ABSTRACT
In his 2004 State of the Union address, George W. Bush off ered an interpretation of an America dedicated to what he characterized as “great works of compassion and reform,” an America rising to meet what he called “great responsibilities.” His optimism wavered momentarily when he took up the theme of Amer ica’s c hildren, invoking age-old t hreats t o education and health. He simultaneously proclaimed declining drug use among teens while blaming some professional athletes for falling short of their representational role, for the third-party eff ect of their steroid use. Invoking the imaginary special bond between athletes and children, Bush declared that “Th e use of performance enhancing drugs like steroids … is dangerous, and it sends the wrong message: that there are shortcuts to accomplishment, and that performance is more important than character.” He then called on “team owners, union representatives, coaches and players to … send the right signal. To get tough and to get rid of steroids now.”
