GOP Rivals Urge Bush to Confront Questions About Past Drug Use

WASHINGTON — As questions about past illegal drug use continued to dog Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush, some GOP rivals said Sunday that the Texas governor should answer them directly and get the issue behind him.

But his competitors and supporters also maintained that past indiscretions, including possible use of illegal drugs, should not disqualify anyone from becoming president.

Noting that Bush has addressed the issue partially, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), speaking on NBC-TV’s “Meet the Press,” said Bush should “just answer the darn question and get rid of it.”

There has been no evidence that Bush ever used an illegal drug. The candidate said last week that in the last 25 years he has not used illegal drugs, but he did not elaborate.

“He has a right to privacy,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), another contender, said on CNN’s “Late Edition.” Conservative GOP presidential contender Gary Bauer said on “Fox News Sunday” that the candidates will “have to answer questions that go to law breaking.”