Posted on 02/20/2005 2:03:25 PM PST by rs79bm
By Sue Pleming ( <---- LIBERAL ALERT!) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush indicated in interviews secretly taped by a friend before he became president that he had used marijuana but would not admit it for fear of setting a bad example for children.
Portions of the tapes, recorded from 1998 to 2000 by author Doug Wead without Bush's knowledge, were aired on ABC News on Sunday and published by The New York Times. Their authenticity was verified by the media outlets but has not been independently checked by Reuters.
"I wouldn't answer the marijuana question. You know why? Because I don't want some little kid doing what I tried," Bush purportedly says on the tape.
He added: "But you got to understand, I want to be president. I want to lead. I want to set -- Do you want your little kid say, 'Hey, Daddy, President Bush tried marijuana, I think I will?"'
In the tape, Bush mocks former Vice President Al Gore -- who fought him for the presidency in 2000 -- for admitting he smoked marijuana.
White House officials did not dispute the tapes' veracity and indicated the president was disappointed by their release.
"These were casual conversations that then Gov. Bush was having with someone he thought was a friend, and that's what they are," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters traveling with Bush to Europe aboard Air Force One.
NOT AWARE
McClellan said Bush, who was governor of Texas when the tapes were made, was not aware he was being recorded and the White House found out only when contacted by the New York Times for comment.
"Look, I think that, one, the comments in the tapes speak for themselves. And two, I think that what I just said pretty much speaks for itself," McClellan said when pressed about the details.
"Those were issues that were addressed ad nauseam four years ago and they were conversations that took place more than four years ago," he said, adding that Bush had not been in contact with Wead for several years.
He just has to say he didn't inhale...after all it worked for Clinton.
Amen.
Someone gets caught with a bunch of pot plants, they go to jail sometimes for the rest of their lives. Mother in Atlanta strangles her kid, and gets a "get your tubes tied and be good now." That's a steaming load.
A real weasel, isn't he.
I thought the comments by the President revealed that he has the character he portrays and I thought the comments about Gore were great!
"Pot users don't go to prison. Sheesh!"
Not even if they get caught growing their own for personal use?
I don't care if Bush used pot or not. If he did use he should really look at the federal drug laws, becuase the only difference between him and a person that's had their life ruined by the drug laws is he didn't get caught.
What makes you think there is something to own up to?
Well, that does it for me. I'll never vote for him for
President again.
In the 60's and in Pres. Bush's case, the 70's, who didn't?
I just looked my post where I made notes of what I heard of the tape played on MSNBC today and it comports with that.
Wrong and you know it.
This is the "ho hum" part to me.
I already knew Bush was something of a party animal in college. "Not only did he use coke, uh, he also smoked weed in college one time!" And...?
LOL!!!!!!!
Say, aren't you sad that the Gannon thing blew (oops, sorry) over?
hahahahahahahahaha
Yes.
What's the problem?
In Libville that is exactly the problem. GWB once again is exposed as authentic and meaning what he says.
Foiled again.
"Look, I think that, one, the comments in the tapes speak for themselves. And two, I think that what I just said pretty much speaks for itself," McClellan said when pressed about the details.
They're authentic and frankly, they're fantastic for Bush (much to your chagrin, I'm sure).
They're the end of Wead's reputation. Nobody will ever trust him again.
And before you haul out Linda Tripp and how we defended her taping her friend, her friend was asking her to lie under oath. This Wead/Bush taping was political opportunism only.
Portions of the tapes, recorded from 1998 to 2000 by author Doug Wead without Bush's knowledge, .....White House officials did not dispute the tapes' veracity and indicated the president was disappointed by their release.This is the part of this story about which supporters of Pres. Bush should be appalled. In link after link that I've looked at, Doug Wead is described as Christian friend and confidante of the President. (See, for example http://www.frif.com/new2004/with.html AND http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jesus/president/)
A so-called CHRISTIAN friend secretly taped a friend and then revealed private conversations. That is why the president is said to be "disappointed."
You wonder where a man like the president is able to turn.
I honestly feel sorry for him.
Thanks, xzins. I agree. Did someone mention "Judas" here? Yeah.
The Bush quote doesnt say whether or not he used crystal meth, LSD, or Heroin.
On the tapes he says if someone came forward to say that he did coke they'd be lying.
You can cross that off your list or you can choose to spread what you know is a lie.
I have a guess which (crooked) path you'll follow.
It is beyond me explaining how this guy could do what he's done. I don't think Christians involved in study/fellowship groups together should talk about group stuff outside the group....much less a "confidante" doing so. Certainly not a pastor.
We need to lift a prayer for George W. Bush tonight.
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