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Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 10:29 PM UTC

Watch Bush’s “one-fingered victory salute”

Back when he was Texas governor, the president sassed Karen Hughes big time, and the cameras caught him.

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You heard him call New York Times reporter Adam Clymer a “major league asshole” back during the 2000 campaign. Now watch President Bush — back when he was Texas governor — salute loyal advisor Karen Hughes on video, with his middle finger.

You can watch the video here. Salon obtained the video from Texans for Truth, an Austin-based advocacy group that’s kept the heat on Bush about his missing time in the Texas Air National Guard. Texans for Truth is also hosting the video on its site.

According to the group’s sources, the segment was part of a video session shot while Bush was governor. The clip shows him smoothing his hair for the camera, complaining about an off-camera aide believed to be Hughes. “She’s still tellin’ me what to do,” he says, before he flashes his middle finger. As worried aides murmur about whether the camera’s running, Bush dismisses his gesture as a “one-fingered victory salute.”

There’s nothing wrong with a little playful obscenity among friends, but our preacher in chief has worked hard to hide the smirking frat boy within. The video isn’t likely to energize the evangelical base the White House cares about most.

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