It didn't. A lot of conservatives - whose objections still haven't all been addressed (see COSCO above) - went off like Roman candles and the Dems played it as they play all politics these days - if it's anti-Bush it gets the front page, accurate or not. In short, a political mess.
Could Bush personally have addressed it better? It isn't really his job. Could his staff have better prepared him? Absolutely.
I do have a pet peeve with this administration...I've had it for 5 and 1/2 years....they are always on defense, they wait until an issue becomes a political firestorm and then they react....it's hard to defend them when they take so long to defend themselves.....this issue has been out there for several weeks but the MSM and rats were too consumed with Cheney's hunting accident to pay attention...the WH should have brought this up 2 weeks ago.......and I do believe thay the President now has to come out and address this issue to the nation....