In all the excitement of mini-mini-Super Tuesday--that is, the Potomac Primaries--George W. Bush's slam of Barack Obama seemed to slip by without much notice. And it wasn't just a slam, it was a lie.

Appearing on Fox News Sunday this past weekend, Bush was asked by moderator Chris Wallace about Obama. Here's the exchange:

WALLACE: Do you think there's a rush to judgment about Barack Obama? Do you think voters know enough about him and --

BUSH: I certainly don't know what he believes in. The only foreign policy thing I remember he said was he's going to attack Pakistan and embrace Ahmadinejad, which -- I -- I think I commented that in a press conference when I was asked about that.

WALLACE: I hope not. But -- but -- (chuckles) -- so you don't think that we know enough about him or what he stands --

BUSH: Doesn't seem like it to me, but there's -- with campaigns, there's plenty of time for candidates to get defined. He (is yet ?) his party's nominee.

MR. WALLACE: So why do you think he's gotten this far, if people don't know what he stands for?

PRESIDENT BUSH: You -- you're the pundit. I'm just a simple president.

Embrace the Iranian president? Wallace could have forced the president to back up this statement by asking Bush, "where did you get that?" But he did not.

Of course, Obama has never said he would "embrace" Ahmadinejad. In on of the Democratic debates, he promised to meet with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea during his first year in the White House, should he be elected president. At the time, I questioned whether Obama had gone too far in making such a vow. But leave it to Bush to turn an offer to talk with Iran into a big bear-hug for the thuggish Iranian leader. Bush was casting a false accusation. But at this point, no one seems to care much about what he says. I didn't see the Obama campaign take much offense. And imagine what the Obama people would have done, if Hillary or Bill Clinton had said it!

Bush's attack on Obama can be seen as a preview of the Republican assault that will come if Obama is the Democratic nominee. The real facts won't matter. They will be trumped by mischaracterization and misrepresentation. Nobody cares much now when Bush goes after Obama by mangling the truth. But if Obama does triumph in the Democratic contest, the Republican attack machine and the newest Swift Boaters will swing into high-gear. Such blasts will have to be countered quickly and effectively.

I'll be on a break until after President's Day. Enjoy contemplating the great leaders of our past.