COME CLEAN, GEORGE W., ON COKE RUMORS

I have no idea whether George W. Bush sniffed, inhaled or ingested
some unlawful substance in what he calls his “irresponsible youth.”

But Bush, the $38 Million Man destined to be the Republicans’ 2000
nominee, has been given his first campaign test. He's flubbing it
badly. Over and over, Bush is dogged by the Big C question: “Have you
ever used cocaine?”

His canned response, delivered with a flash of anger, is to inveigh
against the political “gotcha!” game that he's too noble to play.

Typically, last weekend on CNN Bush brushed aside a cocaine query:
“This game of trying to force me to prove a negative and chase these
ugly, unsubstantiated rumors has got to stop.”

Notice he didn't say yes or no.

At a midweek campaign stop in Baton Rouge, La., Bush again blasted
reporters who nagged him with the question. “That's a game. And you
just fell in the trap. I refuse to play. Do I think the rumors are
planted? I know they're planted. And they're ridiculous and absurd.”

But Bush is punching a straw man when campaign aides blame opponents,
possibly Steve Forbes or Gary Bauer operators, of leaking cocaine
gossip. The drug ruckus flared when the New York Daily News asked all
Republican contenders for 2000 if they'd used cocaine.

All said no except one who wouldn't answer. Guess
who.

Sure, we're tolerant of baby?boomer politicians' misbehavior in their
sex, drugs and rock’n’roll kiddyhoods. Bill Clinton became a comic
staple by admitting he used marijuana without inhaling. The
Democrats’ 2000 contenders, Al Gore and Bill Bradley, have confessed
to puffing the weed. No foul, no harm.

Cocaine, though, isn't so easy to ignore. It’s the focus of Congress’
multimillion?buck drug war. The crack version has made inner cities
into war zones. In Governor Bush’s Texas, holding less than a gram
can get you a long slammer term.

That's why Bush’s self-righteous silence is phony and dangerous to his
2000 campaign.

Common sense says that if he ducks the question, he has a
problem.

If he keeps equivocating and evidence of cocaine use pops up during
the campaign, the pent?up explosion could be politically disastrous.
Bush has been open about the usual foibles of sex and booze. He said
he’s been faithful to wife, Laura. He admits to being a heavy drinker
who quit a dozen years ago. By staying mute on hard-drug use, he's
rigging the game his way - selective candor.

Bush, who defeated Gov. Ann Richards by painting her as squishy on
crime, is proud that he’s “Texas tough” on law and order.

He's tough, all right. During his governorship, there’ve been a
record 98 executions. He’s built the biggest prison system in the
United States. In Texas, 545,000 people are behind bars, on probation
or parole. Many are punished for the drug Bush did or didn’t use.

In campaign speeches, Bush raises his right hand and declares, “When I
take the oath, I’ll promise to uphold the honor and dignity of the
office.” Crowds cheer this not-so-subtle dig at Clinton's infamous
sexcapade.

What goes around, comes around. Bush can claim he’s protecting
politicians’ right to privacy. But the 13 House managers and almost
all Senate Republicans were bent on throwing out a president for what
was essentially a private act, never mind how stupidly sleazy.

Hypocrisy is a double?edged sword. Newt Gingrich, ex-House speaker so
bombastic about “core values,” is divorcing because of his romance
with a 33-year-old congressional aide, Callista Bisek. Congressman
Bob Livingston, Newt’s successor, quit because of a sexual affair.
Impeachment leader Henry Hyde's ancient dalliance was unveiled.

Senator Tim Hutchinson, an Arkansas Republican who voted to impeach
Clinton, faces a storm because of an extramarital affair.

The code of John F. Kennedy’s era – “If it doesn't affect the job,
don’t print it” - is dead forever. The adultery question that chased
out Gary Hart in 1988 slam-dunked the rules.

Maybe a statute of limitations - as in Bob Dole’s long-ago sex caper -
should apply. But in a potential president, whether Clinton’s
Gennifer Flowers episode or Bush’s drug rumors, I think it should
matter what the candidate tells us, how he handles the pressure.

George W. is botching his coke crisis. If he sniffed white powder 20
years ago, it's far better for him to fess up and be forgiven. If
it’s true, don’ t let gossip smolder until a supermarket tabloid
explodes with witnesses. That’s the lesson of every scandal from
Watergate to Monicagate – it’s not the misdeed but the cover-up that’s
self-destructive.

You want advice, young George? Go ask Daddy what to
do.

My guess is he’d say, come clean. And do it fast.