Pubdate: Sun, 20 Feb 2005
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 The Edmonton Journal
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

BUSH CAUGHT ON TAPE ACKNOWLEDGING POT USE

NEW YORK -- Private conversations with George W. Bush secretly taped by an 
old friend before he was elected president foreshadow some of his political 
strategies and appear to reveal that he acknowledged using marijuana, the 
New York Times reported Saturday.

The conversations were recorded by Doug Wead, a former aide to Bush's 
father, beginning in 1998, when George W. Bush was weighing a presidential 
bid, until just before the Republican Convention in 2000, the Times said in 
a story posted on its website.

The tapes show Bush crafting a strategy for navigating the tricky political 
waters between Christian conservative and secular voters. He also 
criticizes then-vice president Al Gore for admitting marijuana use and 
explains why he would not do the same.

"I wouldn't answer the marijuana questions," he said, according to the 
Times. "You know why? Because I don't want some little kid doing what I tried."

According to the article, Wead said he recorded the tapes because he viewed 
Bush as a historic figure.

The White House did not deny the authenticity of the tapes.
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