BUSH NOMINEE FACES QUESTIONS

WASHINGTON -- President Bush's choice for drug policy director -- a man who
was a harsh critic of Clinton-era anti-drug policies -- is getting his own
turn as a target of criticism and questions.

John Walters, whose nomination goes in front of the Senate Judiciary
Committee on Tuesday, served as acting director in 1993, but quit when
President Clinton announced a reorientation of anti-narcotics policy,
de-emphasizing law enforcement and interdiction.

Walters favored strong law enforcement, criticizing the Clinton
administration's anti-drug advertising campaign and advocating severe
prison sentences for marijuana smugglers and repeat offenders.

"Instead of finding a compassionate conservative to lead our anti-drug
efforts, President Bush has selected a man whose views are regarded as
harsh and extreme even among drug warriors," said Keith Stroup, executive
director of the National Organization for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws.

Opponents say that while Walters took a softer line after he was nominated,
senators still need to probe what he said in the past and what he stands for.

"The Senate must ask about what is on the record and must determine whether
Walters can rise above his own rhetoric," said Bob Weiner, former spokesman
for drug policy directors Barry McCaffrey and Lee Brown.

Democratic senators are concerned and plan vigorous questioning of Walters
during his hearing.

"Mr. Weiner's concerns echo a number of Senator Leahy's concerns about this
nominee," said Mimi Devlin, spokeswoman for Senate Judiciary Chairman
Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. "Enforcement is not the only answer. We need to have a
balanced approach."

Walters, 49, was once the top deputy to William J. Bennett, the elder
Bush's drug policy director. He has since become president of the
Philanthropy Roundtable, a conservative association that advises more than
600 donors to charity. Before that, he was president of the New Citizenship
Project, which promoted increasing the role of religion in public life.

"A thoughtful review of the complex issues surrounding drug abuse in
America will demonstrate that John Walters has the knowledge and experience
needed to be an effective director," White House spokeswoman Anne Womack said.

Republican senators have been pushing for the Senate Judiciary Committee to
move forward since Bush announced his nomination back in April. They have
consistently defended Walters' pro-enforcement stance.

An effort by critics to stop Walters "is a purely cynical one, trying to
portray Mr. Walters as some kind of Stone Age, Neanderthal throwback who is
out of step with the needs of real drug policy," said Sen. Charles
Grassley, R-Iowa.

"But the policy they really advocate is to make drugs more widely
available," said Grassley. "What they object to is that Mr. Walters does
not accept that. So they have begun a campaign to impugn his character,
misstate his views and misrepresent the facts and their own goals."

"John Walters' emphasis on targeting both drug supply and demand through
effective drug treatment programs, and his laudable call for cultural
leadership in fending off illegal narcotics' assault on our blessed youth,
will help reverse years of drift in our counter-drug policies," said Sen.
John McCain, R-Ariz.

Several conservative groups on Monday urged the committee to press Walters
for assurances that he will address privacy and civil liberty issues in
drug enforcement. The letter, put together by the Coalition for
Constitutional Liberties, wants the committee to seek assurances that
Walters will "ensure that drug policies respect the privacy and civil
liberties of all Americans."