MR. BUSH'S CLINTONESQUE REPLIES

Since he was first seriously mentioned as GOP presidential timber,
53-year-old George W. Bush has been hounded by allegations that he
used cocaine when he was a young man. His standard response has been
that he made mistakes and acted irresponsibly during his salad days.
Last week, however, the front-runner partially opened the door to a
fuller explanation. When rambunctious reporters pushed for complete
access, he wouldn't budge.

Changing the subject doesn't work anymore. It's too late for Mr. Bush
to return to his ``Don't ask, don't tell'' stance. Mr. Bush all but
invited further inquiry about allegations of cocaine use.

He is more likely to earn public respect if he tells the American
people once and for all about the mistakes he says he once made.

The GOP front-runner tripped himself when he was asked whether as
president he would insist that his appointees undergo full background
checks, which includes questions about drug use. He said he would.
That begged the next question: Would he pass the test? ``Yes,
absolutely,'' he answered.

But background checks in the Clinton administration require potential
White House appointees to say whether they used illegal drugs only
during the past seven years. Mr. Bush quickly realized that the
timespan was too short and elaborated that he would even meet the more
stringent standard (15 years) that applied when his father was president.

News hounds wouldn't let go, however. They still wanted to know if he
took illegal drugs at any time since he was 18 years old. Did he use
drugs when he was in the Texas National Guard? He wouldn't answer.
``I've told the American people all I'm going to tell them'' on the
subject, he said. ``I hope the people appreciate a candidate who comes
along and says enough is enough.''

That's exactly what President Clinton said during the Monica Lewinsky
debacle. It didn't work. In fact, Mr. Bush seems not to have learned
from Mr. Clinton's many misadventures of double talk, ranging from not
inhaling marijuana to avoiding the draft and to convoluted denials
that he had sex with Ms. Lewinsky.

The Bush performance last week was Clintonesque. Instead of being
straight with the American people and trusting their sense of
fairness, he danced around the questions.

It's not as if Mr. Bush has made it a point not to talk about personal
matters. He has voluntarily proclaimed his marital fidelity and
acknowledged his heavy drinking before the age of 40. These subjects
are as private as using illegal drugs.

Both Democratic presidential contenders, Al Gore and Bill Bradley,
have said they had used marijuana in the 1970s. All the GOP
candidates, except Mr. Bush, have denied using illegal drugs.

By not being forthright, Mr. Bush fuels suspicion that he's hiding
something and that he's a double-faced politician who doesn't practice
what he preaches about openness and full disclosure.

Anyone who followed the Clinton scandals should know that most
Americans are tolerant and forgiving. As the blunt Democratic
consultant James Carville puts it, ``I can't imagine that what Bush
might have stuck up his nose 20 years ago will move people one way or
another.''

The issue is not really cocaine. It's about responding openly and
honestly, as candidates seeking the highest office in the land should.
It's about character and personal conduct, which could come to bear on
a president's performance.

As governor of Texas, Mr. Bush has cultivated the image of an uncommon
crime fighter and a robust believer in capital punishment. If you're
convicted to die in Texas, don't bother to petition Mr. Bush for
mercy. If you're a young person convicted of using cocaine, don't even
think of asking Mr. Bush for any sympathy.

The American people are entitled to know the full story about what
made their presidential candidates who they are today. The sooner Mr.
Bush fully answers questions about the mistakes of his past, the more
likely that this rough spot in his nascent campaign will be smoothed
over.