Bush on Claude Allen's recent arrest for refund fraud at Target: "When I heard the story last night, I was shocked, and my first reaction was one of disappointment, deep disappointment - if it's true - that we were not fully informed. Shortly thereafter, I felt really sad for the Allen family."

The man's a politican after all, so we won't fault Bush for his first thoughts being of the political ramifications of hiring as one of his top advisers a petty shoplifter, as opposed to thinking first of Allen's family, who at least got that bitching Bose home stereo system out of the deal.

Apparently, the White House was notified in early February of the charges, but as Allen had passed a White House background check, he was given the benefit of the doubt. But really, between the Vice President accidentally shooting a septuagenarian recently and now a top adviser caught indulging in a sort of trailer-trash kleptomania at a department store, you've really got to start wondering what exactly those background checks entail.

Link: Bush Shocked by Arrest of Former Adviser
Related: Former Bush Advisor Arrested For Target Refund Fraud