Bush's Drug Question.Must he say whether he used cocaine?YES Governor. George W. Bush of Texas has run into a dangerous patch in his Presidential campaign. The issue is whether he ever used cocaine or other illegal substances during his youth. Bush has been dancing around the question, creating the impression that he probably did experiment with cocaine and that he thinks evasion EVASION. A subtle device to set aside the truth, or escape the punishment of the law; as if a man should tempt another to strike him first, in order that he might have an opportunity of returning the blow with impunity. rather than an honest answer is his best course. If Bush never used illegal drugs, he should say so. If he did, he should less up. He might find that voters would forgive a youthful indiscretion in·dis·cre·tion n. 1. Lack of discretion; injudiciousness. 2. An indiscreet act or remark. indiscretion Noun 1. the lack of discretion 2. . But he may need to square his own drug use as a young man with the tough law-enforcement policies he has espoused as Governor of Texas toward youthful drug offenders. Bush cannot have it both ways on his personal life. He voluntarily proclaimed pro·claim tr.v. pro·claimed, pro·claim·ing, pro·claims 1. To announce officially and publicly; declare. See Synonyms at announce. 2. his marital fidelity, which is surely the most private of subjects. His best course is to be honest, and let the country take his measure. --EDITORIAL, The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times NO A setback? A boon to his primary opponents? Puh-LEEZE! The people who predicted dark consequences from George W. Bush's "mishandling" of questions about past cocaine use were the same geniuses who predicted Bill Clinton's imminent demise 20 months ago. True, most voters with an opinion on the subject believe Bush is guilty as rumored of the alleged felony felony (fĕl`ənē), any grave crime, in contrast to a misdemeanor, that is so declared in statute or was so considered in common law. . Yet no one cares. A recent poll says only 11 percent feel cocaine use disqualifies Bush from the Presidency. More revealingly, the number of people who think a candidate should not even respond to questions about cocaine has gone up since the marathon cross-examining of Bush began. Does this mean that Americans have once again proved themselves to be morally bankrupt, as was widely proclaimed last year? No. But what this fracas did prove is that the best place a candidate can be in 2000 is in opposition to the fulminating fulminating see fulminant disease. moralists. The more the media pile on a politician over a private sin, the more the public will rally around the targeted candidate. Bush's tormentors have tried to link the cocaine question to his hypocrisy Hypocrisy See also Pretension. Alceste judged most social behavior as hypocritical. [Fr. Lit.: Le Misanthrope] Ambrosio self-righteous abbot of the Capuchins at Madrid. [Br. Lit. on public policy. As Governor, he has signed on to laws that promote jail for first-time drug offenders. But the troubling questions raised by this hard line could have been asked of him before the cocaine rumors flared flare v. flared, flar·ing, flares v.intr. 1. To flame up with a bright, wavering light. 2. To burst into intense, sudden flame. 3. a. . --FRANK RICH Times columnist |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion