To say that George Bush and Barack Obama don’t have much in common is an almost laughable understatement. About the only thing they share is the fact that each has two daughters. After Obama’s mea culpa yesterday, I was thinking about what different examples the fathers have set.

From watching their father in action, Barbara and Jenna Bush learned some interesting lessons:

• the ends justifies the means;
• money can wash away any problems you might get yourself into;
• it’s okay go to any length to protect your friends, even when they’ve done something wrong;
• you don’t have to listen to opposing ideas—just do what you want; and
• admitting a mistake is a sign of weakness.

Malia and Sasha Obama are learning a different set of lessons:

• accept responsibility for your errors in judgment and action;
• work hard and you can achieve anything;
• collaboration is important;
• listening to opposing ideas is valuable; and
• it’s important for your actions to match your stated convictions.

Now, I’m sure that Barbara and Jenna Bush are lovely young women. They’ve got two parents, after all, and at least one of them appears to be normal. But I think that raising children is as much about the example you set by your actions as the lessons you attempt to teach them. By this measure, I think Barack Obama has reason to be proud of his parenting. The other guy, not so much.