President Bush, Commute Marion Jones' Sentence

Yesterday we learned:

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Track star Marion Jones pleaded guilty Friday to lying to a federal investigator about taking banned substances.

And:

Federal sentencing guidelines suggest Jones could face jail time. She has been ordered back to court on January 11, 2008, for sentencing.

http://www.cnn.com/...

Jones went before the public on television last night to ask for forgiveness from the American people. Although she had denied rumors of illegal substance use for years, last night she did not minimize her actions, attempt to shift blame, or make excuses. She called her lies to federal investigators "incredibly stupid." According to press reports Jones, now 31 years old, made a full confession and told the Federal District Court that she began taking performance enhancing substances beginning in 1999.

On July 2, 2007, the President of the United States commuted the 30 month prison sentence of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Libby was found guilty after a jury trial of four counts of perjury and obstruction of justice for lying to federal investigators and a grand jury regarding the leak of the identity of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson. At the time the President issued a statement:

I respect the jury’s verdict. But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive. Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby’s sentence that required him to spend thirty months in prison.

My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby. The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged. His wife and young children have also suffered immensely. He will remain on probation. The significant fines imposed by the judge will remain in effect. The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant, and private citizen will be long-lasting.

We do not know what Jones' sentence will be, but can President Bush deny the absurdity of Marion Jones spending time in jail when Scooter Libby did not?

Marion Jones was never charged with using steroids (where are the people who were so upset before about "no underlying crime"?). She apparently never lied under oath (unlike Libby). She admitted her guilt readily and without a trial. She has no criminal record. She will certainly be stripped of her Olympic Medals. She brought public shame to herself and her family. She announced that her track career is over. Those are "long-lasting" and "harsh" punishments, like those cited by President Bush.

Scooter Libby lied about a national security breach. Marion Jones lied about performance enhancing drugs she took for sports. I no longer expect logic or consistency from the Bush Administration, but I would like the President to explain why, since he thinks the federal sentencing guidelines for false statements are "excessive", he shouldn't commute any prison sentence for Marion Jones.