cannabisnews.com: Testy Bush Says Will Not Answer Drug Questions!





Testy Bush Says Will Not Answer Drug Questions!
Posted by FoM on August 18, 1999 at 13:09:02 PT
Source: Reuters
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - A testy Texas Gov. George W. Bush said Wednesday he will not answer questions about whether he has used illegal drugs and believes rumors that he did are being ''planted.''
Bush, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, became visibly irritated in a brief news conference at the Texas capitol before leaving on a campaign trip to Louisiana.The governor chastised a reporter for asking about drugs, an issue which has begun to dog his run for the White House.``Somebody floats a rumor and it causes you to ask a question, and that's the game in American politics and I refuse to play it,'' he snapped. ``That is a game. You just fell for the trap. I refuse to play.''Of rumors that he used cocaine in the past, Bush said: ``I think they are being planted. I know they are being planted and they are ridiculous and they're absurd and the people of America are sick and tired of this kind of politics and I'm not participating.''He did not say who he thought was doing the planting and turned away to answer a question on a different subject when a reporter asked if he was denying drug use by calling the rumors ''absurd.''The issue of Bush's possible use of illegal drugs goes back to the days when he was, by his own admission, a heavy-drinking bachelor in Houston and Midland, Texas.He has steadfastly refused to say whether he used illegal drugs by giving a pat answer: ``When I was young and irresponsible, I was young and irresponsible.''The issue became more pronounced after the New York Daily News recently asked 12 presidential hopefuls if they had ever used cocaine.Bush was the only candidate who refused to answer the question.Vice President Al Gore, running for the Democratic presidential nomination, has admitted smoking marijuana.Wednesday August 18 2:23 PM ET Bush Refuses To Answer Rumors Of Cocaine Use- 8/15/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2500.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on August 18, 1999 at 22:30:21 PT:
I Don't Have Any Idea!
Hi Frank S. World,No I don't remember that but it is an interesting question!Peace, FoM!
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Comment #2 posted by Frank S. World on August 18, 1999 at 16:27:27 PT:
Quayle's denial of drug use
Remember when Quayle was running in 1992, I think, and a convicted drug dealer said he sold at least pot, as I recall, to Quayle in college?The guy disappeared into the guts of the prison system. Wonder if he ever got out? Anybody remember this?Frank
Rx Cannabis Now!
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on August 18, 1999 at 15:43:54 PT:
Related Article
With Drugs, Bjt By Associated Press08/18/99 17:58Boston Globe http://www.boston.com/The presidential campaigns were asked Wednesday if the candidates had ever used illegal drugs and whether they believed that the question is appropriate. Their responses: Bill Bradley: In his book, ''Time Present, Time Past'', Bradley acknowledged using marijuana. ''Several times in the early 1970s I had taken a few puffs of marijuana,'' Bradley wrote. ''He has said for a long time that he thinks in general the media ought to focus much more on substantive issues than it does. Substantive issues like policy, like what a candidate stands for,'' said Bradley spokesman Eric Hauser. ''Beyond that, it is up to the media how they want to decides its role.'' Al Gore: Gore has admitted to smoking marijuana in the early 70s. Spokesman Roger Salazar says Gore has never used cocaine. ''Every candidate has a responsibility to decide what questions are appropriate and how they are going to respond,'' Salazar said. ''The vice president thinks that this election will be decided by the voters on issues that effect their every day lives and that is what he is focusing on.'' Gary Bauer: Spokeswoman Jessica Morris said Bauer has not used any illegal drugs. ''We ought to be able to say with no hesitation that 'No, we have no broken the drug laws of the United States,' and 'No we have not used cocaine.''' Gary Bauer on CNN's ''Late Edition'', Aug. 15. Pat Buchanan: Buchanan has not used any illegal drugs, according to spokesman Bob Adams. ''As a journalist he would not ask,'' Adams said. ''As a candidate, he will not ask.'' George Bush: Bush has refused to answer questions about whether he used drugs. At a news conference Tuesday, he testily told reporters, ''You know what happens? Somebody floats a rumor and that causes you to ask a question. ''And that's the game in American politics, and I refuse to play it.'' Elizabeth Dole: Dole has not used any illegal drugs, spokesman Mike Paranzino said. He said Dole has noted ''that some honorable people have been driven away from public life because of some of the intrusiveness of being in public life today, and she thinks that is unfortunate.'' Steve Forbes: Forbes' political director Bill Dal Col said the candidate has not used any illegal drugs. As to whether candidates should be asked the question, Dal Col said, ''That's up to the media.'' Orrin Hatch: ''I have never used illegal drugs,'' Hatch said Wednesday. He said the question was appropriate. ''I think Governor Bush is making a big mistake in not settling that issue and getting it behind him. ... Why not just say you didn't, if you didn't. And if he did, say why and how he's overcome it.'' Alan Keyes: Keyes spokeswoman Becky Finger said the candidate has not used illegal drugs. ''He can't control what questions are asked of Governor Bush, but personally he does not think it is an appropriate question when there are so many important issues facing the nation,'' she said. John McCain: ''No,'' spokesman Howard Opinsky said when asked about past drug use. ''He doesn't have anything to say about what others have to say. And the question about what is appropriate or not is going to be made by the media and the voters. He realizes it is part of running for office,'' said Opinsky. Dan Quayle: Quayle's spokesman Jonathan Baron said the former vice president has not used illegal drugs. ''Other candidates will have to decide the manner in which they will answer these matters,'' Baron said. ''He has said in the past that he wished the media wouldn't ask about things wholly unrelated to public service.'' 
With Drugs, Bjt 
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