Bush’ Drug Czar Nominee Criticized

A coalition of civil rights and health groups expressed concern Thursday that President Bush’s choice to lead the nation’s fight against drugs would sacrifice prevention and rehabilitation programs in favor of punishing users.

The Coalition for Compassionate Leadership on Drug Policy also criticized John Walters for denying that young black men are disproportionately jailed on drug charges and for opposing reforms to mandatory minimum sentencing requirements.

The coalition does not endorse or oppose nominees, but individual members spoke harshly about Walters, promising serious opposition if he does not soften his views.

“It’s truly disturbing to have our nation’s nominee for the top drug policy spot be a throwback to a more intolerant and reactionary way of thinking,” said Vincent Schiraldi of the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice.

White House spokeswoman Anne Womack defended Walters as a “respected and experienced leader in drug policy” who would oversee a balanced drug control program.

“The White House is committed to a balanced approach toward the problem of drug abuse in the United States, with emphasis both on demand reduction and prevention,” she said.

Hilary Shelton, director of the Washington bureau of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People, said the groups have taken their concerns to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“I believe you’ll see many more of the organizations that are members of the coalition taking stronger positions” after Walters’ confirmation hearing before the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, Shelton said.

Several organizations, including the Justice Policy Institute, are sending a letter asking senators to vote against Walters’ nomination.

The letter says, “His views on race and crime make him unfit for a position that requires sensitivity to racial fairness.”

“If the prototypical drug prisoner in America were a white, middle-class kid from the suburbs,” Schiraldi said, “Mr. Walters would be calling for a national state of emergency to be declared. I’m not really waiting to hear the song and dance in front of the Senate.”

David Carle, spokesman for Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), said he was “not aware of any senator on the committee who has made up his or her mind about the nomination yet.”

Walters, a protege of former drug policy director William J. Bennett, has been called a hard-liner in the drug fight, favoring tough law enforcement measures and being skeptical of treatment programs and other efforts to reduce demand.