related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n901.a09.html

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