ONE MAN'S CAUSE

President Bush was in Nashville recently attending a hospital
technology seminar at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and
fund-raising dinner at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clay Jackson.

At the latter event, there were three tiers of contributors: $2,000 to
hear Mr. Bush speak, $10,000 for a photo opportunity and $25,000 to
dine with the president.

"Tight-fisted conservative that I am, I chose the lowest-priced
option," Paul H. Kuhn Jr. tells Inside the Beltway.

"The president was terrific," he adds. "He spoke for about 30 minutes
and was both humorous -- 'I want every American to have a home like
the Jacksons' -- ... and serious when he touched on Iraq and other
global issues."

After the remarks, Mr. Kuhn found an opportunity to engage the
president in a brief (Mr. Bush said exactly three words), but direct
conversation.

"As he passed by, I hailed, 'Mr. President. Medical marijuana.' He
paused, looked directly at me, and asked, 'For or against?' I
responded, 'My late wife never would have made it through
[chemotherapy] without it.'

"He continued eye contact and gave a quick nod, which indicated
clearly (to me, at least), 'I got it.' Not, 'I agree,' but, 'What you
said registered,' " Mr. Kuhn says.