CONSISTENCY

The National Rifle Association argues that the safety of the First
Amendment depends on those who believe with the NRA that the Second
Amendment entitles anyone to carry a gun anywhere. It's bunkum. The
U.S. House of Representatives just shot up the First Amendment for
the umpteenth time, voting to restrict free speech under the guise of
flag protection. Three Arkansas representatives, all faithful
followers of the NRA, joined in the assault: Marion Berry, Asa
Hutchinson, Mike Ross. Only Vic Snyder stood up for freedom. Again.

For Hutchinson, particularly, it was more of the same old, same old.
It's probably true that drug policy under George W. Bush can't get
much worse than it was under his predecessor. Bill Clinton was never
more oily than when explaining how tough love and tough drug laws
snatched his dear little brother from the brink. (It was snitching on
his friends, in the manner of David Hale, that saved Roger Clinton
from prison. That, and being white. But he's sure turned out well,
hasn't he?)

But if it is possible to escalate the "War on Drugs," to make it even
more pointlessly destructive, Bush has the right people lined up for
the attempt: Attorney General John Ashcroft; another darling of the
NRA; new drug czar John Walters, who is being rewarded for his
service in the failed administration of the first President Bush, and
Hutchinson, nominated to head the Drug Enforcement Administration.
These are reliable right-wing zealots, minds impregnable against pity
or reason, and they love to smite the poor and the powerless, which
is what most drug defendants are, never mind the blather about
"kingpins." It's not surprising that former U.S. Attorney Hutchinson
is eager to leave Congress and return to enforcement. The best
legislators are those drawn to help their fellow man. Helping is
hardly Asa's game.

Kissing-up to those who might be able to help you, on the other hand,
is very much Asa's style. He even does it with the press. Many of his
rival opportunists won't stoop that low.

Thus, he was fulsomely praised during his confirmation hearing before
the Senate Judiciary Committee, most of whose members share his
enthusiasm for a war that has failed to stop the drug traffic, but
has shredded the Bill of Rights, squandered tax dollars and put more
citizens into prison than any nation has ever done. Dissenters,
including the reform group NORML, were excluded.

The republic will survive. The stark though officially unacknowledged
truth is that the War on Drugs is already lost, . Even Republican
governors are bailing out. Asa enlists in the twilight time of this
lousy little action. Here is a rare opportunity to see a rat boarding
a sinking ship.