News (Media Awareness Project) - US CA: Rivals Urge Bush To Face Drug Issue |
| Title: | US CA: Rivals Urge Bush To Face Drug Issue |
| Published On: | 1999-08-23 |
| Source: | Orange County Register (CA) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-05 22:46:50 |
Politics:
HE SHOULD 'JUST ANSWER THE DARN QUESTION AND GET RID OF IT,' ORRIN
HATCH SAYS.
(Washington)- As questions about past illegal drug use continue to dog
Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush, some GOP rivals said
Sunday that he should answer them directly and get the issue behind
him.
But at the same time, his competitors and supporters said past
indiscretions, including possible use of illegal drugs, should not
disqualify the Texas governor or anyone else from becoming president.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said Bush should "just answer the darn
question and get rid of it."
"If there wasn't anything here, then George Bush should have just said
there wasn't," Hatch said on NBC's Meet the Press."
"If there was, I think he at this point should answer it, get it
behind him, because the polls show most of the American people are
forgiving," Hatch added.
There has been no evidence or credible allegation that Bush ever has
used an illegal drug, although he has admitted to formerly drinking
heavily and to "mistakes" as a youth. Questioned repeatedly on the
drug issue, Bush has said that he had not used illegal drugs within
the past 25 years, but would not elaborate.
"He has a right to privacy," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., another
GOP presidential contender, on CNN's "Late Edition."
Conservative GOP presidential contender Gary Bauer said the candidates
will "have to answer questions that go to lawbreaking."
"I think anything that involves a felony, I don't see how you can get
away with" not answering such questions directly, Bauer said on "Fox
News Sunday."
Meanwhile, a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll found that 72 percent of
those surveyed said "experimental" drug use while young should be
forgiven, but 69 percent said they would want to know about a
candidate's past cocaine use. The poll had a margin of error of plus
or minus 3 percentage points.
Separately, Republican Lincoln Chafee, who is seeking a U.S. Senate
seat from Rhode Island, announced Sunday that he had used cocaine
during college. He said he made the disclosure in part because of the
media pursuit of Bush.
HE SHOULD 'JUST ANSWER THE DARN QUESTION AND GET RID OF IT,' ORRIN
HATCH SAYS.
(Washington)- As questions about past illegal drug use continue to dog
Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush, some GOP rivals said
Sunday that he should answer them directly and get the issue behind
him.
But at the same time, his competitors and supporters said past
indiscretions, including possible use of illegal drugs, should not
disqualify the Texas governor or anyone else from becoming president.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said Bush should "just answer the darn
question and get rid of it."
"If there wasn't anything here, then George Bush should have just said
there wasn't," Hatch said on NBC's Meet the Press."
"If there was, I think he at this point should answer it, get it
behind him, because the polls show most of the American people are
forgiving," Hatch added.
There has been no evidence or credible allegation that Bush ever has
used an illegal drug, although he has admitted to formerly drinking
heavily and to "mistakes" as a youth. Questioned repeatedly on the
drug issue, Bush has said that he had not used illegal drugs within
the past 25 years, but would not elaborate.
"He has a right to privacy," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., another
GOP presidential contender, on CNN's "Late Edition."
Conservative GOP presidential contender Gary Bauer said the candidates
will "have to answer questions that go to lawbreaking."
"I think anything that involves a felony, I don't see how you can get
away with" not answering such questions directly, Bauer said on "Fox
News Sunday."
Meanwhile, a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll found that 72 percent of
those surveyed said "experimental" drug use while young should be
forgiven, but 69 percent said they would want to know about a
candidate's past cocaine use. The poll had a margin of error of plus
or minus 3 percentage points.
Separately, Republican Lincoln Chafee, who is seeking a U.S. Senate
seat from Rhode Island, announced Sunday that he had used cocaine
during college. He said he made the disclosure in part because of the
media pursuit of Bush.
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