Count former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich among the political pet pooh-poohers in Washington.

Gingrich, in an interview Sunday, minced no words in stating his annoyance at the media frenzy around new first dog Bo. CNN reports:

"I hope that the girls love the dog," Gingrich said on ABC's "This Week." "I hope the family – and all the pressure they're going to be in – finds it useful. And I think that this whole thing is fairly stupid." ... "It's great that they have a dog. It's great that the kids are adjusting," Gingrich said. "And where they got it from – who cares? It's a nice gesture on Senator Kennedy's part to give it to them but who cares?" Gingrich added.

For the record, CNN says feelings about the first dog appear to be splitting across party lines, since prominent Democratic strategist Donna Brazile called Bo Obama "cute" and "adorable."

"What's not to like about this dog?" she asked on CNN's "State of the Union."

--Lindsay Barnett

Photo: Gingrich laughs during a taping of NBC's "Meet the Press" March 8. Credit: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images