EXPLAINING WHY THEY DIDN'T INHALE

The question during the debate, held in front of an audience of
twenty-somethings in Boston, was inevitable. The answers showed how much
the times have changed.

"Which of you are ready to admit to having used marijuana in the past?"
Anderson Cooper, the moderator of last Tuesday's "Rock the Vote" debate on
CNN, asked eight of the nine Democratic presidential candidates
(Representative Richard A. Gephardt, was not there).

"Yes," said Senator John Kerry, leading off. "Yes," said Senator John
Edwards . "Yes," said Dr. Howard Dean.

None of these three baby-boomer candidates said anything beyond their
short, declarative affirmations. None followed with a hurried explanation
that it was just a few times, that it was some kind of "youthful
indiscretion," or that he didn't inhale. The implication of their answers
seemed to be, "Yeah, so what?"

In fact, the defensive answers tended to come from those replying in the
negative.

"No," said Representative Dennis J. Kucinich. "But I think it ought to be
decriminalized."

"I grew up in the church," said the Rev. Al Sharpton. "We didn't believe in
that."

"Well, you know, I have a reputation for giving unpopular answers at
Democratic debates," said Senator Joseph I. Lieberman. "I never used
marijuana. Sorry!"

The next day's news coverage of the debate focused on the attacks on Dr.
Dean for his references to appealing to people who fly the Confederate
flag. The admissions of marijuana smoking by three of the Democratic
candidates for president were largely ignored.