COUNTRY EXPERIENCED VINTAGE JOHNSON ON 'MEET THE PRESS'

Watching Gov. Gary Johnson represent New Mexico on "Meet the Press," I
found myself muttering back at the TV: "Why doesn't he just answer the
question?"

It wasn't that hard. It was softball. Brian Williams asked it twice: What
was the reaction when New Mexico voters learned Gary Johnson had used
marijuana and cocaine? Johnson's first answer was totally non-responsive.
"Well, you know, I see an incredible hypocrisy here that there are 78
million Americans that have tried illegal drugs and I don't think 78
million Americans would disqualify themselves from becoming president of
the United States or want to disqualify themselves from serving in public
office.

So a couple of my credos -- and again these are obvious credos -- (are)
anything that can be revealed eventually, reveal it, you know? There's
always time to fix things. Always tell the truth. It's really hard to do
damage to anybody who's willing to tell the truth regardless of the
consequences."

Williams repeated the question: "What was the reaction when you told
potential voters for you that, yes, in the past you had used cocaine, among
other things?"

"Well, again," began the governor. "I think it was a non-event, and I think
this goes back to the fact -- and Geraldine Ferraro (another guest)
mentioned it -- that this is a crime.

This is against the law. And from my own experience, I did not want the job
if I didn't get that issue out on the table, let people see that this was
something that I had done. if they didn't vote for me, then so be it,
because that was part of what I had done."

It was indeed a non-event, one of the most curious non-issues in recent New
Mexico politics. It first surfaced in a Journal candidate questionnaire in
1994 and was mentioned in subsequent stories. But Johnson's opponent the
first time was then-Gov. Bruce King, who never exploited it. And neither
did his opponent the second time, Martin Chavez, who also stayed above the
fray despite a malicious whisper campaign about his marriage.

It's quite probable that most voters didn't know about Johnson's past use
of cocaine and marijuana until recently, when he seized the national
spotlight on the issue of decriminalization.

Maybe this is the truth -- the voters just didn't know -- and he didn't
want it to come out in his response. Maybe he was nervous. Maybe he's
non-verbal and doesn't know how to answer questions. Maybe all these
things. But the tactic on national TV wasn't new to anyone who has covered
Johnson for the past five years.

In his Santa Fe news conferences, held with less and less frequency, he
seems to view questions as weapons. He reverts to the prepared message, and
it's hard to get him off it, as even a friendly questioner like Brian
Williams must have seen. "How many people are doing time in New Mexico
because of cocaine charges?"

"I'm not sure how many people are doing time," the governor said, "but,
Brian, that gets back to the hypocrisy of this particular issue. I happen
to think that the war on drugs is a real failure in this country, that we
need to re-examine that war. The goal of the war should be to reduce drug
use. We haven't reduced drug use." And he was back to the 78 million
Americans speech.

Later in the show, Williams suddenly asked for Johnson's opinion about
Texas Gov. George W. Bush. Johnson said he likes him and respects him and,
"the guy hasn't had a --" He didn't finish the sentence, but quickly
switched the subject to himself. "As is in my own life, we haven't had a
drink for about 12 years. I wouldn't be sitting here if I did drugs or if I
drank.

If I weren't an athlete, I wouldn't be sitting here today. But, again, I
just think this comes back to an even more basic issue --" And he was back
for the fifth time to the 78 million Americans. Message of the day.

And his clock-watching finish: "So many people have done illegal drugs. Bad
choice. Don't do illegal drugs. But is it criminal? And, again, this makes
it that much more of a lightning issue. I think it's an issue that should
be debated in this country. Should it be criminal? Bad choice.

Don't do it. Direct more toward reducing drug use. But go to jail? Again,
earlier use, given the right set of circumstances, I'm in jail. I don't
know about George Bush. But I know about 78 million Americans. Given the
right set of circumstances they're in jail. They've got a felony on their
record, and this is not something policywise I think the country should be
doing."

And that, said Williams, concluding the segment, "is emerging more and more
as the message from the generation that's been there and done that to the
up and coming generation."

Oh? The message I heard was: Everybody's doing it, I did it, but don't you
do it, and it's a bad choice, but you shouldn't be punished for doing it.
If that's the kind of message the new generation is getting, it's no wonder
it looks to itself, on the Internet, for truth.