DISTURBING DODGE

Am I the only one whose stomach begins to churn when George W. Bush answers
the question of whether or not he has ever used illegal drugs by attacking
reporters for asking? The fact that he refers to the press' inquiry as a
"personal question" scares me.

I would expect any presidential candidate to answer that question by
saying, no, and move on. If the answer is yes, then I have a right to know
when, where, what and for how long.

Drug and alcohol abuse goes to the heart of the breakdown in family values
in America. Statistics show that people with a propensity for drug use or
alcohol addiction have a dismal chance of never using again. That is why
the struggle we are facing today is with keeping people, especially
children, from ever starting to use drugs.

That is why Bush's answers to questions about cocaine use are so
disturbing. His answers set a dangerous example for our children when asked
the same question by parents.

If any candidate cannot give a full answer to the question of his or her
drug use, now or in the past, he or she is not fit to hold the office that
holds the briefcase that holds the button that holds all of our fate.

C. Kasan Cooper
Detroit