cannabisnews.com: Second Wind for Bush-Basher Second Wind for Bush-Basher Posted by FoM on June 04, 2001 at 07:37:13 PT By Richard Johnson, Paula Froelich & Chris Wilson Source: New York Post Call it the book that won't die. "Fortunate Son," which alleges that George W. Bush was arrested in the early '70s for cocaine possession, will finally be published next month. The book - which the White House says "has been widely dismissed as science-fiction" - originally was slated to be released in late 1999 by St. Martin's Press. But the house backed off when it learned that author J.H. Hatfield had done jail time for trying to hire a hitman. Industry renegade Sander Hicks, whose Soft Skull Press brags it specializes in "fearless, progressive, punk rock/hip-hop literature," tried to publish the book last year. But it was held up by a lawsuit from a Dallas real estate company that once employed Hatfield. An unflattering mention of the firm was removed from the foreword for the version coming out this month. The book claims Bush was busted for using cocaine in the early '70s and that no record of the arrest exists because it was expunged in exchange for community service. Hicks, who calls Hatfield's 1988 conviction for solicitation of capital murder the "result of a workplace conspiracy gone horribly awry," will distribute the tome through Publishers Group West. In a newly added note, Hicks stands by the author, alleging that public opinion "has been created to destroy J.H. Hatfield and his book." Hatfield, for his part, has added a lengthy afterword intended to boost his credibility by detailing how and where he supposedly learned about Bush's alleged drug use and plea bargain. Hatfield claims three different sources confirmed the cocaine charge, including a former Yale classmate of Bush, a longtime Bush family friend, and "a high-ranking adviser to Bush who had known the candidate for several years" and who met with Hatfield in Lake Eufaula, Okla. In a separate note, Hicks identifies the Lake Eufaula source as none other than Karl Rove, Bush's own White House political strategist. Rove was traveling and could not be reached. But presidential spokesman Scott McClellan denies that Rove ever spoke with Hatfield. In the afterword, Hatfield claims he asked McClellan whether George Bush's work as an inner-city youth counselor at Houston's Project P.U.L.L. in 1972 was a condition of having a cocaine charge purged. According to the book, McClellan "muttered an almost inaudible "Oh, [bleep]" and after hesitating . . . finally said, 'No comment.'" But McClellan told PAGE SIX: "I'd never talked to the guy. I'd never heard of the guy." Newshawk: Nicholas Thimmesch II NORML Media & Communications Source: New York Post (NY)Author: Richard Johnson, Paula Froelich and Chris WilsonPublished: June 4, 2001Copyright: 2001 N.Y.P. Holdings, Inc.Contact: letters nypost.comWebsite: http://nypostonline.com/DL: http://www.nypost.com/gossip/pagesix.htmRelated Articles:Author Alleging Bush Drug Arrest Reportedly Felon http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread3359.shtmlBush Denies Allegation of '72 Drug Arrest in Bookhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread3352.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by SWAMPIE on June 04, 2001 at 20:06:02 PT THE "SNORTIN--BUSH" Right on Doc!!If this is true;which I've read many accounts of;the shrub-man should open up and put the cards on the table,not stick his head up his ass like Clinton,because if he is trying to send a positive message to the young people of this country,they are going to hear/read about it anyway,and that constitutes"DISINFORMATION"in my book!!!Too bad for the poor REPUBLICRATS if they are too good to be human too!!~!!They can go to their little social events and hobnob with the goober-smoochers,but they can't hide from the truth forever,unless they quit voting,which is unlikely,given the donations they make....SO WHAT?IF GEORGE BUSH DID DO COKE,DOES HE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A POSITIVELY VIABLE DECISION??? MY 2 CENTS.... SWAMPIE [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on June 04, 2001 at 07:43:48 PT: True or Not True? I would submit that the real issue here does not have to do with whether the story is true or not true, but rather that the whole mess was fostered by an ongoing lack of candor on the drug issue. I have commented on this before in this forum.At worst, Dubya may be an opportunistic, spoiled prevaricator. At best, he is an opportunistic, spoiled hypocrite who is saying, "You must suffer for your behavior in a manner that I was spared because of my birth and station in life." This should do much to continue a process of alienation of our youth that has gone on for more than 30 years. Long live the meritocracy! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: