GOV. JOHNSON OFFERS ADVICE TO BUSH

As questions about past illegal drug use continue to dog Republican
presidential candidate George W. Bush, some GOP rivals say he should answer
the question directly and get the issue behind him.

New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson was one of a handful of politicians who
appeared Sunday morning on NBC's "Meet the Press" to talk about the fine
line between political campaigns and the private lives of candidates.

Johnson publicly disclosed in his first campaign for governor in 1994 that
he had smoked marijuana while in college and shortly afterward in the
1970s. He even acknowledged using cocaine three times during the same period.

The drug issue is a hot national topic because of Bush's presidential
campaign and his continued sidestepping direct answers to questions about
his past drug use.

"Anything that can be revealed, eventually reveal it," Johnson said during
the program. "It's really hard to do any damage to anybody who's willing to
tell the truth regardless of the consequences." When asked about the
response of New Mexico voters had to his past drug use, Johnson said it was
"a non-event." "I think this goes back to the fact that . . . this is a
crime, this is against the law," Johnson said. "I didn't want the job if I
couldn't get that issue out on the table, let people see that that was
something I had done. If they didn't vote for me then so be it because that
was part of what I had done."

When asked about the flap over the Texas governor's answers to questions
about drug use, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, agreed it's important to be
truthful. He said the reason he is running for president is that he's tired
of people in the White House "telling half-truths."

But former Democratic congresswoman and vice presidential candidate
Geraldine Ferraro said during the show that the issue is whether a
candidate broke the law. She said voters have a right to know.

Johnson agreed, but said questions about Bush's past drug use is creating a
double standard for politicians.

"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," Johnson said.

He said the Bush controversy also raises questions about drug use in
general. In recent weeks, the New Mexico Republican has been pushing for a
public debate on how the state and nation should change its approach to
dealing with illegal drugs.

Johnson contends that people shouldn't go to jail for smoking marijuana,
and he says policy makers should consider lifting criminal penalties for
possession of some drugs.

Without directly referring to drug decriminalization, Johnson pressed the
nation Sunday to think about the idea. "I happen to think that the war on
drugs is a real failure in this country and that we need to re-examine that
war," Johnson said.

"I think we should be redirecting ourselves toward the goal, which is
reduced drug use and not locking up so many people," he added.

Had the wrong set of circumstances surrounded Johnson during his drug use
in the 1970s, he said he would have had a felony conviction on his record
and jail time under his belt.

"So many people have done illegal drugs. Bad choice, don't do it," Johnson
said. "But is it criminal?"

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