DOUBLE STANDARD ON DRUGS A REAL SNOW JOB

IF YOU were anywhere in Asia in the late '50s or early '60s, I was
the guy running around with $2 in his hand. I was a complete disgrace
to what I came from and an embarrassment to my friends.

Myself and a guy called Ian Box made the whorehouses of Asia work so
hard they should have had union representation.

We were Johns. So sometimes these terrible sub-inspectors, as they
were called in the colonies, these failed Brits, would arrest
hookers. They never arrested me or Ian Box. We were above being
arrested.

Racism? Not really. Classism? Bet your bippy. But we didn't know any
better in those days.

Now, my good man, Post reporter Devlin Barrett has outlined the facts
as we know them.

Sources say Manhattan U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White has decided not to
prosecute any of the well-heeled buyers caught in a massive
home-delivery cocaine ring.

Most of the dealers have pleaded guilty and gotten stiff prison
sentences - but the buyers, many of whom have hired lawyers to try to
quash any criminal charges, will not be charged.

Sources differ over the ring's "little black book," which contains
the names of several hundred up to 2,000-plus coke-snorting clients.

A spokeswoman for White said federal prosecutors rarely charge drug
buyers. It pains me to say that the Rev. Al Sharpton can raise hell
over this kind of stuff - and for once, I'll be in be complete
agreement with the good minister.

It's a simple case of a minority getting locked up for selling and a
silvertail getting a smack on the bottom for buying and using.

That's like me and Ian Box paying two bucks for hookers, then they
get arrested and we go free.

That's not how a gentleman works. And I've got a few stitches to
prove I am a gentleman.

But I have to say the buyers are a bunch of cowards.

Some lowlife dealer goes to jail for selling, and some lowlife but
high-falutin' drug buyer gets to stay warm in the safety of
Connecticut? It's most amazing that Mary Jo White wants to
selectively choose those who get drummed.

A little like Al Gore, who wanted to selectively choose to recount
votes only in those precincts where Democrats were likely to have
screwed up their votes.

As long as selling and buying drugs is illegal, the drug buyer is
just as guilty as the seller. There ain't no seller if there ain't no
buyer.

That goes for prostitution, too.

Of course, the likes of Ian Box and Steve Dunleavy had no shame.
Youth does that to you.

But what Mary Jo White is doing - making me, almost demanding me to
talk in civil terms to the likes of Al Sharpton.

How can she give him such a platform?