I have the guts to look in the eyes of the animal I’m killing!”

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  • Barking up the right tree (82)

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    Facebook posts

    stated on May 9, 2024 in a Facebook post:

    “Elon Musk confirms — ’The rapture is going to happen VERY soon.’”

    Barking up the right tree (84)

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  • Barking up the right tree (86)

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    Facebook posts

    stated on May 6, 2024 in a Facebook post:

    This video shows BBC News reporting on the “tragic end of Elon Musk.”

    Barking up the right tree (88)

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  • Barking up the right tree (90)

    Barking up the right tree (91)

    Threads posts

    stated on May 13, 2024 in a Threads post:

    Image shows a “huge snake found by a hiker near South Carolina creek.”

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  • Barking up the right tree (94)

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    Bret Weinstein

    stated on January 28, 2024 in an Instagram post:

    The World Health Organization is discussing ending the First Amendment.

    Barking up the right tree (96)

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    X posts

    stated on May 9, 2024 in an X post:

    Video shows Muslim migrants in Sweden destroying property because an Israeli singer took part in Eurovision.

    Barking up the right tree (100)

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  • Barking up the right tree (102)

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    X posts

    stated on May 13, 2024 in an X post:

    “Alvin Bragg’s office deleted 3 pages of phone call records of Michael Cohen with Stormy Daniels’ lawyer,” which is evidence tampering.

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    Donald Trump

    stated on May 10, 2024 in a Truth Social post:

    “Biden wants to immediately stop all aid to Israel.”

    Barking up the right tree (108)

    Barking up the right tree (109)

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Barking up the right tree (2024)

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