DENISH MISSES TARGET IN JOHNSON DRUG SHOT

To hear the reaction of State Democratic Party chairwoman Diane Denish, one
would think Gov. Gary Johnson had revealed one of the crown jewels of drug
abuse secrets when he was quoted in the New York Times characterizing the
use of cocaine as "Whoa! I understand why people do it. This is
UN-be-LIEV-able."

The quotation came in a longer profile by syndicated columnist Matthew
Miller, which explored Johnson's drug experiences as a young man in the
context of his outspoken contemporary opinions on the failure of the
national War on Drugs.

"It's time for somebody to say he ought to quit being governor," said
Denish. "He's obviously just using the platform of his office to promote
all this drug stuff."

Guilty as charged on the second point. Johnson's stature as governor of New
Mexico gives his views on the current state of drug law and enforcement a
vastly wider audience than they would get if he were a private citizen.

But, millions of Americans don't abuse cocaine because it makes a headache
go away. They seek just the rush that Johnson described. So his observation
didn't add anything to the public knowledge, though it could lend weight to
the governor's real message: Johnson -- having been there, done that --
advocates abstinence from cocaine and all drugs. That includes the legal
drug alcohol, which Johnson says he hasn't used in 13 years.

Gary Johnson is many things, but a Pied Piper for drug abuse he is not.

Instead, he is an outspoken advocate for major changes in how this country
deals with it, including legalization and regulation of marijuana, and an
overall change in emphasis from criminal enforcement to treatment and
education. Good minds can (and have) differed on the validity of that view,
but it is precisely the kind of policy discussion that is crucial to the
vitality of a democracy.

Expounding the views he has on drug policy does not disqualify Johnson from
serving as governor.