To The Editor:

I am not conerned about Governor Bush's virtual confession of using
illegal drugs sometime before the age of 28 and then asking for
uunderstanding, because I don't want to explore his personal life. I
am concerned because it shows the double standard in how he and we as
a society are dealing with drugs. The Governor has admitted to
committing the same crime as the thousands of mostly poor and minority
young people under the age of 28 now housed in prisons across America.
In New York, for example, over 92 percent of those imprisoned for drug
sale or possession are black or Hispanic. They have been imprisoned
because of the so called "tough on crime, no tolerance for drugs"
legislation that Conservatives like the Governor have supported and
advocated.

Perhaps the Governor can argue that he did not sell any drugs in those
days of youthful indiscretion, but he did not have to. He had the
cash. It might be asked if he shared drugs with other indiscreet
wealthy young people in those days, but no matter. His call for
understanding in this case would make more sense if he was willing to
show similar compassionate conservatitism to those we lock away into
our prisons.

Jim Murphy