Obama: A-Rod News Tarnishes An Era

(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 is the national reporter and political analyst for CBSNews.com.

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