Obama: A-Rod News Tarnishes An Era

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: In The News

(CBS)

President Obama this evening said the news that New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez used steroids "tarnishes an entire era" of baseball.

"It's depressing news on top of what's been a flurry of depressing items when it comes to Major League Baseball," said the president.

"It's unfortunate because I think there's a lot of players that played it straight," he added.

The president said he was happy that Major League Baseball seems to "finally" be taking the steroids problem seriously.

The president said news that stars like Rodriguez used steroids sets a bad example for children.

At least, he said, such revelations help kids learn that there are "no shortcuts."

They are learning "you may end up tarnishing your entire career," the president said.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by ikenani February 10, 2009 5:26 PM EST: I think you''re all missing the point. Obama''s not criticizing A-Rod''s drug use, just that he used it to cheat.; Reply to this comment


by spinproof February 10, 2009 2:27 PM EST: The truth is many Politicians did drugs in their youth, marijuana, coke, LSD, you name it! Many of the older workforce professionals of today were the Hippies of the WoodStock era. The Federal Government has a 10 year limit on disclosures for job applications unless a crime was committed, applicants only need to disclose information 10 years back, so Pres. Obama could have used this little known escape hatch like former Pres. George W. Bush did and not disclose anything about his drug use in his youth. When asked about his binge drinking and coke days former Pres. Bush wisely answered the Federal Government didn''t require him to go back that far into his past, so Pres. Bush didn''t lie about his coke use, he just legally dodged the question! It pays to know the rules!; Reply to this comment


by andie52 February 10, 2009 11:54 AM EST: Didn''''t Obama admit to doing Coke? How can he give anyone heat for taking an illegal substance

Posted by DSR57 at 12:27 AM : Feb 10, 2009
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And Sarah Palin admitted to smoking pot.; Reply to this comment


by wvu74621 February 10, 2009 8:32 AM EST: You know I knew a caresalesman that sounded an awful lot like this guy.; Reply to this comment


by wvu74621 February 10, 2009 8:30 AM EST: Didn''''''''t Obama admit to doing Coke? How can he give anyone heat for taking an illegal substance

Posted by DSR57 at 12:27 AM : Feb 10, 2009

Cocain and pot was what Obama said he used. He has no room to talk. As a matter of fact there are''nt a whole lot of people that can condemn him without being a hypocrite. Well that shows you were everyones mind was on election day.; Reply to this comment


by jrefo February 10, 2009 7:40 AM EST: Didn''''t Obama admit to doing Coke? How can he give anyone heat for taking an illegal substance

Posted by DSR57 at 12:27 AM : Feb 10, 2009
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Um no.; Reply to this comment


by harbinger09 February 10, 2009 6:40 AM EST: Oh puhleese--it would be easier to name who in sports is NOT doing dope than to name all the people who do. Obama''s words are so phoney. It is like a former w.h.o.r e pretending to be shocked that a teacher''s lingerie poses ended up on the internet. Hello fvcking pot--meet fvcking kettle.; Reply to this comment


by caligulaavg February 10, 2009 4:33 AM EST: DSR57, I seriously doubt coke propelled Obama to the Presidency, though its inarguable that the spike propelled A-Rod out of obscurity with the Dallas Mavericks and into fame with the New York Yankees.

If he would have tried doping here in Dallas he probably would not have been able to get the stuff, much less not get caught when his body transformed itself within a year from flab to fab.; Reply to this comment


by dsr57 February 10, 2009 3:27 AM EST: Didn''t Obama admit to doing Coke? How can he give anyone heat for taking an illegal substance; Reply to this comment