Dum Pendebat Filius

Is President Bush one of Bill Clinton’s “finest students” (see the previous post)?

Just yesterday, R. Emmett Tyrell informed us that Rafael Palmeiro learned how to be a lyin’, steroid-poppin’ hypocrite from watching the example set by Liar-In-Chief Bill Clinton; now I see that President Bush is helping Rafael out by vouching for him:

Bush took a strong stand against steroids in his 2004 State of the Union address, demanding that major league sports take tougher action to eliminate steroid use by athletes.

“The use of performance-enhancing drugs like steroids in baseball, football and other sports is dangerous and it sends the wrong message – that there are shortcuts to accomplishment and that performance is more important than character,” Bush said.

But when news of Palmeiro’s positive drug test and 10-day suspension by Major League Baseball became public, Bush almost instantly backed the ballplayer, saying Palmeiro spoke truthfully on March 17 when he wagged his finger at the House Government Reform Committee and emphatically denied ever using steroids.

Bush’s fondness for Palmeiro – who recently became only the fourth major league player to slam more than 500 home runs and 3,000 base hits – dates back to when Palmeiro played for the Rangers under Bush’s ownership.

“Rafael Palmeiro is a friend. He testified in public and I believe him,” Bush said Monday. “He’s the kind of person that’s going to stand up in front of the klieg lights and say he didn’t use steroids, and I believe him. Still do.”

Bush’s quick defense seemed contradictory to some, in light of his previous tough talk on steroids.

Damn that liar Clinton! He screwed up our culture so badly that not even President Bush has proved immune to the slimy Clintonian ethos of moral relativity. It’s all about “compartmentalizing,” as the man said.

O tempora, o mores…

(link via Digby)