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["Don Rua" <rua AT mindspring.com>]

>
<http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=7682264>
>
> Ok, so Bush likes to burn one every now and then... nothing wrong with
> that.

That fact that someone from my generation smoked weed is about the most
uninteresting part of the story to me.

I found two things much more interesting:

1) That while being secretly taped, he stated that he didn't want to answer
the question outright, because it would set an example for the youth. It is
not fantasy that we have people today whose attitudes have been influenced
about whether oral sex is sex, because of Clinton's example. There are quite
a few activities I partook of during the 60s and 70s that I wouldn't want my
sons, or my students (when I was a teacher), doing. I don't feel that is
hypocrisy, but rather maturity. I would never tell my children they were
'evil' if I caught them doing drugs, but neither would I want them wondering
why they shouldn't try some meth, or ex, or other pop drug if their parent
did before them.

"No, what I said was I wouldn't fire gays. I'm not gonna discriminate
against people."-Bush

2) That he was vocal in his conviction to not discriminate against gays, and
sent direct messages to that effect. Yes, he talked about a desire to get
the christian vote, but what of it? Does anyone think for a minute that he
didn't talk about strategies to get women voters, black voters, hispanic
voters, jewish voters, etc.? People have said that Bush won because of
moving the 'evangelicals' to vote. ("...the man who got elected president by
virtue of his appeal to the evangelical, christian,...") Well, that implies
that their numbers are sufficient to pull serious weight, which would number
them in not just a few millions. So, by extension, there are millions of
people who are not worthy of being listened to. I know, not a revelation
I've uncovered, but a stated conviction of folks like Dean who say the right
is evil.
    Starting about '64, a distaste towards prejudice and bigotry was
indoctrinated into me by my father, a civil rights proponent. He didn't say
I should hate bigots, but just that they were ignorant and afraid. And
sadly, the bigotry I see towards "dumb redneck, red state, bible-toting
neanderthals', the evil to Dean's good, has me feeling like the party is
hypocritical, or at least made an about-face on tolerance and respect for
others.

The secret tapes showed a more human Bush, driven to be sure, but not
maniacally, and in some respects, more thoughtful that he's given credit
for.

Don