- America's first family has its share of parenting headaches
with George Bush's twin daughters acting out their resentment at his chosen
career with underage drinking binges and other escapades, excerpts from
a new book published yesterday said.
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- Mr Bush's twins, Jenna and Barbara, now 22 and in their
final year of college, are described as over-indulged with no interest
in the presidency in The Perfect Wife: The Life and Choices of Laura Bush
by Ann Gerhart, a Washington Post journalist.
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- "They are girls born rich, blessed with intelligence,
good looks, trust funds, loving parents, boundless opportunities, freedom
from many of life's daily vexing challenges," the book says. "Yet
they persist in seeing themselves as victims of daddy's job."
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- The book says both Bushes fell into the trap of spoiling
their children because Mrs Bush nearly lost them late in her pregnancy.
It suggests that Mr Bush seemed less indulgent than their mother.
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- Excerpts in yesterday's Washington Post departed from
the media convention of granting privacy to the children of previous presidents,
including Chelsea Clinton.
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- Unlike Ms Clinton, who the book notes used her time in
the White House to learn about world politics, the Bush daughters are portrayed
as having few interests beyond drinking, parties and designer clothing.
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- They also mistreated their bodyguards, unlike Ms Clinton.
Within a month of Mr Bush's inauguration in January 2001, Jenna Bush tried
to use her Secret Service guard to free a male friend jailed in Texas for
public drunkenness. Later that year she was prosecuted twice for underage
drinking, fined and ordered to perform community service.
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- Even the mood of gravity that descended on America after
September 11 did not affect the twins. The book says Jenna could not be
located for hours after the attacks because she had given her agent the
slip.
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- It was unclear what the White House makes of their behaviour.
The book says it has been reluctant to comment on their scrapes but Mr
Bush has expressed some impatience. Mrs Bush has been unfailingly supportive
of her daughters.
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- "I think like every parent if your children are
happy then parents are happy. And if they're unhappy, then there is nothing
more difficult for parents," she is quoted as saying.
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- http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1118172,00.html
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